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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Alzheimer's / February 2005Off-topic question
I hope nobody objects to such an off-topic question. Australia's population, despite the large size of the continent, is some 20 million. Western Australia, has only 2 million people but some 30-40% of the landmass. To support that population, the state government has 200 departments of which--wild guess--150 have their own website and each has its own look and feel (the comination of colour, style). In my mind this is waste on a large scale. Does anybody know how those stats compare to that for the USA? tia - Mod as a hooter! > $I hope nobody objects to such an off-topic question. > $ [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > $ > $Does anybody know how those stats compare to that for the USA? Anthony, In terms of web practices of governments serving small populations spread over a large land area, you might want to check out some Canadian provinces and territorries--particularly: Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunuvut. On the US side, check out Alaska. -- John Fleming, DTM Edmonton, Canada Attitude Boosters Toastmasters (7022-42) - Member Chamber Toastmasters (5594 - 42) - President A scientist can discover a new star but he cannot make one. He would have to ask an engineer to do it for him. - Gordon L. Glegg > To support that population, the state government has 200 departments of > which--wild guess--150 have their own website and each has its own look and feel > (the comination of colour, style). In my mind this is waste on a large scale. i don't know why anyone would worry about such a thing. and it *is* off topic in this group. you might try to find a more appropriate group for this enquiry. >> To support that population, the state government has 200 departments of >> which--wild guess--150 have their own website and each has its own look and feel [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >*is* off topic in this group. you might try to find a more >appropriate group for this enquiry. Because I happen to be mad! - Mod as a hooter! > Does anybody know how those stats compare to that for the USA? If you want to talk about waste in government, then the US is a good place to start. For example, every major (and many minor) cities and towns have their own police force. For example, Plano, Richardson, Garland, Sachse, Wylie, Allen, McKinney - all cities North and North East of Dallas. Most of these communities have less than 50,000 people. Sachse, for example, covers about 10sq miles with a population of less than 10,000. That means it has its own police chief and all the infrastructure to support it such as emergency dispatch. There's about 15 major agencies but then you'll find smaller ones under those. For example, the old INS (Immigration and Naturalization Service) which is now BCIS - Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services fulls under the US DOJ - Department of Justice. Fun stuff. You should try a newsgroup which is more on-topic to your question, there's over 30,000 newsgroups, you should be able to find one. Regards Nigel  Signaturewww.myoldcontacts.com - Tell your friends to tell their friends www.sysadmininc.com - Consultancy, Service, Sales, Networking... www.british-expats.com - Connect with British Expats World Wide www.kxez.com/shows_britishinvasion.php - 9-11pm Sunday. KXEZ 92.1 FM "I reject your reality and substitute it with my own" --Adam Savage. >Fun stuff. You should try a newsgroup which is more on-topic to your >question, there's over 30,000 newsgroups, you should be able to find >one. Quite true! I posted to the two groups mentioned because most readers would recognise me as I am a regular contributor in those forums--and because I'm unlikely to find the information from Australia--in any other way. I assure you that, having spent far too much time on usenet for more than ten years I am aware of the need to keep things on topic and rarely do so. Google my .sig or my name--but only if you have a lot of spare time :-p I have been a Toastmaster for about 10 years and, last August, was diagnosed with Early Onset Alzheimer's. The reason I'm asking the question is to satify my current obsession with the cost of every State Government department, in Western Australia, having its own website look and feel (i.e. livery) which, I believe, is an unjustifiable and unnecessary impost on taxpayers. In any event, thanks for your reply; if you are aware of any candidates, I'd appreciate hearing from you--or anybody else. Forgive my grumpiness; the worst part of this affliction is the loss of dignity associated with it. - Mod as a hooter! > I have been a Toastmaster for about 10 years and, last August, was diagnosed > with Early Onset Alzheimer's. Sorry to hear that, Anthony. Best wishes. > The reason I'm asking the question is to satify my current obsession with the > cost of every State Government