USA Sunlight Foundation throws light on Lobbying

[Michael Hardner]

As with so many aspects of contemporary life, and indeed with democracy itself, America is at the edge of the wave with regards to trends in democracy. We in Canada can only hope that this also applies to the Sunlight Foundation, which uses open data to throw light on the practices of their government.

Fascinating article on the depth of the lobbying effort in the US:

http://sunlightfoundation.com/blog/2014/01/22/revolving-door-lobbyists-take-over-k-street/

Between 1998 and 2012, total lobbying revenue associated with active contract lobbyists almost doubled in real dollars, from $703 million to $1.32 billion. This is consistent with the general increase in lobbying over this time.

For $1.32 Billion (!) in lobbying to be worthwhile, then we should expect that it results in tens of billions of dollars of revenue to be allocated in ways that the lobbyists are exerting influence.

There appears to be a new drive to bind open data to apps. To me, an app is the equivalent of a data zoo: it makes data appear tame and unthreatening, with a benevolent government zookeeper standing by in his pith helmet to quell any concerns. In fact, there is much more that we can do with data and not all of it is innocuous to its government masters.

[bush_cheney2004]

No worries...as I am sure that Canadian lobbyists are part of such growth for things like the Keystone XL pipeline and country-of-origin labeling (COOL).

[Michael Hardner]

No worries... (COOL).

Indeed, you are the Bobby McFerrin of this board, and indeed quite cool.

[eyeball]

As with so many aspects of contemporary life, and indeed with democracy itself, America is at the edge of the wave with regards to trends in democracy. We in Canada can only hope that this also applies to the Sunlight Foundation, which uses open data to throw light on the practices of their government.

This revolving door business between power and wealth was apparent in the fishing industry decades ago. We tried to point out the canaries that were dying up and down the coast as a result but the response from Canada was kinda like BC's, vapid and contemptuous.

One can always hope but...meh. I guess I'm kinda with BC on this one too.

[Michael Hardner]

We tried to point out the canaries that were dying up and down the coast as a result but the response from Canada was kinda like BC's, vapid and contemptuous.

There is a case to be made within the realm of social media theory that this situation was a prime example of improper alignment of public and power. I have been blogging about publics and counterpublics lately.

In a better situation, the minister of fisheries would hold his/her power with the blessing of key stakeholders including independent fishers such as yourself, rather than holding based on disinterested and de-situated folks like me, in Ontario.