Government Confronts Problem of Confusing Websites
Don’t tell me these guys aren’t serious about the deficit:
As part of the Obama administration’s campaign to promote transparency, the White House announced today it intends to eliminate the public’s access to half of the federal government’s websites within the next year.
The White House said there are nearly 2,000 websites operated by the federal government, which it said confuses people.
“With so many separate sites, Americans often do not know where to turn for information,” the office of Vice President Joseph Biden Jr. said in a statement. “The administration will immediately put a halt to the creation of new websites. The administration will also shut down or consolidate 25% of the 2,000 sites over the next few months and set a goal of cutting the number of separate, standalone sites in half over the next year.”
It called the campaign of winnowing access to government web sites part of the president’s campaign “targeting duplication and waste.” The administration did not give an estimate of how much money it believes could be saved by halving the government’s Internet sites.
Translation: about six jobs in IT will be eliminated. One person will retire, and the other five will go to work for the websites we’re keeping. But we’re saving precious disk space, cutting down on internet traffic, eliminating confusion by 27%, AND increasing chocorations by 5 percent.
Which sites will go? Probably not this one, which tracks “stimulus” money and tells you where it goes. It’s transparent, to a point; you see who got the money, but not necessarily why. When I plugged in my neighborhood several grants came up: mostly schools. But $15 million went to Community Action of Minneapolis, which helps poor people. No doubt they do some good work, but the first questions on the FAQ page deal with CFL bulbs, which is not exactly a top concern for the struggling classes. (Until they have to pay for them, anyway; then there will be vouchers.) Poking around the news page, I found that the CAM had sponsored an arts festival. Which kind?
Community Action of Minneapolis is a co-sponsor of the first ever Twin Cities Native American Art Festival. Thi (sic) two day event will feature the artwork of local Native American Artists.
From Cowboy Poetry to Indian Painting. Nice to know they have it all covered.
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Comments :
Dec '10
Re: Government Confronts Problem of Confusing Websites
Oh No! I actually *agree* with the administration on this one. It should come as no surprise that government web sites are a mess. As a librarian, I often have to try and explain how to cut through the tangled web of the US government. I'd be pleased to hear this news, but I know that this effort will be as effective as the stimulus bill.
Edited on Jun 13, 2011 at 7:09pmAug '10
Re: Government Confronts Problem of Confusing Websites
The reason there are so many websites is because there are so many different government agencies.
It should be a no-brainer.
May '10
Re: Government Confronts Problem of Confusing Websites
James Lileks:
Which sites will go? Probably not this one, which tracks “stimulus” money and tells you where it goes. It’s transparent, to a point; you see who got the money, but not necessarily why. When I plugged in my neighborhood several grants came up: mostly schools.
My town (Spring, Texas) is among Ricochet's top sources of hits per capita. So I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that the number of "Awards" for my zip code is zero.
But the neighboring zip code does show some tens of millions going to the local school district as part of a State Fiscal Stabilization Fund.
Don't zoom out to the national view. It's depressing.
May '10
Re: Government Confronts Problem of Confusing Websites
James Lileks:
An Art Festival that features artwork by artists. Who'd have thunk?
Oct '10
Re: Government Confronts Problem of Confusing Websites
The regular folk must be spoon fed, too many options confuse them.
Encapsulate, manage, etc, etc.
When producing reports long ago, the rule of thumb was, If it will not fly, Chrome it !
Just another distraction...
Dec '10
Re: Government Confronts Problem of Confusing Websites
“With so many separate sites, Americans often do not know where to turn for information,” the office of Vice President Joseph Biden Jr. said in a statement."
Uh huh. That's why he is so confused. If I manage to get a job, soon, I'll sponsor him a Ricochet membership.
Jan '11
Re: Government Confronts Problem of Confusing Websites
My zip code looks like it's been hit w/ blue & green measles. Of the 15+ sites I looked at only one reported jobs: 2.5 jobs at $119k/job.
Jan '11
Re: Government Confronts Problem of Confusing Websites
Misthiocracy: The reason there are so many websites is because there are so many different government agencies.
It should be a no-brainer. · Jun 13 at 7:44pm
Right. I'll applaud this when they're decommissioning the agencies along with their websites. Especially considering the website is probably the cheapest thing about a government agency.
May '11
Re: Government Confronts Problem of Confusing Websites
2,000 sites? I don't believe that number for a minute. I'm sure that the USMC has far more than that all by itself.
How does one count "sites?" Do they go by domain name? I would think that a terribly uninstructive metric.
My battalion has two websites (each with innumerable pages), plus I think many battalions have a face book page.
There is always going to be waste, but I suspect that attempts to rid the waste and duplication will cost more than is saved. Websites that aren't useful tend not to suck up too many resources, that being generally why they're not useful.
Nov '10
Re: Government Confronts Problem of Confusing Websites
I hear fiddle playing and smell wood burning.
Re: Government Confronts Problem of Confusing Websites
Robert: Nero played a lyre. ;)
May '11
Re: Government Confronts Problem of Confusing Websites
James, can we arrange to start burning lyres? In regard to Washington, that would be quite a confligration. :)
Aug '10
Re: Government Confronts Problem of Confusing Websites
Burning liars?
Burning lawyers?
Jun '11
Re: Government Confronts Problem of Confusing Websites
We've outsourced the lyre playing...the offshoring operations can provide sitar and saraswathi veena for our musical-accompaniment-to-Rome-burning needs, but the closest they can come to actual lyre playing is the santoor.