department, in Western Australia, having its own > website look and feel (i.e. livery) which, I believe, is an unjustifiable and > unnecessary impost on taxpayers. How about running for office with the theme to cut down waste eliminate duplication. Or write letters to news papers on the issues. Or write to the politicians themselves. > > I have been a Toastmaster for about 10 years and, last August, was diagnosed > > with Early Onset Alzheimer's. [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > duplication. Or write letters to news papers on the issues. Or write to > the politicians themselves. Sorry to hear about the Alzheimer's, Anthony. Reading the suggestion on writing letters tro politicians led me to the utterly wicked and facaetious thought that, with Alzheimers, you could write the same letters to the same politicians every week and not be blamed for harassing them. :-)))On you main (OT) topic. We have a similar problem here with individual government departments, provinces, municipalities, cities and other administrations all 'doing their own thing'. Stay well. Rod > The reason I'm asking the question is to satify my current obsession with the > cost of every State Government department, in Western Australia, having its own > website look and feel (i.e. livery) which, I believe, is an unjustifiable and > unnecessary impost on taxpayers. For a small sampling of different websites www.usdoj.gov (Department of Justice - DoJ) uscis.gov (Citizenship & Immigration Service - Part of the DoJ) www.ustreas.gov (Treasury) www.irs.gov (Internal Revenue Service - Part of the Treasury) www.house.gov (House of Representitives) www.senate.gov (Senate) www.whitehouse.gov (The White House) www.sss.gov (Selective Service System) www.firstgov.gov (Government Website Portal) www.dod.gov (Department of Defense) etc...see how many are the same. > Forgive my grumpiness; the worst part of this affliction is the loss of dignity > associated with it. You only lose your dignity if you want to. You have a diagnosed medical condition. Your affliction is not of your choosing, you cannot help it. If you get up in the morning and live the day the best you can, then you have nothing to be ashamed of. You're not the first, you won't be the last, but if you can just help one person realise that it is something you cannot help, then you're doing a great job. People need education that mental illness is an illness of the brain, not an illness that's "in the mind". Regards Nigel Signaturewww.myoldcontacts.com - Tell your friends to tell their friends www.sysadmininc.com - Consultancy, Service, Sales, Networking... www.british-expats.com - Connect with British Expats World Wide www.kxez.com/shows_britishinvasion.php - 9-11pm Sunday. KXEZ 92.1 FM "I reject your reality and substitute it with my own" --Adam Savage. >You only lose your dignity if you want to. You have a diagnosed medical >condition. Your affliction is not of your choosing, you cannot help it. [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >People need education that mental illness is an illness of the brain, not an >illness that's "in the mind". The loss of dignity I spoke of comes from, for me, some knowledge of what is happening to me and a reasonable understanding of my current capabilities (which include fluent speech and good comprehension) yet having others who do not comprehend that, choose to decide what my capabilities are or are not. I would suggest that, in the early stages, that might be a common frustration for those knowing where they are going yet being--prematurely--being consigned to the dustbin of decision making. - Mod as a hooter! >For a small sampling of different websites > [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] >www.firstgov.gov (Government Website Portal) >www.dod.gov (Department of Defense) >For a small sampling of different websites Thanks! I was surprised to see that there were 6, all in Washington DC, that provided neither email nor web forms to facilitate citizens to contact them. Just out of interest, anybody have any idea why not? I would have thought that allowing voters to contact you easily would be an advantage (unless they already _know_ you, grin)? - Mod as a hooter! > $I have been a Toastmaster for about 10 years and, last August, was diagnosed > $with Early Onset Alzheimer's. Sorry to hear that. -- John Fleming, DTM Edmonton, Canada Attitude Boosters Toastmasters (7022-42) - Member Chamber Toastmasters (5594 - 42) - President A scientist can discover a new star but he cannot make one. He would have to ask an engineer to do it for him. - Gordon L. Glegg Same situation here (US) for agencies at State level. And agencies at the Federal level. Some states have a state portal which coordinates look and style to agencies sites. ...PC > I hope nobody objects to such an off-topic question. > [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > - > Mod as a hooter! |
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