OpenGov Tracker Logging Thousands Of Ideas

People in the United States have only two more days to submit ideas online about how the government can work better for its citizens via an Open Government Directive mass brainstorming campaign.

The deadline for submitting ideas to government agencies via their open government Web pages is March 19.

So far, people have submitted 1,823 ideas that have earned 19,181 votes and 3,049 comments, according to a Web site tracking progress of the initiative.

NASA is the agency for which people seem to have the most suggestions; it's at the top of the list for ideas, votes, and comments. So far, people have submitted 329 ideas to that agency, which have earned 4,199 votes and 656 comments.

One idea, which earned 187 votes and 68 comments, is from a citizen named Karen Shea who suggested NASA hold a conference on space solar power in collaboration with the Department of Energy, the Department of Commerce, and university researchers, as well as corporations and countries developing solar-power solutions.

"The conference would develop ideas on how best to bring this technology to reality," she wrote. "Space solar power offers unlimited, green, base load power. It is now time to turn this futuristic concept into reality with NASA in the lead."

Other agencies that have generated a fair number of ideas are the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Veterans Affairs, with 175 ideas each, followed by the Department of Homeland Security, with 135 ideas.

Some agencies that haven't earned many ideas from citizens, are the U.S. Agency for International Development and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, according to the tracker site.

The USAID has the dubious honor of earning the least amount of ideas (16) and comments (13), while the NRC has earned the least amount of votes (112).

A White House blog post lists all of the agencies taking suggestions on their respective Web sites. They include all of the major government departments, agencies, and commissions.