[Tfug] Fwd: Open Government Initiative

[Joshua Zeidner]

 sorry wrong link : http://www.ktar.com/?nid=6&sid=1539055

 -jmz


On Wed, May 9, 2012 at 4:14 PM, Joshua Zeidner <jjzeidner at gmail.com> wrote:
>  A recent example of an information service being attacked legally:
>
>   http://www.ktar.com/?nid=6&sid=1539115
>
>  Unfortunately, they had to take the site down.  I'm sure similar
> services are also legally bullied.
>
>  -jmz
>
>
> On Mon, May 7, 2012 at 5:28 PM, Joshua Zeidner <jjzeidner at gmail.com> wrote:
>> 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.
>>
>>  The risk here is that ALL efforts to publish information will be
>> under the aegis of said organizations (which as claimed are private
>> non-profits).  If any efforts don't coincide with their political
>> goals, then they don't get implemented.  These kind of things are
>> constructed to appear to be positive and neutral.
>>
>>>
>>> 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?
>>
>>  If a local sheriff cannot enforce State and Federal law without
>> constant interference and harassment from the Federal government, do
>> you really think that a local IT initiative is going to be able to
>> operate without interference?  of course not.  Being that this group
>> seems both legit and unconcerned about these risks speaks loud and
>> clear.
>>
>>  -jmz
>>