The history of government spending is filled with horror stories of waste and overindulgence. The group Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW), in its 1998 Congressional Pig Book Summary, cited 302 projects worth $1.8 billion in pork-barrel items that were neither specifically authorized or requested by the president nor the subject of congressional hearings.1
When it comes to the internet, however, the federal government appears to be putting its money to much better use. There are hundreds of government and government-related websites, and the list keeps growing and improving. From contact numbers and voting records on your local elected officials, to downloadable tax forms and important pamphlets, there is an enormous amount of free, useful information available, all care of the U.S. government.
Reviewing every government site is a monumental task that could easily fill up a year's worth of issues of Dynamic Chiropractic. Instead of reviewing each site individually, I'll briefly describe some of the more popular government sites and include a list of other pages that you can browse at your convenience. Here's a small sample of how your tax dollars are being spent on line.
The Senate and House of Representatives
Getting in touch with elected officials or find out more about themused to mean a trip to the local library to search reference books, magazines and rolls of microfilm. With the growth of the internet, however, getting important information on the people who represent us in Washington is now just a few mouse clicks away. Two of the best sites for finding that information are those of the United States Senate and the House of Representatives.
By accessing the House and Senate sites, users can contact their representatives by phone, fax, regular mail or e-mail, but there's other valuable information available. With a little digging, interested parties can also: find out about bills and resolutions that are being considered in Congress; get details on how the legislative process works in America; gather data on legislative and committee activities; obtain educational documents; and link to other government sites and sources of information. Users can access the Senate and House sites at http://www.senate.gov and http://www.house.gov , respectively.
Welcome to the White House
With the series of scandals surrounding the Clinton administration, the office of the presidency may not have the prestige it used to. Still, when it comes to the White House, those troubles haven't stopped the webmasters at Pennsylvania Avenue from designing one of the most informative, user-friendly government sites on the World Wide Web.
"Welcome to the White House" is divided into 10 sections. In addition to the typical government links (a "What's New" section and a "White House Help Desk"), the site provides biographical information on every president and first lady in U.S. history, complete with drawings, pictures, audio clips and e-mail links.
Among the more informative sections, the "White House History and Tours" link contains a virtual historical tour of the building and information on how to attend public events. The "Interactive Citizens Handbook" provides links to the separate branches of government and offers information on health, safety, housing and other areas. And the "White House for Kids" section (hosted by Socks and Buddy, the Clinton pets) shows what being the president is like from a child's point of view. "Welcome to the White House" can be accessed at http://www.whitehouse.gov .
The Central Intelligence Agency
No, you won't find any pictures of J. Edgar Hoover gallivanting around in women's underwear, but that's about the only thing you won't find on this informative site about one of the government's most mysterious organizations.
In keeping with its spartan, covert public image, the CIA's website is divided into 10 seemingly nondescript links. There's the standard "About" section, "Related Links" and a page that lists its employment opportunities. However, the site contains a number of other interesting sections that users might find worth browsing through.
The CIA's "Publications" section offers several valuable documents that can be downloaded and printed free of charge, such as the annual World Factbook. Users can also read recent statements and testimonials from the "Public Affairs" section, and the CIA's "Home Page for Kids" which presents the agency's Canine Corps and passenger pigeon reconnaissance program for sending secret messages. The CIA's website is http://www.cia.gov .
DefenseLINK
DefenseLINK (www.defenselink.mil ) is the official website for the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD). It's the perfect stepping stone for anyone interested in doing research on the nation's defense organizations. The site naturally includes links to each of the country's armed forces (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard), the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the National Guard, the White House and the Pentagon.
At DefenseLINK, you can subscribe to a free e-mail newsletter and get biographical information on the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Defense; look for job opportunities in the DOD; and electronic copies of defense-related reports, speeches and directives. There's even a section that shows how to prepare and file a Freedom of Information Act with the department if you're interested in more classified matters. Whether you're a military buff or just want to learn more about how the Department of Defense protects the nation's security interests, DefenseLINK is the place to go.
The Internal Revenue Service
The IRS is one of the most frequently visited government websites on the internet. Between February and April, the site can attract upwards of one million visitors a day, and with good reason. With a page that is surprisingly easy to navigate - almost, dare I say, fun? - and a variety of free services and options, the IRS has produced a site with enough information to satisfy just about anyone's questions about taxes.
The IRS' website is displayed as a sort of offbeat newsletter called "The Digital Daily," but don't let the cute graphics and snappy headlines fool you. Among the site's more interesting features are sections on tax statistics; changes and updates to the current tax laws; information on how to file your return electronically; and a large number of downloadable tax forms and publications. There's even a biography of commissioner Charles Rossotti and his plan for modernizing the organization. If visiting an IRS agent in person was as easy as visiting the website, there'd be a lot more happy taxpayers in this country. You can access the site at http://www.irs.ustreas.gov .
In part II of this series, we'll review a more diverse series of government-related sites, including the Federal Bureau of Information, the Consumer Information Center, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). We'll also include a list of some of the more popular government websites.
Reference
1. Citizens against government waste. 1998 Congressional Pig Book Summary. Washington, DC, 1998.
