Presently these typically involve posting a document on a web site and then inviting comments by a certain date. Comments are normally received from professional bodies, major stakeholders and not often from individuals. The major exception was probably the smoking ban.

Suggestion – a format for comment such as “CommentonThis” would allow for more iterative communication, enable parties to see one another’s opinions during the consultation phase and perhaps encourage more interaction. Also, the print media and other internet sites might create links on their pages and articles to direct possibly interested people to make a comment.

Make Government Navigable

All organisations are difficult to interact with. Two years ago when I booked an airline ticket, the choices were simple. Now I have to think hard to avoid insurance protection, speedy boarding charges, and other clutter. Despite this we seem instinctively to give such organisations much more rope than government.

The range of services that government offers makes it appear a more complex business than Amazon and effectively FMCG. Most local authority navigation seems to revolve around A-Z lists of services from which one picks, and a number of which are transactional. The notion of a “ customer account “ with local government has some appeal if it meant avoiding multiple contacts and being able to communicate on-line.

Government seems to do very little direct marketing. Would people sign up for e-mail alerts or SMS messages about government services ? This happens at work and play – why not in this relationship ?

The Varney report identified the case of a bereavement and the complexity of the transaction. Has any work started on this recommendation to signal a recognition of the customer interest ?

Sharing of information

For large sections of society, e.g. the elderly the internet may not be accessible or understood. There might be scope for young people to teach internet skills at schools, libraries and colleges to their elders. This would be a way of sharing information across the generations, and perhaps foster mutual respect.

Trust

People do not necessarily trust politicians and government. In order for the public to change their opinion, there should be some visible signs of changing attitudes from the provider side. Possible examples might be an open-source project on a particular government issue, describing some government processes on wikipedia and allowing citizens to add their insight, and encouraging feedback such as patient opinion.

Thought

Could you design a web page and email address for “ask or tellthegovernment”. This would be one place where the citizen went and said to central government this is my issue, now please take it on your side and consider it then get back to me.
Then perhaps using google technology alongside, a search facility might help future users. Also, if people who use the site see someone else with a similar problem, they may be kind enough to help them out. It might become a library / repository of information with feeds and RSS to enable people to stay in touch.

Principle being we voted you in ( or did not ), and now we all pay taxes and therefore we would like to influence how they are spent because you are not really providing us with what we want.