My friends at Mind & Media has posted a full response to my recent posting on Wikigov. Jason Sonnenfelt was thoughtful enough to respond to each of my questions. Well done and thoughtful answers for sure. Yet, it seems Jason subscribes to the same cautious flow of thought as the author of the article I reacted to initially. For example, to my original question, ’Do experts in the government consistently demonstrate more wisdom than a well monitored and diverse crowd?’, Jason answered:
“Yes. That is why we consider them experts. One thing that sets the United States apart is the education and professionalism of our civil service. And while public input is vital and necessary, there is absolutely no guarantee it is wise. Our country is built on that premise. It’s why we are a representative democracy and not a direct one. Furthermore, ‘well-monitored and diverse’ is ambiguous at best—difficult concepts to define and enforce.”
It was tough for me to read past his first response (I did anyway) as there clearly are two books he has not read:
- “The Wisdom of Crowds” by James Surowiecki
- “The Difference” by Scott Page
I also felt that both Jason and the author of the original piece read into my posting that I want some sort of cowboy gone wild web 2.0 to hit the government. That is the last thing I want. I do want a fast, agile and innovative thought process to embrace the web, like we are now seeing at the US Patent and Trade Office. I say, harness crowds to help (read help) solve problems. Note in the case of the Patent Office that a government official will adjudicate the final response. I would have it no other way. Yet, please explain to me how one smart, over-worked patent examiner (even with peer review) ever brings more to his or her job than the wisdom of a diverse crowd?
The government cannot fear the future and stand on the shoulders of tortoises as it solves problems. The web has matured. If the crowd is tapped and regulated, with final decisions left to the government, then please explain to me how that makes any of us worse off? I look forward to reading Jason Sonnenfelt’s reviews of the two books I mentioned earlier. Me thinks his thinking might change based on at least the wisdom of a small crowd–myself and two excellent authors.
Thoughts or reactions? Please send them to us.
