Transparency: What have you done for me lately?

Sunday morning session at Transparency Camp 2009. Led by Micah Sifry.

Types of answers→ utility and dialogue

Neutralizer of apathy→ more participation (22K comments on unemployment extension bill on OpenCongress.org, PublicMarkup.org)

Neutralize abstraction: Make it real (Recovery.gov, FedSpending.org)

FOIA uses by local activists/heroes (push by SunshineWeek)

Better government services (DMV experience), open transit data leads to 3rd party apps, and savings

Helps issue activists focus by knowing where the money/influence is concentrated, then work more effectively

Helps congressional staff focus (they’re looking more at user comments on StimulusWatch.org, for ex, or OpenCongress, which is a better way for gleaning pubic mood than email)

Quality of life research, such as before buying a house you look on Everyblock or SchoolDataDirect

Knowing what govt is doing in your name (i.e. Torture memos)

Show me the money (stop waste(

Health data (food recall news, toxic release inventory)…Can we make this more before the fact, rather than rubber-necking after the accident?

Does transparency save lives?

Yes, look at the Innocence Project

Look at the level of detail in an NTSB accident report

Food for thought:

-Are we aiming at the right data? People want current info that they can use, such as live traffic info, or a map showing them how pending cuts in MTA transit bill may affect their local service

-Can we do a better job of sharing best practices, success stories? Need to keep finding and highlighting good outcomes from usage of our sites and tools

-If we show users that government officials are actually listening, these sites (like OpenCongress.org) become even more valuable for their users. So, shall we expose the % of traffic coming from Capitol Hill IP addresses? (without any personal data)

Recently a Nevada legislator used Mixed Ink to crowdsource a solar energy bill. Let’s get that story out there.

Can we make our tech tools more pro-active?