Along with proposals to hike taxes, the state government was positioning itself to initiate massive layoffs of teachers and other public servants.

FORBES: This Is Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker's John Hancock Moment

There is nothing new or surprising about Livni's use of the Obama administration's animosity towards the government as a means of positioning herself as an alternative to the government.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Biden's lost cause

American Express, Fannie Mae, General Motors, Ford Motor and Chrysler are all positioning themselves for government cash.

FORBES: Magazine Article

In fact, the clear record shows that state officials expressed satisfaction with the federal government's asset pre-positioning and other pre-hurricane assistance during a video teleconference the Sunday prior to landfall.

NPR: Fragmented Government Slowed Katrina Response

In the 1980s, the Federal Government opened up access to data from Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites, which were previously for military use only.

WHITEHOUSE: Open Government Data Spurs Entrepreneurship and Jobs

Indonesia's government has improved its monitoring of earthquake data since then by positioning buoys to take sea-level readings and warn of potential tsunamis.

WSJ: Southeast Asia Tsunami Alert Lowered

As well as appeasing citizens today, both Socialist leader (and head of the crisis government) George Papandreou, as well as New Democracy party head Antonis Samaras, are positioning for elections expected in April (no date yet set for the vote).

FORBES: All Politics Are Greek

But what starts out as government or military technology often ends up in commercial applications, as packet-switched networks and the global-positioning system demonstrate.

ECONOMIST: MONITOR