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Congress votes to make open government data the default in the United States

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Re: Congress votes to make open government data the default in the United States

#51

when I first saw this story, I thought it was a joke ala The Onion. so I looked for it on NYTimes, WaPo, CNN but didn't find it. i still can't find it there.

Open data is a relatively niche topic/policy in politics. It wouldn’t be front page news on a normal day, and so it’s not a surprise if it doesn’t make the weekend headlines, on a week in which the federal govt went into shutdown over the border wall, nevermind the resignation of the defense secretary.

Re: Congress votes to make open government data the default in the United States

#52

when I first saw this story, I thought it was a joke ala The Onion. so I looked for it on NYTimes, WaPo, CNN but didn't find it. i still can't find it there.

The part about using evidence to make decisions is a bit Onionesque, I concur.

Re: Congress votes to make open government data the default in the United States

#53

when I first saw this story, I thought it was a joke ala The Onion. so I looked for it on NYTimes, WaPo, CNN but didn't find it. i still can't find it there.

What struck you as funny or The Onion-like about it?

Re: Congress votes to make open government data the default in the United States

#54
post #42

With all the problems its government has, united states is still at it fostering innovation. Open data will bring innovation and accountability. Great move

> federal agencies should use evidence when they make public policy the cynic in me just figures that this moves the goal post such that special interest groups will adapt to produce the right evidence for the desired outcomes

You're probably right, but at least in that case there will still be a paper-trail of "data" that motivated entities can point to and make a case against.

I would rather have bogus evidence in the official record, that I can analyze and challenge, than no evidence at all.

Re: Congress votes to make open government data the default in the United States

#55
post #41
post #5

Open data is the first step. I wish I could do more business with my gov't (State and Local) through the internet. "Copies of documents cannot be ordered through this website, by email or over the telephone." Only fax and snail mail... https://www.dos.ny.gov/corps/faq_copies.page.asp

Is this because they are required to make this info accessible, but are not required to make it easy?

More importantly, there's no specific funding set aside to support the effort to make it available. Government at all levels lives and dies by funding.

Re: Congress votes to make open government data the default in the United States

#56

I'm glad they were able to do it before the new Congress came on board.

What has that to do with anything? The bill had large majority bipartisan support (which makes me suspect it's toothless...)

There's a reason it was passed during the lame duck session of the Senate, just before change of control. That's when urgent matters that are guaranteed to be ignored by the next Congress are handled.

I'm surprised this needs explaining.

Re: Congress votes to make open government data the default in the United States

#57
post #21

FOIA officers will still find a way to send me scanned PDFs of spreadsheets.

I’ll defend this practice. It’s the only way of knowing for sure that you’re transmitting exactly the information you intend to send. Even copy/paste often picks up other stuff you don’t intend.

But as the public is typically entitled to that "other stuff" information as well, you're just obstructing.

Re: Congress votes to make open government data the default in the United States

#58

Making public data open by default can arguable be an imporant step towards fostering societal equity. However, it needs to be not only "open", which typically means stashed away in some corner as a spreadsheet or database file, but accessible and useful to people. The UK has been pushing open data for years now and more and more institutions are now realizing this. Shameless plug for a research project that is aimin…

>However, it needs to be not only "open", which typically means stashed away in some corner as a spreadsheet or database file, but accessible and useful to people

True, I guess HGTG applies well here:

“But the plans were on display…” “On display? I eventually had to go down to the cellar to find them.” “That’s the display department.” “With a flashlight.” “Ah, well, the lights had probably gone.” “So had the stairs.” “But look, you found the notice, didn’t you?” “Yes,” said Arthur, “yes I did. It was on display in the bottom of a locked filing cabinet stuck in a disused lavatory with a sign on the door saying ‘Beware of the Leopard.”

Re: Congress votes to make open government data the default in the United States

#59
post #42

With all the problems its government has, united states is still at it fostering innovation. Open data will bring innovation and accountability. Great move

Innovation? Other nations (like Sweden) have had its data public for many decades now.

Re: Congress votes to make open government data the default in the United States

#60
post #21

FOIA officers will still find a way to send me scanned PDFs of spreadsheets.

I’ll defend this practice. It’s the only way of knowing for sure that you’re transmitting exactly the information you intend to send. Even copy/paste often picks up other stuff you don’t intend.

PDFs can and do send non visible data that wasn’t intended to be transmitted.
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