Posted by
Jennifer Bell on
URL: http://civicaccess.416.s1.nabble.com/maybe-OT-values-of-CivicAccess-tp1420p1424.html
I think we agree: the trick is to get the right data.
As an example, I was sent this article a few months ago by an economist. It's an interesting view on how some key US economic indicators in government reporting were unilaterally re-defined in the 90s, with a) hardly anyone noticing, and b) potentially disastrous results:
http://www.weedenco.com/welling/Downloads/2006/0804welling022106.pdf
The take of the article is that the indicators were re-defined specifically so that the govt. could keep on reporting rosy numbers. Access to raw data, and forums where people who disagree can voice their opinion, is a step in the right direction.
Jennifer
VisibleGovernment.ca
> --- On Wed, 11/19/08, Robin Millette
> <
[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> > From: Robin Millette <
[hidden email]>
> > Subject: Re: [CivicAccess-discuss] maybe OT - values
> of CivicAccess
> > To:
[hidden email], "civicaccess
> discuss" <
[hidden email]>
> > Received: Wednesday, November 19, 2008, 3:56 PM
> > On Wed, Nov 19, 2008 at 14:31, Jennifer Bell
> > <
[hidden email]> wrote:
> >
> > > I'm not sure I understand the question, but I
> > think it's a linked chain: open government data
> will
> > lead to increased citizen involvement, which will lead
> to
> > improvements in efficiency almost by definition.
> >
> > But, like stats, data can be made to say just about
> > anything. An
> > important part of this process is knowing the source
> of the
> > data,
> > validating it, scrutinizing it, even collecting our
> own.
>
>
>
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