Regulations.gov Needs an Overhaul
Regulations.gov is a Web site that needs more Web 2.0 features — badly.
The Web site currently allows users to electronically submit comments for pending regulations at various agencies. It also allow
s the user to read the actual regulation and, in many (but not all) cases, read the comments of other citizens who have submitted their two cents to that particular docket.
So basically, your comments submitted electronically through this Web site have the same exact bearing as comments submitted through U.S. Mail. That’s great, but this Web site allows for one-way communication only.
This needs to change.
Regulations.gov should introduce some form of a threaded discussion, like a forum, where average Americans can quickly post their thoughts and see what other people feel about it. A representative from whatever agency the rule originated in could and should participate in the discussion — whether they’re answering questions about it or defending the pending rule.
The Web site should also create a widget that would allow users passionate about a certain proposal to embed the widget in their blog or Web site and thus bring more people into the discussion. [Read more about widgets in this previous post.]
HTML versions of the proposals should become interactive. Links in various items can bring up explanations, documents, legislation and even videos of interest. Remember, these rules are written in legalese. Very few Americans understand legalese!
These are just a few suggestions. The possibilities to increase and enchance citizen engagement in the monotonous rule making process are endless and should be brought into the Web 2.0 era as soon as possible.
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