If and how will Obama get citizen feedback?

November 10, 2008 | Eric Eldon | Comments |

What is president-elect Barack Obama’s new transition site, Change.gov, going to become? Right now, the site just contains basic information that the campaign has already made public. But it promises to help make the U.S. government more transparent to its citizens. This is a key part of Obama’s tech platform, and implementing it will be a main responsibility of his soon-to-be-named chief technology officer. That platform specified that web features like open commenting would be one method of getting feedback from citizens about government actions.

Meanwhile, the administration and allies are preparing “a major expansion of the White House communications operation, enabling them to reach out directly to the supporters they have collected over 21 months without having to go through the mainstream media,” according to an article today in the Washington Post. It suggests Change.gov could somehow be combined with the database of 10 million supporters’ email addresses, “perhaps with an eye toward turning [the campaign's] following into the biggest special-interest group in Washington.”

The campaign also has a successful social network, at mybarackobama.com — more information that could be used to pre-populate Change.gov with user profiles. But given the diversity of opinions among Obama supporters, not to mention the influx of everybody else who would jump into such a site, it would surely become a place for intense arguments — not just an Obama love-fest. As long as the administration cares what people say on the site, this would be a good thing.

Such a site could rely primarily on user voting, similar the way that news aggregators Digg and Reddit work, as TechDirt imagines it:

Why not create an economic roundtable of sorts online that lets more people weigh in? Let ideas in the mix bubble up to the top using ratings systems (and maybe some White House moderators) and contribute them to the mix. If someone has a particularly good suggestion, why not invite them to a meeting with those “big shot” economic advisers as well? It doesn’t mean that every hare-brained scheme needs to be listened to, but if there’s a good way to allow the best ideas to bubble up and get recognition, it could be quite a powerful new way to govern.

Or it could use automated methods to try to sort out the best recommendations, as one of our readers thought. I’m not wedded to any particular methodology, I’m more concerned about getting a free flow of thoughts without the rampant trolling one sees in the comment section of most political sites.

Implementation in any case, will likely depend on who the new Obama CTO ends up being. Google chief executive Eric Schmidt is officially not in the running. Meanwhile, Valleywag hears the CTO has been in fact named more than a week ago, according to a tipster (so before Obama was elected on Tuesday?). In the event the decision is still up in there air, readers, vote in the poll, below.

<a href="http://www.buzzdash.com/index.php?page=buzzbite&BB_id=129068">Who should be America's CTO?</a> | <a href="http://www.buzzdash.com">BuzzDash polls</a>

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About the Author, Eric Eldon

Eric currently covers digital media technology and business news, especially what's happening on social networks and their platforms. He also writes and edits stories about venture capital, and lots of other stuff, too. He started at VentureBeat in the spring of 2007, half a year or so after Matt Marshall left his reporting job at the San Jose Mercury News to found the site. Eric previously cofounded a startup called Writewith, that was building editorial software for newspapers and other groups of writers. The startup didn't work out, but he learned a lot.

  • PrivatePete
    "Change.gov could somehow be combined with the database of 10 million supporters’ email addresses"

    If mine were one of those 10 million email addresses, there's no way I'd ever want it folded into a .gov database. Bad idea. "Church" and state. Campaigns and government functions should not mix in an official way like this. What if a Republican administration in 8 years uses the change.gov database to compile a list of people due for "random" IRS audits?

    Self-signups for the .gov database? Sure, no problem.

    Hopefully the grownups at the Commerce Department will throw some cold water on the former idea with a refresher course in the Federal online privacy regulations currently in force.
  • PrivatePete, the point is that they'd be pre-populating the site, which can be good for jump-starting interaction. But I see your point, too.
  • jv
    Are you guys drunk? Obama is not interested in Citizen feedback any more than Bush or Clinto were. They just want you vote every 4 years.
  • Maybe, maybe not.
  • a friend
    fyi, Sonal is an amazing & brilliant person, but unlikely to take a CTO-focused role. her expertise is financial/managerial, and her work at Google.org (note: *not* Google.com), Goldman Sachs, Treasury Dept, & IndiCorps has focused on finance & policy topics, also humanitarian efforts, rather than technology engineering. while she is certainly tech savvy, i'd be surprised if she took on such a role.

    personally speaking, i imagine the CTO role will be a challenging one with multiple cross-functional reports. not necessarily a silicon valley insider's highest aspiration, as much as it might serve our country in a very important function.
  • Thanks for the input. I'd noted Sonal was at Google.org when I mentioned her position in a previous article, by the way -- which isn't necessarily less of a plus. Maybe her breadth of experience would be good for the CTO job?
  • Robert Chen
    After Democraftic party take over, we should reverse some change what Bush had done in favor of the rich.
    1. Overtime should include the time worked not at the scheduled hours, not more than 40 hours a week. Of course these hours must have proof of working for company.
    2. If employees not use up vacation hour, employer should not think employees give up their right. More than 2 years ago, employees used to be paid for un-used hours.
    Bush change these at 1st and second terms in favor of the rich, and the rich still move oversea.
    Thank you

    Best Regards,
    Robert Chen
  • Betty Atkison
    Why not give all Americans that file a Income Tax Return who are 21 years of age or older, one household, get a stimulus million dollar check (tax free). Which have to pay off their own forecloser (get thier own houses back), mortgage, paying off all credit card debts, pay off income tax debts delinquent, have to pay off a car or buy a new car, by putting all that money back into the small and large businesses. By doing this it could create shorter unemployment lines, less welfare, less bankruptcy, and create more income for all businesses large and small. THE AMERICAN PEOPLE NEED A BAILOUT!!! This is my personal opinion.
  • agha4
    Subject Peace and Prosperity
    Dear President Barrack Obama
    The Great Leader of the World

    I Agha Dilbar have sent Mr. President 100 registered research Letters (1000 new ideas to develop America and to Change the World for Peace and Prosperity) through Embassy of USA Islamabad till today and also direct sent these registered Letters to Whitehouse Washington DC 20500.These letters have been written on the guidelines of CHANGE WE NEED. And these letters are about the Common Men Problems of respected American Peoples and their Solutions. To end, Economic Recession, Unemployment and to Finish War, all round the World for Peace and Prosperity. In these letters I have sent one thousand new scientific Planning /Suggestions, about every walk of life for Peace through Friendship Progress and Prosperity all over the World.

