Governmental Transparency?

Posted by Cliff on Monday November 18, 2002 @09:11AM from the stuff-to-think-about dept.

CosmicDreams asks: "With our concern about transparency in business transactions these days, should we focus on what is arguably the largest business of all, government? Today, it is possible to build a system in which the official interactions (social, fiscal, and oral) of our elected officials can be presented to world in an uncensored, unspinned, and quick-to-market medium. Unlike talk radio, newspapers, and late night stand-up routines, only the internet can possibly supply the public which a near instantaneous collection of news in sheer bulk form. What would the effects of such a system be on America and the world? I would be interested in hearing opinions on this matter."

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Info in Bulk Form is useless. by Dr.+Bent · 2002-11-18 09:25 · Score: 3, Interesting

This is basic information theory. A particular peice of information only has value when it is significantly different from other information. Since nobody has yet been able to develop technology that distinguishes "Dog Bites Man" from "Man Bites Dog" at the semantic level, you need people to sift through it for you. This is why you hire a lawyer, watch the nightly news, or read slashdot...because getting information in bulk form in bulk is way too time consuming.

Don't get me wrong here, I'm all for transparent government, but if nobody has the time or energy to sift through the mountians of info, it isn't going to do you a damn bit of good.