Obama Releases Latest Transparency Tool

The Obama transition rolled out a new version of one of its transparency tools on Monday: an updated website that allows interested observers to more easily read and submit questions to the staff.

A few weeks ago, the President-elect's new media team put together an "Open For Questions" feature that provided a platform for citizens to query the team on relevant topics. The move was hailed by good-government groups as a nod towards inclusiveness and accountability. There were some complaints, however, as questions surrounding Obama's involvement (or lack thereof) in the Rod Blagojevich controversy were flagged by users and pushed to the bottom of popularity rankings.

Nevertheless, the general goal of the venture was met. Visitors to change.gov pushed to the forefront questions that they most wanted the President-elect to field. Now, they will have an easier time doing it. The new function to the site allows viewers to sort questions -- on which they can vote -- by category or topic. As the page reads:

"In this round, you can still view all of the questions that have been submitted -- or you can break down the questions by category for easier navigation. For instance, you can read the top-ranking question regarding Energy and the Environment and browse through other questions on the same topic by clicking on that issue.

We think this change is valuable. It serves the other key purpose of features like Open for Questions: making your input easy to pass on to the members of our Transition team that are crafting solutions to these vital issues right now."

For the full release and the updated site, click here.

Comments

[NationalTreasure]

is tyhis going to be as transparent as the opaque report on the transition team's contact with Blagojevich?

[cmugs]

here's a roundabout question: One of the top questions on the site was regarding the legalization of marijuana. This would at least initially seem to indicate that this is a foremost question on the collective mind of the American people - even in these trying times. The administration answered that question with a one sentence flat-line "no." Obviously it wouldnt be politically savvy for the admin shout and jump up and down and say "yes," but obviously its something that a lot of americans are thinking about and it just got a bland one sentence declination. What are others' thoughts on this?

[fredamae]

600,000 annual fatalities from the use of FDA Approved Legal drugs, compared to 17,000 annual fatalities from All Illegal drug use combined indicates something deeply, seriously wrong.

Cannabis fatalities remains at Zero,

$7.7 Billion Tax Dollars wasted Every Year on Just Cannabis Eradication Programs.

Cannabis Production is kinda "outsourced", look at the Drug Wars in Mexico/Our Boarders..­..If it were Legal here, Taxed, etc..Then We could meet our Own Demands, "they" wouldn't have to Export it to the U.S. Immediately Lowering Crime and Increasing Public Safety.

De-Scheduling, Regulating and Taxing Responsible Adult use And Medical Research, with NO FDA involvement would net around $31,000,00­0,000.00 in NEW Tax Revenue.

It is Time for Congress to Listen to the People and take action as their constituents wish.
PE Obama Cannot reverse the current Laws, Rules and Policies that govern the use of Cannabis.
I understand this is a matter that Has to go before Congress.

Will he sign into Law the Repeal of Cannabis Prohibition? Wisely invest Tax Monies in Renewable energy to create jobs from New revenue?

The Gov't has Classified Industrial Hemp as a Fed Schedule I drug along side Cocaine/Heroin.

All this waste must be approached from a "Common Sense" rationale and Cannabis Prohibition Must, finally, once and for All..End

92% approve of Medical use
60% + agree with Responsible Adult use.

[OutsiderSA]

As an ex user in my youth, the problem if legalized, it will go down to being available to minors and it does not help concentration at schoolwork, it only makes you think you are clever - but then we do have some seriously strong stuff here in SA - one joint and you are out of it literally for 2 hours.

The spin off munchies and thirsties may also have an economic boom but all in all, kids should not have easier access IMO.

[Suzanne525]

Haven't been to the site - yet, but my thoughts on your post are as follows: This is not the time to spend time on maryjane legalization. Too many other really important priorities. If everything in our world was in good shape, then maybe we could push it.

Can you imagine the outcry if that was even being discussed by the new team, let alone enthusiastically? It will be an uphill battle, if it ever happens. The alcoholic beverage lobby will be against it.

[Cyrus8899]

Exactly right, Obama may have plenty of political capital right now, but considering the major issues that will be on his plate from Day 1, advocating marijuana law reform is a sure fire path to a hostile Congress, and possibly a one term Obama administration.

I would prefer he deal with the massive economic and foreign policy challenges that await rather than waste time on a comparatively minor issue.

[lvdragonlady]

Thank you for commenting on the 'mary jane' comments.
We (America) have much bigger more pressing issues then the legalization of pot.
Let's get America back on her feet and then ask about legalizarion. Obama has a full plate right now.

[zizyphus]

Since illegal drug money is what fuels the investment banks and the intelligence agencies, it will be an uphill battle all the way. State by state people must demand the right to use nature's most benign medicine - cannabis.

When the majority of states have systems set up for distributing medical marijuana, public opinion will change. Actually, the majority of people want it legal now. It is the politicians who don't have the nerve. Obama knows it would be dangerous for him to speak out on this now.

