I’ll admit it, I was a bad American Tuesday night. I was far too busy with my homework to bother watching President Barack Obama talk about the economy, as I’m sure a lot of other people had their own reasons for not watching the President speak. There’s no way I’ll miss him speak on Thursday, though.
Most of us are familiar with how Obama used technology and the Internet to help him win the job as President. He also promised to use the Internet as a means of talking to the American people, which he is making good on now. American citizens can sign up on the new Open For Questions section of whitehouse.gov, ask questions and vote on the questions they want to see answered. President Obama will be answering the most popular questions live online on Thursday.
The idea sounds interesting, and as of this writing there’s about 8,000 people registered, which will hopefully increase soon enough. It seems like a great way for the people to connect to the government as they connect with others through the Internet. Rather than relying solely on the traditional press to ask the questions they want, people can vote on the questions they actually want the President to answer. It also will serve as a great way for Obama, and anyone else to see just what’s the mind of those who are using the service. Just because he’ll be answering the most popular questions, doesn’t mean Obama or any other politician can’t read as many of the questions as they want to see what questions people are really asking.
Thursday’s session will be focused on the economy as a lot of things are recently. If it proves successful it may result in more sessions on other topics, which would truly bring about greater communication with the government through the tools available.
One fun fact after reading the Terms of Service on Open For Questions: questions and voting are both hosted by Google, though all of the information belongs to whitehouse.gov. So there’s no coincidence that the layout reminds me a bit of Google Reader and GMail.
Read [Reuters]
Read [White House Blog]
How may I get a note to President Obama to convey major GOOD news from California regarding SUCCESSFUL 2009 hires in Silicon Valley as a result of the govt. funded "NOVA-CONNECT Program" ?
There are many recent new-hire success stories, & the nation needs to be aware of this continuing GOOD news. We want to share the positive results, so that other Americans will also have hope/confidence in our economy. How may I provide information to the President?
best regards,
Interested American & Long time Silicon Valley employee,
Anne Sledge
IN 1999 I WAS DIGNOSED WITH BREAST CANCER JUST TWO YRS AFTER MY SISTER PASSED AWAY FROM THIS HORRIBLE ILLNESS, IF THAT WAS NOT ENOUGH I LOST MY JOB, INSURANCE,HOME, AND MUCH MUCH MORE, MY QUESTION IS WHY SHOULD I BE PUNSHIED FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY OUT OF MY HANDS. I HAVE BEEN PUNSHED FOR SOMETHING I NEVER SAW COMING. IMY FAMILY IS MY MAAIN CONCERN NOW SINCE THE CANCER HAS REOCCURED THREE TIMES OF THIS DATE, I CAN NOT PROVIDED FOR MY FAMILY NOW AND THE SAD THING IS WHEN I PASS AWAY THEY WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR THAT WHERE IS IT SAID YOU ARE PUNSHIED FOR GETTING SICK.RIGHT HERE. I CAN EXCEPT MY FAITH BUT MY CHILDREN SHOULD NOT HAVE HAD TO PAY MY PRICE TO. THIS IS NOT FAIR.BUT I LOVE AMERICA
What is a possibility to improve relationship with Iran. Iran is after all a major country in middle east with some potent and intelligent population. It does help both nation to improve relationship both politically, economically and help to improve the peace in middle east between Pilistian and jewish state.
Dear Mr obama,
I have a compailant against your city. they were harrasing the people why?
i have a medicaid they ask me some papers and i provide them but they said they were not satisfied . i dont understand i am not working i have a infant child . i dont have a property . My husband have a house and it was forclouser in 2008 and now i am having very diificult time to even fulfill basic needs for my child and family. Please tell me as a taxpayer what is my fault? Is paying our taxes and having no debts on me. I want to ask you why is HRA is harrasing my family? please reply me and i can also provide any other info you need. `
what will you do to the desperate countrys in africa like ethiopia in which needs schoolarship deals.
help our country