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US Federal Government Launches Data.gov

Posted by timothy on from the selective-reporting dept.

Elastic Vapor writes "I'm happy to announce that the US Federal Government earlier today launched the new Data.Gov website. The primary goal of Data.Gov is to improve access to Federal data and expand creative use of those data beyond the walls of government by encouraging innovative ideas (e.g., web applications). Data.gov strives to make government more transparent and is committed to creating an unprecedented level of openness in Government. The openness derived from Data.gov will strengthen the Nation's democracy and promote efficiency and effectiveness in Government." I hope the data reported will be impartially selected, honestly gathered, clearly explained, and perfectly accurate. Perhaps they could start with inspiration from the Concord Coalition's National Debt Counter.

5 of 109 comments (clear)

  1. Hope springs eternal by gammygator · · Score: 5, Insightful

    "I hope the data reported will be impartially selected, honestly gathered, clearly explained, and perfectly accurate."

    Good luck with that, this is the government we're talking about...

    --

    No Nyarlathotep, No Chaos
    Know Nyarlathotep, Know Chaos
    1. Re:Hope springs eternal by SatanicPuppy · · Score: 5, Insightful

      He misses the point with his naivety, but you miss it with your cynicism. The data will still be incredibly useful, even if they're trying to game it, or sloppily collecting it, or if they're putting it up in an obscure, unorganized format.

      A broad enough dataset can be used to determine things well beyond it's intended scope.

      --
      ad logicam Claiming a proposition is false because it was presented as the conclusion of a fallacious argument.
  2. Stick it in Wolfram Alpha by malevolentjelly · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Let's get some of this data into Wolfram Alpha. Then we query things and get simple charts and graphs that will scare the living hell out of the average tax payer. "Annual cost of tank treads"... "total corporate welfare"...

  3. Will it change with each new administration? by really_irish_man · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The government is an easy target to pick on, but they do have some really useful sites such as thomas.loc.gov and census.gov. Data.gov is a great concept, my only concern is will it change every time a new president takes office? Just as the various executive orders are issued and rescinded based on who's in power, will they also tinker with what data, data.gov will own?

  4. Mirror it quick by TomRC · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I hope someone will mirror the data there the instant it appears, so when someone in power decides that an inconveniently revealed truth needs to be shoved down the memory hole, a web app will instantly highlight any redacted information.