[Cyrus8899]

That's probably a question best asked of the person who's been in power the last 8 years, rather than the guy who hasn't even taken office.

[nupeace]

Asking for transparency now is a bit hypocritical where were all these questions the last 8 years?

[FilmDoctor]

Obama is just another lousy Chicago crook. Take away his power to "change" America. Government is too big. Meet the new boss; same as the old boss.

[coolhive]

LOL! Good one.

[nupeace]

We know where your heart is

[Suzanne525]

Uh, same place as the soul??

[gfs5541]

To be honest in reference to the flagging: So what? People get flagged when they post inappropriate ads on craigslist personals section! That's "Troll Control" at it's finest folks! I think as long as the questions are thoughful,honest and revalent , then these questions will be recognized and some of this nation's problems may get resolved in the long run.

[blood1]

For those of you who are willing to complain..­.have you signed up at Change.gov...that way, you get an email about updates to the site. Thus far, the Obama team has tried to keep everyone involved by using not only that website...­but also tries to get as much info out on CSPAN as well.

This may not be perfect...­but is so much better than anything the GOP admin has done. Paulsen's Treasury update site continues to black out all the "bank deals and fees" and it has legislated transparen­cy...so before the Right complains.­..get your own ship in order!

[JulieKay]

I tried to signon and post a question earlier. The site must have been overloaded, it was doing weird things. I had to close the web page.

[cantstopme2019]

The media needs true journalist like this beauty

http://www.flickr.com/photos/coyote2012/2719271295/

[vgirl1]

Anything President-elect Obama and his team can do to go around the media when the media deals in foolishness versus the real issues Americans want addressed the better.

If this forces the media to go back to real news instead of gossip, innuendo and attemps to just eat up 24 hour of air space then I say hooray.

Go Obama!

[scooperss]

Agree with you there as long as it's the truth.

[strangerinthenight]

This is a good start.

But there has to be safeguards about data mining and profiles can be stored and used as election tool to aide their party. They can always track down ISP and hi-tech can be manipulated.

[Coinyer101]

apparently there was an earlier version of this, and the top question was on legalizing pot. when posting the answers to the questions, they moved that question to the bottom and posted a one-sentence 'answer' :
Barack Obama does not support the legalization of marijuana.

The new 'big' question is basically 'Could you elaborate a little more? There is obvious concern in the country.'

[QuietNetworker]

Is that the kind of answer we're going to get?

...I'm for it?
...I'm again' it.

If this really becomes no more than social
networking masturbation, let's just end it now.

Warmly,

Paulie Sabol

[fredamae]

We should All be concerned, If you care about How Your Tax dollars are spent!

$7.7 BILLION invested Annually on Just Cannabis Eradication Programs and for What?

Currently We are getting a Zero Return on these investments of Our Tax Money.

Where else could this money be utilized for the Good of the Country?

I am No Safer because a Cannabis Consumer has been Prosecuted and Incarcerated and neither are you.

The only benefactors are the Prison Industrial Complex and Law Enforcement, Not the Public!

[Coinyer101]

i just spent about 3 hours there. it was fun. i posted about 10 questions and immediately started getting responses. you can check your own questions and see how many voted for or against it. other than the two current 'biggies', (the economy and the midea st confl ict), most questions were on legalizing pot, and the warren issue.

[applescruff]

I really don't believe Palin can stay out of trouble or avoid more scandals before 2012. She is an attention addict and will do anything (right or wrong) to make sure she gets more of it.

[tel8034]

OK Lynn Sweet ..........­..........­.... What say you now about the Obama transparency?

www.change.gov has been around since the election ..........­..........­...... Obviously the "investigative" journalists do not engage in investigation, but rather they are still in the Obama GOTCHA season.

[skaterdon66]

Obama is opaque, like all pols..

[janinius]

why do you have to pick on the polish people?

[CLEDUC]

This technology and concept is new. I'm pleased that there's an attempt being made.

I'm fuzzy on how beneficial it will be. If 300 million people ask a few questions, they'll still be reading the questions years from now.

The 420 sets of documents on the various topics that are being considered supported by a search engine to help find them is pretty decent and provides something useful.

At the very least, I'm giving them some time to shake out the concept and what they're trying to do. Some aspects are fairly ambitious tasks. If the benchmark is what the last president did, we're way ahead of the game already.

[bubbuh]

They are using knowledge base tools that have been around in the tech world for 30 years. How well it works will depend on how good a job is done on the key word tagging. 300 million people won't be asking questions. I would be surprised if they got 100,000 on a heavy day, at least at the beginning. Think about the all the folks who ask questions here when they could easily get the answer(s) by using a search engine.

I tried out their first attempt and thought I would wait till rev 2.0 came along. it's out; so, I plan to give it a try later this week., New Years Day, probably since that's likely to be a low traffic time.