Using open source in government

jdavidb on 2002-05-24T14:48:56

I've just come up with a wonderful idea to revolutionize the United States government with open source software. No, I'm not proposing a law like the guy from Peru (although that's a nice idea, too). My idea is that both houses of Congress set up a publicly accessible slash site. Imagine: new bill is introduced in the Senate, it's immediately posted on slash.senate.gov, the country gets to debate it, some Senators actually listen to our opinions.

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FIRST VOTE!

chromatic on 2002-05-25T01:40:31

That's a good idea. Each critter could have his own section for his constituency.

(I also like any idea that sells 535 more copies, oh yes.)

Slash government

TorgoX on 2002-05-25T02:49:37

I have a horrid feeling that your idea would merely recapitulate the worse properties of Slashdot and talk radio. People do not want to debate ideas -- they want to shout their opinion and swat down other people's. Have a look at CNN's chatrooms some time; it's appalling.

Re:Slash government

jdavidb on 2002-05-25T03:36:23

Yes, but the nice thing is that the moderation system tends (only TENDS, mind you! I'm not saying it's perfect) to put forward the best arguments. In a country that's as split as the U.S. (judging by the past election), there should be a sufficient number of people on "both" sides that folks who, like me, browse at +4 would get to see the best arguments for their side as well as the other.

Yeah, it's not the best idea in the world, but as I've said before, Slash fits very well with the way I think, and I love the moderation system. I'd love to see someone try it. (Maybe if senate.gov and house.gov have a place where an LWP program could fetch the text of each bill brough before each house, someone outside of the government could set this up.)

Oh, well. I'm just talking to hear my head rattle. :)