US Opens Portal for Online Comments on Regulations

Judg3 writes " My most recent newsletter from the Center for Democracy and Technology included a link to the newly unveiled Regulations.Gov site that allows individuals to more easily find and comment on proposed rules being considered by federal agencies. Comment on proposed rules ranging from the Secretary of Defense, Coast Guard, Veteran Affairs Admission, to even the Post Office." Here's a newsletter about the site.

Comments

Incentive to even listen?

[mmol_6453]

Now we'll get Slashdot articles linking to places on regulations.gov, and we can make a difference.

Although, I'm not sure what their incentive will be for listening to the public. They're insulated by two different elected branches of the government, and elections, while they happen once per year, are heavily influenced by people with money.

Perhapse the solution would be to get a lot of people involved with it. Not just Techno-geeks, but old-time Ham enthusiasts and other occupation-specific people.

sigh

[zhevek]

I guess this is needed since writing to elected officials only produces auto replies... so hopefully this does more to represent the will of the people.

But the cynic in me thinks the millions that lobbys spend will cancel out any good this site does.

Ah, the beauty of democracy...

[gillbates]

You've just discovered one of the most effective means of controlling a large group of people: Listen to them, but do as you please.

Freedom of speech isn't defended because our government believes in the rights of the individual, but rather because it's an effective technique for diffusing the anger of the political minority. Remember the WTC protests? What about the peace protests? Did they change our foreign policy? Were they even considered?

Has political protest ever made a difference in American policy? The short answer is no. Rather, allowing political speech is the means by which politicians keep us busy while they conduct business as usual.

Historically, democracies have been ruled by the rich and popular. Historically, monarchies also have been ruled by the rich and popular. The difference? In democracies, the people believe that they are free; in monarchies, they know better...