While I am somewhat cynical about the Obama administration’s motives behind their social networking activities, I would like to share Anthony’s optimism about the change that could be realized by asking the people what they want (with the understanding that a very small slice of the population is being represented here in cyberspace). On the other hand, “the people” don’t get to write law. Anything that the administration learns through social networks can be used to help guide policy and law, but ultimately those laws are introduced by congressmen and are voted on like anything else. So, I think that would make the proponents (and subsequent signer of the law, president Obama) as “accountable” as they would be with any idea that originated from elsewhere.

Finally, I concur that observing political opinion in other networks would be a great idea for the administration, but it need not happen in the absence of a government-sponsored initiative.