(Except the static HTML idea is a bit of a give away, no web developer would ever dare suggest a static page in our brave new world of Web X.0)
[0] http://kylerush.net/blog/meet-the-obama-campaigns-250-millio...
Page is static. JSON is a static file with a phone number. And use jQuery to load the JSON file.
Perhaps a whooshing sound should be made though, if I didn't get the joke..?!
Data managed in spreadsheets, layer upon layer of disconnected management, no engagement with users, very little willingness to understand software development. More spreadsheets...
Warren Buffet was spot on when he said (after investing in insurance companies): “Invest in businesses that any idiot can run because, sooner or later, one will.”
I remember finally turning down one project after failing to convince the small businessman that his site didn't need an unskippable flash intro with techno music.
Edit: I think that nowadays web 2.0 needs have been replaced with 'BIG Data'. I have a current client whose data set is less than 30 MB, but he insists that it is not just big data, but HUGE data! Which is a shame, As it is an interesting problem he has, but I will probably turn it down too.