Editing File:Kiran-784088.JPG (section)

==Economic benefits of open data==

My belief is that many of the most important benefits won't exactly be "economic" but will be more significantly transformative (though we won't always notice it — "the whole world turns upside down in ten years, but you turn upside down with it," Spider Robinson).

http://www.longwoods.com/audio-video/video/1/377 is an extended presentation (so watch it later) that presents fascinating cues of how the economic service model of care doesn't scale to upcoming challenges, and top government advisors are recommending social media solutions to problems like knocking on senior's doors to make sure they're ok.

<div style="float: right; padding: 10px">
[[File:800px-Pothole_repair.jpg|350px|Person repairs a pothole]]<br /><br />
{{#widget:YouTube|id=184NTV2CE_c}}
</div>

Projecting a bit, I'd like to see involvement change from "[http://www.fixmystreet.com/ fixmystreet.com]" to "letsfixourstreets.org." letsfixourstreets could start with local people organizing to fix potholes in their alleys. Material sourced openly, an experienced volunteer from across town, a few people on the block spending Saturday afternoon lifting a shovel instead of going to the gym, fixing a problem that would otherwise get tied up in red tape and exaggerated costs.

As it become more formalized and trustworthy, "the government" could become more of a certifying body and reliable transparent bookkeeper to support these efficient, neighbourly projects.

There are immense challenges in this idea. I'm very much for the benefits of organized government, and must acknowledge the benefits of bodies like unions, where these changes would be highly disruptive. And, of course, I'm living in a techno-utopian bubble which the majority of people wouldn't relate to.


Still, I can't help think many elements of our current economy and civic models don't make much sense after so many generations of incredible development and world-wide effects, largely between the poles of Silicon Valley possibilities and China economies of scale. Yet often feel we're heading toward a "survival of the bureaucratiest" dystopia.

There are clear signs toward what's being called [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collaborative_consumption Collaborative Consumption]. Creating networked trust to do things like rent personal vehicles on sliding scales based on the quality of experience.

I do understand "economic benefits" make open data easier to understand by many players. But if you're not appealing to a government or corporate agency, it's interesting to look past extant models.

* http://lists.okfn.org/pipermail/open-government/2010-October/000343.html discussion on the Open Government mailing list on this topic