[Tfug] Fwd: Open Government Initiative

[Chad Woolley]

Yes, http://www.opentucson.org/ is a partnership between local developers
and city government which has been working towards these goals for several
years.  I'm too busy nowadays to do anything other than spread the word, as
I did with the original forwarded post in this thread, but from the couple
of meetings I went to a couple years ago, I got the feeling that everyone
involved really wanted to make something Good happen.

So, it's a Good Thing that things are actually happening now and on the
city government radar.  We should encourage it and be positive.  If you are
interested or concerned, don't bikeshed or conspiracy-theorize on this
mailing list.  Instead, get involved with Open Tucson and make sure it gets
done right.

Apologies for bluntness, but like I said, I'm busy and just doing what I
can to spread the word.  tl;dr on all the below, and probably anything else
in this tfug thread.

Thanks,
-- Chad

On Mon, May 7, 2012 at 5:02 PM, John Gruenenfelder <jetpackjohn at gmail.com>wrote:

> On May 7, 2012 4:36 PM, "Joshua Zeidner" <jjzeidner at gmail.com> wrote:
> > Hi Keith,
> >
> >  I'm suspicious as well.
> >
> >  Most of these programs aim to appeal to ideas such as 'transparency',
> 'information access', etc. but typically want to promote some kind of
> political bias.  In the case of Tucson and Phoenix, demographics data is a
> CRITICAL NATIONAL ISSUE and I doubt very much that some local initiative
> would have the political clout to simply start publishing it on the net.
> >
> >  -jmz
>
> While I have no desire to be used or lied to, doesn't it seem
> counterproductive to assume ill will and malfeasance from the start?  Let's
> face it, this isn't something that has been tried repeatedly and ended in
> failure.  At least, not in Arizona and Tucson.
>
> It would best to take the offer at face value until there is some sign
> that the goal is something other than open government.  I should think it
> would be fairly obvious to detect being jerked around.
>
> I also don't understand your statement about the demographics data.
> Regardless of whether or not the data is nationally important, why wouldn't
> a local initiative be able to place it online?  And if dark forces come out
> of the woodwork to block this, then at least we'll know who opposes it.
>
> --John Gruenenfelder
> Systems Manager, MKS Imaging Technology, LLC.
> Try Weasel Reader for PalmOS -- http://weaselreader.org
> "This is the most fun I've had without being drenched in the blood of my
> enemies!"
> --Sam of Sam & Max
>
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