Comments on: A Twitterfall in Congress? http://genshift.com/government-20/a-twitterfall-in-congress/ Paving the path for the next generation of government. Fri, 05 Mar 2010 19:32:16 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.2 hourly 1 By: Andrew Krzmarzick http://genshift.com/government-20/a-twitterfall-in-congress/comment-page-1/#comment-2255 Andrew Krzmarzick Wed, 23 Sep 2009 19:18:34 +0000 http://genshift.com/?p=279#comment-2255 Thanks for your feedback, Wayne. And I am glad that Bill pitched in, too! I agree with you in the need for input much sooner than when it arrives on the Floor. In the <a href="http://www.govloop.com/profiles/blogs/a-twitterfall-in-congress" rel="nofollow">GovLoop discussion on this same post</a>, some folks concur with your point and indicate that this kind of immediate feedback mechanism could be displayed during subcommittee meetings, engaging more people (both public servants and citizens) than only the Members and staffers who are sitting behind closed doors in DC at this crucial phase in the life of a piece of legislation. Let's keep pushing on this general idea: that the people implementing the projects should have a hand in project design. That's one of the key ideas of Bill's book...can't wait to read more and share additional ideas. Thanks for your feedback, Wayne. And I am glad that Bill pitched in, too! I agree with you in the need for input much sooner than when it arrives on the Floor. In the GovLoop discussion on this same post, some folks concur with your point and indicate that this kind of immediate feedback mechanism could be displayed during subcommittee meetings, engaging more people (both public servants and citizens) than only the Members and staffers who are sitting behind closed doors in DC at this crucial phase in the life of a piece of legislation.

Let’s keep pushing on this general idea: that the people implementing the projects should have a hand in project design. That’s one of the key ideas of Bill’s book…can’t wait to read more and share additional ideas.

]]> By: William Eggers http://genshift.com/government-20/a-twitterfall-in-congress/comment-page-1/#comment-2254 William Eggers Mon, 21 Sep 2009 23:24:46 +0000 http://genshift.com/?p=279#comment-2254 Wayne, I agreee with you. Input needs to come first in the ideation process. That can be accomplished through Web 2.0 tools and other means. In the design process, however, we need to involve implementers, consultants, process experts etc but also citizens in the respect that the design phase is when a lot of the prototyping should take place. Today, sadly it mostly doesn't. Bill Wayne,

I agreee with you. Input needs to come first in the ideation process. That can be accomplished through Web 2.0 tools and other means.

In the design process, however, we need to involve implementers, consultants, process experts etc but also citizens in the respect that the design phase is when a lot of the prototyping should take place. Today, sadly it mostly doesn’t.

Bill

]]> By: Wayne Moses Burke http://genshift.com/government-20/a-twitterfall-in-congress/comment-page-1/#comment-2252 Wayne Moses Burke Mon, 21 Sep 2009 15:39:38 +0000 http://genshift.com/?p=279#comment-2252 Nice thoughts, Andy (as usual). I would argue however, that by the time they are debating a bill on the House floor, it's way too late for input from the public or from the agencies. The input needs to come much earlier in the process during the actual writing and committee approval stages. And while I'm obviously a huge proponent of Twitter (http://GovLuv.org), I also don't believe it's the appropriate medium for policy formulation. The kind of serious consideration of the ramifications of policy that you are proposing needs to be undertaken in a format that is more wiki or blog-like, with commenting allowed on specific lines and paragraphs of a proposed law. And while this sort of public discussion should be open to everyone, the reality is that only people with a vested interest or concern around the topic being discussed will take the time and effort to really think it through. Beth Noveck covers these sort of ideas in her book 'Wiki Government'. This is a fascinating discussion that you've opened and it makes me realize that it is much more than just citizens that need a say in policy formulation. Realistically, government employees are much closer to the difficulties of executing a given policy and let's face it - if you want the best and most current information, you need to go to the practitioners. Nice thoughts, Andy (as usual). I would argue however, that by the time they are debating a bill on the House floor, it’s way too late for input from the public or from the agencies. The input needs to come much earlier in the process during the actual writing and committee approval stages.

And while I’m obviously a huge proponent of Twitter (http://GovLuv.org), I also don’t believe it’s the appropriate medium for policy formulation. The kind of serious consideration of the ramifications of policy that you are proposing needs to be undertaken in a format that is more wiki or blog-like, with commenting allowed on specific lines and paragraphs of a proposed law. And while this sort of public discussion should be open to everyone, the reality is that only people with a vested interest or concern around the topic being discussed will take the time and effort to really think it through. Beth Noveck covers these sort of ideas in her book ‘Wiki Government’.

This is a fascinating discussion that you’ve opened and it makes me realize that it is much more than just citizens that need a say in policy formulation. Realistically, government employees are much closer to the difficulties of executing a given policy and let’s face it – if you want the best and most current information, you need to go to the practitioners.

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