Comments on: Government Transparency Is Making Data Understandable http://www.danielhoang.com/2009/01/30/government-transparency-is-making-data-understandable/ Making the impossible possible, one step at a time... Sun, 23 May 2010 04:24:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc By: Daniel Hoang http://www.danielhoang.com/2009/01/30/government-transparency-is-making-data-understandable/comment-page-1/#comment-791 Daniel Hoang Sat, 07 Feb 2009 05:00:49 +0000 http://www.danielhoang.com/?p=264#comment-791 I agree Hillary, it is a first step in many to bring transparency and accountability to government. If we make the public aware and engaged, perhaps our politicians will think twice before putting their own interests before their constituents. I agree Hillary, it is a first step in many to bring transparency and accountability to government. If we make the public aware and engaged, perhaps our politicians will think twice before putting their own interests before their constituents.

]]> By: Hillary Hartley http://www.danielhoang.com/2009/01/30/government-transparency-is-making-data-understandable/comment-page-1/#comment-790 Hillary Hartley Fri, 06 Feb 2009 22:47:14 +0000 http://www.danielhoang.com/?p=264#comment-790 Honestly, the five-day public comment period will hopefully be the least of Obama's attempts at transparency. I'm hopeful that his use of various social media tools will encourage the public to actually get involved, to comment, to spread information, etc. The 5-day comment period is kind of a sham anyway. By the time the bill is through both the House and the Senate it's in its final form and simply awaiting signage or veto. Can we truly believe that 5 days of public comment is going to affect whether or not he'll sign a bill? Maybe 1 time out of 1,000. Don't get me wrong, I think it's a bold, important step; simply allowing people to feel engaged in the process engenders trust, so it is a smart move. It's just not very meaningful in the long run. Honestly, the five-day public comment period will hopefully be the least of Obama’s attempts at transparency. I’m hopeful that his use of various social media tools will encourage the public to actually get involved, to comment, to spread information, etc.

The 5-day comment period is kind of a sham anyway. By the time the bill is through both the House and the Senate it’s in its final form and simply awaiting signage or veto. Can we truly believe that 5 days of public comment is going to affect whether or not he’ll sign a bill? Maybe 1 time out of 1,000.

Don’t get me wrong, I think it’s a bold, important step; simply allowing people to feel engaged in the process engenders trust, so it is a smart move. It’s just not very meaningful in the long run.

]]> By: Daniel Hoang http://www.danielhoang.com/2009/01/30/government-transparency-is-making-data-understandable/comment-page-1/#comment-780 Daniel Hoang Sun, 01 Feb 2009 02:34:49 +0000 http://www.danielhoang.com/?p=264#comment-780 Nisha, good catch. I read about that too but didn't want to go into that for purposes of questioning transparency. I think Obama's promise is a big one and reality will soon hit. Making a five day waiting period for public comment might be too much for the political machine. Forgetting for a moment that he didn't post the bill for public review, is five days sufficient for public comment? It's not truly five days, it's five days less the time it takes to realize that something is available. I think we'll find that the intent of transparency will be clouded with the reality of smoke to ensure certain legislation goes through. Nisha, good catch. I read about that too but didn’t want to go into that for purposes of questioning transparency. I think Obama’s promise is a big one and reality will soon hit. Making a five day waiting period for public comment might be too much for the political machine. Forgetting for a moment that he didn’t post the bill for public review, is five days sufficient for public comment? It’s not truly five days, it’s five days less the time it takes to realize that something is available.

I think we’ll find that the intent of transparency will be clouded with the reality of smoke to ensure certain legislation goes through.

]]> By: Nisha http://www.danielhoang.com/2009/01/30/government-transparency-is-making-data-understandable/comment-page-1/#comment-779 Nisha Sat, 31 Jan 2009 23:49:58 +0000 http://www.danielhoang.com/?p=264#comment-779 An interesting point about that promise Obama made is that he signed his first bill into law -- a nonemergency bill -- without any public comment. I'm not complaining -- it was a good bill (lilly ledbetter law). But he didn't fulfil that promise, so what does that mean for govt transparency? An interesting point about that promise Obama made is that he signed his first bill into law — a nonemergency bill — without any public comment. I’m not complaining — it was a good bill (lilly ledbetter law). But he didn’t fulfil that promise, so what does that mean for govt transparency?

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