    Dear Barrack Obama, the Great Leader of the World, my Friend, my Brother, Provide
    an opportunity to Agha Dilbar to pay an Official Visit to America, that we two brothers can sit together and by halting this horrible war(In this war 1-million peoples have died from 9/11 till today, if this war continues, it will become the 111- World War.200-Million people would die, if 111-World War is triggered) can take out 6.5 billion people of the World from abyss of destruction and then put them on the road to Progress and Prosperity.

    Dear President Barrack Obama considers, from 9/11 till today, America has conducted
    many war operations in connection with War on Terror, resulting the circle of war has spread hundred times. Millions innocent persons have died. Many
    more have been rendered homeless. One Lak (10000) war affected youth joined the army of Al-Qaida and Talban by the help of anti American countries have begun gorilla war in a horrible manner. It is the result of wrong war strategy. I Agha Dilbar desire to solve all above mentioned problems in a meeting with President Barrack Obama by adopting new revolutionary planning by brining an end to present gorilla war in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan. In the result the World can enter in a peaceful, advanced and progressive world, May it be so.

    I Agha Dilbar have a new War Strategy to achieve success through Table Talk between Talban, Pakistan and American Govts. 90% of Talban that are fighting against Pak Army belong from Swat and Tribal Areas of NWFP. I can provide America all realistic facts in such manner that their implementation could convert these Talban into Patriotic Citizens of Pakistan. In this War Strategy Pakistan Gov will never send his Heavy Artillery, Tanks, Cannons and Air craft in war. In this way 5-million persons will never Displaced. In the end Talban by their will handover, their Weapons to Pakistan Gov, they will come to Table Talk and Suicide Bombing will come to an end in Pakistan. Through this War Strategy Pakistani and American Govts can save expenses
    on war. Through this planning American and Pakistani Govts can utilize their saving on war budgets for development of Schools, Hospitals, Colonies, Markets, Roads, Bridges, Dams, Canals and Industries of Swat and Tribal Areas of NWFP that are war affected. On account of present war strategy ,Billion Dollars are being waisted yearly.
    This war can cause Fall of America instead of continuation of war,my best suggestion for America must keep his Supper Power on the World and should conquer the World instead of war, but by his No-1 scientific tecnology spending on agricular,trade,education, scientfic development and tourisim,all round the World. making an end to Economic Crsis in America.

    A new Global Package is being offered for your kind honour.America will have to make complete and final announcement that in future all Multinational American Companies to get free land on 20-years lease and will set up under the BOOT agreement (in undeveloped and poor countries) factories,mills fivestar hotels, schools,colleges,universties,hospitals,air companies ,shipping companies,latest railway, bus transport and steell mills.All these companies will be bound to handover without any cost to to underdeloped and poor countries well as their machinery and transport after 20-yaars. A new suggestion in connection with Global Peace is offered that in return of export American Agricultuar and Industrial Products, will give his 50% prophit to the exporting countries and utilize as Aid on the development of agriculture,industry,trade,education and tourisim.This suggestion,macking an end to American Economic Crsis and get full support to enhance his Foreign Public Relations.May it be so.

    To make soccessful American Foreign Policy on Global Leval the following planning
    is put before:

    a) America will have to provide free scholer ships at least to ten top master students (in each country) of medical and science in underdeveloped and poor countries of the world.
    b)Hiighly educated and well trained one hundred cultural groups (each group contains 100 persons)will have to arrange one hundred cultural shows for three months in big cities of underdeveloped and poor countries.
    c) America will have to arrange exhibitions through his Embassies for his latest products, in the underdeveloped and poor countries .All these mentioned above industrial exhibitions will be arranged contiously for two months.In the above mentionsed exhibitions present products will be sold except export order booking. In mentioned above exhibitions,American Cultural Programme show will have to arrange and American Traditional Dishes will be kept for sale. In these exhibitions American Tourisim Stalls will also be set of.

    I Agha Dilbar have sent Ten Million research Peace Letters to International Community from 9/11 incident till today. This letter is my Great Peace Mission plan which is continued. Present Global Economic Crisis is the result of War on Terror. This Crisis if further accelerates could initiate a 111-World War. Please hear my Voice of Truth; I can save the World, for my Great Peace Mission, with the help of President Barrack Obama, Peace and Prosperity.

    Mr. Barracka Obama you are not only the Leader of America, you are Great Leader of the World. In this connection I am waiting for your Email responce, dated 2.10.2009.
    Please Confirm.
    Thank you, God bless you and God bless America.

    Agha Dilbar (founder)
    International Revolution Movement
    64-neelum block ait Lahore (Pakistan)
    Phone 0092427830084
    Cell 03224628349
    Email aghadilbar4@gmail.com
    This Open Letter has been sent sixty thousand (60000) to International Community for the welfare of Humanity till today. I Agha Dilbar authorize Newspapers, Magazines, Internet, to Publish and Radio, T.V. Channels to broadcast this letter all round the World
  • edhardy622
    My girlfriend bought me a pair of Chestnut color UGG boots short for Christmas.
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