OpenSpending

Describe your idea:

A database that shows every penny the government spends (and receives). Display format could be as a spreadsheet with a filter-interface to reduce the number of lines. Ideally it should break down by lots of categories: specific localities, specific vendors, comparison of date ranges for same thing, etc. Data easy to tap: just dial up their accountants.

What problem does it solve?:

Government transparency. It also could lead to a ‘VoteToCut’ system in which people can vote on which budget items they disagree with.

Type of idea: A piece of infrastructure or an API

4 Comments

  1. I vote for this idea.
    Another informative way to use this information would be to compare it to other countries so that we can see healthcare as % of budget etc
    I also suggest that you should run your suggestion page with google moderator so that we can vote for ideas.

  2. Francis, thanks for mentioning our Where Does My Money Go project. I’d love to hear from people who are interested in this kind of effort — we’re at an early stage and would welcome input (and assistance!).