Help Us Improve Government

Help Us Improve Government: From GovGab:
"Our guest blogger today is Bev Godwin who works at the U.S. General Services Administration on new media and citizen engagement.

You may have noticed over the past year that more government agencies
are asking for public feedback. Soon after taking office last year,
President Obama asked government agencies to start asking for ideas and
advice from people like you.


Agencies have responded to President Obama's request by creating
innovation contests, blogs, and simply asking for feedback through
services like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. The response has been
fantastic, and it's clear that there's no shortage of Americans willing
to improve their government.


Today, we're asking you to help make the government even more open.
Now you can share your ideas with individual agencies and let them know
how openness, participation and collaboration, and innovation can help
the government solve the problems that matter most to you.



In response to President Obama's "Open
Government Directive," federal agencies now have "/Open" pages where you can learn
about each agency's work to become more open and collaborative. Each of
these pages also includes a link to a dialog tool where you can share
your ideas and discuss or vote on ideas submitted by others on how
agencies can:

• Work better with others inside & outside the government
• Improve the availability & quality of information
• Be more innovative & efficient
• Create their Open Government Plans

To join the conversation, visit the dialog tools of the agencies that
interest you. Representatives from each agency will be listening and
will use your ideas as they develop their plans.



Together, we can create a better and more open government. "