Gov Gab was created as part of an effort to communicate with the public using web 2.0 applications. We love getting your comments and responses and letting you know about the many ways you are able to get in touch with Uncle Sam.
Now more than ever people are using all sorts of web 2.0 platforms to talk to their government, and get results.
Think of the stuff that bugs you on a regular basis…potholes, graffiti, damaged street signs- it used to be a struggle to report these kinds of things, so most people wouldn’t bother, and the government never knew about it in the first place to take care of it.
This is no longer the case.
Take to the web to get action! Many cities like San Francisco, Washington DC, and New York are encouraging citizens to post pictures of troubled spots on their twitter accounts to make city governments aware of problems. All it takes is a click of a cell phone.
People are also independently creating downloadable applications using publicly posted information and statistics. Some use GPS technology- making you able to see where local city busses are so you can avoid waiting outside in the cold. Others report crime statistics so you can avoid unsafe neighborhoods while moving about.
What kind of web 2.0 do you use to talk to the government? What would you like to see made available to report problems and issues?