A Digital Revolution In DC

Government offices are so full of "old-timers" that hearing the term Digital Revolution will send them straight to ER and maybe later to their cardiologists! The government is so full of red tape and beauracy that holding a meeting about the Digital Revolution will take 5 more years! Once that meeting finally goes under way, it will take another 10 years to approve the budget!

The examples of other governments are great but what effects those example have on the way the US Government is handling its own Digital Revolution? The answer is: NONE!

American taxpayers are programmed by the US Government to NOT raise their voice about what its NOT doing right!

Sent by HS | 2:30 PM ET | 04-14-2008

Why should I have to pay to e-file when it saves the government money? I would e-file if it was free, but I won't pay more to do it.

Sent by ann roberti | 2:46 PM ET | 04-14-2008

I would like to see elected officials blog on why or why they didn't vote on bills for examples if there are earmarks or wording they didn't agree with to stop this campaigning saying that Congressman X voted against universal Health care, Veteran benefits, etc.

Sent by Rick | 2:53 PM ET | 04-14-2008

I worked in a federal government shop. One task was to create an online price-comparison guide for alternative fuel vehicles. The web people were having some kind of technical difficulties. In a group meeting, someone suggested we exclude the prices.

To me, the idea was an amazingly counterproductive, and I said so. After a few more criticisms like that, I was ostracized, punished, and ultimately fired.

If you'd witnessed the process for making the sausages, as I have, you understand why the product is so inferior.

Sent by Tom | 2:54 PM ET | 04-14-2008

My business partner and I started a rock climbing-outfitter/guiding company in northern Arizona. It would have been great if we didn't have to wait over a year to get permits from the Forest Service to operate, being that we had to pay for the insurance policy in place before we could apply for the permits. Plus the paper we used to apply for the permit could have been saved if there was an online system.

Sent by David Malpas | 2:55 PM ET | 04-14-2008

Politicians are at heart lawyers. Lawyers avoid email and the like because it leaves a written trail.

Sent by Don Austin | 2:58 PM ET | 04-14-2008

How about we use the internet to create a REAL democracy. We could turn both houses of the government into a debate club and allow us all to vote on the bill.

With CSPAN we can watch the debate, follow it on the internet, listen to our fellow citizens in the form of blogs and then cast our vote during a specified time period.

While only a very small percentage of the population would actually vote it would be a far better representation than what we have in Washington presently. And each of would be able to vote of issues that are near or dear to us.

Sent by Skip Williams | 2:58 PM ET | 04-14-2008

Even the tax situation could stand a lot of improvement - why can't the IRS and the state tax boards let us all file for free online (without middlemen)? It saves me $30 to file a paper copy by snail-mail, but it costs them more to process my returns this way. Also, one can't even file an extension online. Silly.

Sent by Dorothea Rastegar | 2:58 PM ET | 04-14-2008

I have recently seen a question posed by John McCain on Linked In that people are asked to respond. His was asking what is the biggest current political issue. It is interesting that the oldest presidential candidate is using the newest form of communication.

Sent by Thomas Orsak | 3:01 PM ET | 04-14-2008

The franking privilege remains because only a modest proportion of voters have an e-mail address. One might consider that individuals that think the franking is not necessary are a bit out of touch and perhaps elitist (perhaps only E-mail users deserve to consult with the government). My senators and representatives both respond to my e-mail via e-mail. How much data did your guest incorporate in his book? Did he actually perform an analysis of congressional communication with constituents or is the book just a complaint. As a scientist my communication with the government (NIH) is entirely electronic.

Sent by Charles L. Brooks | 3:07 PM ET | 04-14-2008

In todays e world, If we can file taxes, we can vote for on all issues including the President! Then our sentator would carry out our wishes, by majority rule, vote by vote.

Sent by Victoria Nilsen | 3:24 PM ET | 04-14-2008

Why don't people know about usa.gov? It is the portal to all government offices and departments. It will help a citizen find the right place to answer their question.

I have been hearing cleaver PSA's advertising this web site for at least a year.

Sent by Genessa | 3:29 PM ET | 04-14-2008

Andrew, thank you for helping raise these issues more widely and quoting me.

Folks here might my slides that detail e-democracy examples from Estonia and more:
http://www.dowire.org/notes/?p=389

Sent by Steven Clift | 1:07 PM ET | 04-28-2008