OpenGov - Open Government Brainstorm

Unfortunately the Government's Idea bank is bankruped, and need to get a non-repayable loan from the public.

Plese, imagine this: Suppose an agency wants to build something. They put out a notice and get a bunch of bids. Do the people have a say, up to this point? Probably NO!

Our officials want to be able to say HOW MUCH will it cost and for that they need the bid to avoid seeming foolish, if too low, or too high. They are not elected because of their engineering skills, those with expertise remember the blame Engineers Hoover and Carter got and abandoned their "Death Wish", like Freud suggested of those with other inclinations.

But, if we knew that, say, a Bridge to an Airport was being planned, many of us would ask that it not be a repeat of the infamous "Bridge to Nowhere" and ask "What Are The Risks? Like, what is the Traffic Trend in the Airport?" And, "Is there a change in the business that makes this Airport suited only for private business jet use?"

I am sure you can think more and better questions and we all would post them to make sure that, after the Airport Connector is build, the Airport will not become an empty Field or will they come?

In short, yes, put the ideas out there BEFORE the Request for Proposal is mailed out and let the fresh air blow them away or make the RFP better defined.

For example, suppose they plan to use a down escalator, should it be build to avoid those who "MUST" get on board with bags, do not trip and fall and bring down all those in front with them?

Must we wait until after the Airport is sued for $10 Million before the Public sympathy is used to fight the "Outrageous Claim" using the media?

Let people know what you think is "good for you" before they have to pay for it.