Comments on: Government as Data Source http://goodspeedupdate.com/2008/2219 Rob Goodspeed's blog Sat, 06 Mar 2010 05:30:34 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Mari http://goodspeedupdate.com/2008/2219/comment-page-1#comment-163791 Mari Wed, 04 Jun 2008 12:50:51 +0000 http://goodspeedupdate.com/2008/2219#comment-163791 I'd use it if I knew how and how to cull it. Unfortunately my talents are limited for the moment. I'd love to make a mash-up of permits, new property sales, crime, etc, it's just that the extra step needed to do so, is difficult for me. It's just better when the city has a format that allows citizens to find what they need from the city easy. I’d use it if I knew how and how to cull it. Unfortunately my talents are limited for the moment.
I’d love to make a mash-up of permits, new property sales, crime, etc, it’s just that the extra step needed to do so, is difficult for me.
It’s just better when the city has a format that allows citizens to find what they need from the city easy.

]]> By: Arlen http://goodspeedupdate.com/2008/2219/comment-page-1#comment-161967 Arlen Tue, 03 Jun 2008 14:54:49 +0000 http://goodspeedupdate.com/2008/2219#comment-161967 I think making data publicly available should be a central focus of government at all levels; what better way is there to shine some light on the very darkest recesses of bureaucracy? Unfortunately making this a priority costs money, governments aren't used to doing it, and too few people right now are clambering at the gates to get the information. I don't generally like the idea of taking what should be free public data and passing it off to private vendors (who would then turn around and sell it to the public)—I don't like it at all—but it may be preferable to the status quo wherein the lion's share of data goes entirely unreleased. I think making data publicly available should be a central focus of government at all levels; what better way is there to shine some light on the very darkest recesses of bureaucracy? Unfortunately making this a priority costs money, governments aren’t used to doing it, and too few people right now are clambering at the gates to get the information.

I don’t generally like the idea of taking what should be free public data and passing it off to private vendors (who would then turn around and sell it to the public)—I don’t like it at all—but it may be preferable to the status quo wherein the lion’s share of data goes entirely unreleased.

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