[Tfug] Fwd: Open Government Initiative

[Joshua Zeidner]

  Just pointing out that these information services are being
threatened.  I outlined the nature of the risks in one of my previous
posts.

  Personally, I don't agree that this particular service is 'racially
profiling', but rather offering a service to the community to help
them manage crime.  I hope to see more services like it in the future.
 Maricopa county should support and implement similar services.

  -jmz


On Wed, May 9, 2012 at 5:42 PM, Christopher Robbins <robbinsc at gmail.com> wrote:
> Wait, how was that a government information service?  In fact, the story
> doesn't even say that it was attacked legally, just that a lawyer felt that
> it was condoning racial profiling?
>
> From your link -
>
> "A Valley attorney said a new website that allows users to identify anyone
> they suspect is an illegal immigrant is a recipe for racial profiling.
>  Attorney Daniel Ortega said the site, www.illegalalienreport.com, promotes
> hate based on the color of skin.
>
> The site appeared to have been taken down by Wednesday afternoon."
>
> It doesn't appear that the site was run by the government, or taken down by
> government forces...
>
> I'm with John - why not let it run its course instead of assuming ill
> intent?
>
>
> On Wed, May 9, 2012 at 5:32 PM, Joshua Zeidner <jjzeidner at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>  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
>> >>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Tucson Free Unix Group - tfug at tfug.org
>> Subscription Options:
>> http://www.tfug.org/mailman/listinfo/tfug_tfug.org
>
>
>
>
> --
> Christopher P Robbins
> P: 480.336.3043
> C: 928.257.6368
> Email: robbinsc at gmail.com
>
>