Is Change Always for the Better?
Government under the Obama administration is all about change. While 69 million Americans voted for that change, nearly 61 million Americans did not. So is change what everyone wants? Not really, but will it help government be more efficient, more responsive and possible help the economy? You can be the judge of that. First lets consider what information people typically request from government. The Federal Times article talks about Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) departments have been underutilized in previous administration. And how opening this information up to the public can help government understand what the people may be clamoring for: "Specifics." This Federal News article speaks specifically to that point. But what questions get the answered first by FOIA departments?
I would expect solutions like Google's Moderator
and DIGG to get play as they are means of asking questions, then allowing others to Vote Up or Down questions based upon their relevance.These 'services' will be used more regularly in government in the near future, but embedded into online Public Release materials. But clearly this represents the opinions of the "online" community. What about those off line? How will they be heard, especially in a society where things need fast consideration and turnaround? Discussion in the Obama administration says they may mandate a 5 day comment period on new legislation prior to a vote in the Congress. That will open up the details of government (specifically the legislative process) but again, the need for fast access, analysis, commenting (by citizens) and the synthesis of comments (by legislators) will be a challenge for all.
So again, is Change Always for the Better?
I think its a good start at opening up government. But like everything (especially everything in Washington) the devil is always in the details.
