1984 turned inside out

" To empower citizens by providing a single, comprehensive, easy-to-use repository of information on individuals, organizations, and corporations related to the government of the United States of America.

To allow citizens to submit intelligence about government-related issues, while maintaining their anonymity. To allow members of the government a chance to participate in the process."

To allow citizens to submit intelligence about government-related issues, while maintaining their anonymity. To allow members of the government a chance to participate in the process.

This project is a mixed bag. It looks like the product of a volunteer team that includes some well intentioned folks and others who are just angry.

The CSPAN support tools seem genuinely useful and relatively benign.

In poking fun at TIA, they say, "this works, and this is useful, but we opposed your system because we cherish our privacy. How about a taste of your own medicine? Ha, ha!"

To current government employees, or to those who would consider serving their country, it says, "watch your step, and don't slip up, because I'll be there, just waiting to paint you into a corner."

This is the attitude of an eight year old. If the citizen tipster part of this project were to gain critical mass, which seems unlikely, it would serve to discourage participation in government. People who think like this misunderstand democracy, in my view.

If you don't like your government, step up. Offer to do a better job. Don't just sit there, bitching about it.

Slashdot readers will spend a few days jabbering about this, and then they will move on to the next "big" unimportant thing. The Return of the King, perhaps. They wear their lack of commitment and short attention span like badges on a uniform.