I received this link on my twitter. (Could be b/c I am in a preaching mode today) Im unclear on how to use this site and per my findings, seems its still in an experimental stage. With this being said, I may need another site or type of direction to air my concerns, thoughts and burderns. As I have grown up in this nation and coming from a family of Ministers, my desire is to change our path to where we are currently headed. When I hear (today actually) 1st and 2nd graders being kicked out of school b/c of behavioral issues, my heart breaks. Of course, it stems from the parents. Its time we look to our forefathers and get back to the basics this country was founded on. I pray we can put the 10 commandemnts back in the schools and the HOLY BIBLE and prayer. There is not enough weaponry we can use to fight a spiritual battle. Our morals and values have declined and until we repent and turn our faces to the Lord thy G-d his hand will continue coming off this nation… Lord G-d hear our prayers and cries… Unbind your people and free us from our enemies…

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December 28, 2009

To Whom It May Concern (dailogue at Gov.usa):

It would be helpful if the USA.gov site, connected
to some usa. exports websites), could send more
direct replies to a given country with mostly
product leads. Reading a given countries CCG,
Country Commercial Guide, seems to not be
enough and if women are newly trying to land
respectful, non gameful, true help for international
trade growth. Here is why I am presenting my
comments above:

I believe, recalled right, I signed up for USA.gov to
ascertain updates and help for international trade
restructuring. However, as the replies I get are
appreciated and helpful, still none materialize
specifically about insight into product leads for
new business with Vietnam. The only hope I
gained for help, just before Christmas, was a referral
from a trade council contact, locally, to an astute
Consultant. But before (trying to afford), hiring or
further conversing with the high level professional,
how come more direct Vietnam product idea updates
(via USA.gov, connected with usa.gov/exports),
are not unfolding? I once was successful with
intern’l trade business but lost much due to some
personal mishaps and now, after surprising myself
with the completion, 10/2009, of another business
plan…I won’t quit my dreams but USA.gov does
not seem to send replies to questions asked
directly for help (reiterating: where to land help
or updates about what is needed in Vietnam)?
(I’ve sent e-mails, per the new consultants
suggestions, to the US Embassy for Vietnam
in Wash., DC and another one to an address
given for the Consulant Office for Vietnam but
no one has replied yet).

So, with all of the above said, here are my
beginning ideas:
a) Share the how to’s, even in need of updates,
about how one can best navigate thru the
usa.gov general info. sent to various citizens
(small biz ones and otherwise),
b) Consider direct replies to a persons questions
to a persons request for help (i.e., product leads
for business with Vietnam),
c) If ever possible, in today’s economic times,
share any potential grant how to’s if applicable
to usa.gov,
d) and advise, more than seen (if my internet
navigation is done well), about when and how
often the usa.gov site is updated.

More to come…and many thanks for your interest
in our feedback and participation.

Valerie C., (Minority)
CEO, C V Traders
(struggling to land help for renewed soaring in
the intern’l arena)
n

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I was sent an email to participate in a survey to help improve the USA.gov website. Now that I am here all I see is a bunch of posts, no direct question/answer survey method with perhaps a final comment at the end of the ‘walk through’ survey I was expecting – this is nothing more than a blog to post random thoughts and personal unrelated information.

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I have just recently attempted a very bewildering and confusing trip through no less than 13 separate .gov web sites. I think it would be a great idea to standardize all .gov sites and allow for one single “portal “ that you can register on so you don’t have to continually register and fill out massively redundant user profiles. It would be great to have one user id and one comprehensive user profile. And in addition to that I noticed that a lot of people I spoke to are on similar paths. In other words we are having to help each other out to navigate the system or rather multiple systems. It would be nice to have a set of checklists or paths that one could easily follow to say get security clearance or apply for a SS card or apply for medical. Right instead of having to jump here and there. All of these processes should be standardized and made available in step one step two type of protocol. It would save enormous amounts of time and effort for the user and in addition if you standardized the logon profile it would save resources and cut cost for gov. Same code same format just different content and agencies that have shared requirements and should consolidate or use direct links. Consolidation of resources format and core user data base , standardization and simplification of format and process , eliminate redundancy, establish a single logon page that is a portal to all other sites and can be customized by the user. Oh and I think you should reconsider your design. It’s a bit silly. Eagles and flags and drapes …. It should be clean and crisp, clear and functional. Save the flag waving for the politicians. I think for our web experience we want simplicity, efficiency and professionalism. No clutter or tabloid looking filler. Ok just my humble opinion
Thanks Guys your service is much appreciated
Rodney Collins

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Just on an accessibility point. Could you please have USA.gov improved for those using Linux. Other than that, this system is a good work in progress. thanks.

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I WOULD LIKE ALL TO WATCH RICHARD DAWKINS ENNEMIES OF REASON

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On the Dialog Tool:
At a certain point, can you group comments by topic, such as design, content, search/nav? (I realize many responses cover multiple topics.)
Also, once enough comments and votes are in, can you start featuring a ranking of those at the top?

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I tried my initial sign-on three times but failed due to the combination of lower and upper case letters that were misread. I eventually did a cut and paste to sign in.

In regards to the out of control budget deficit, why doesn’t the government reduced the number of troops that we have stationed abroad. Millions of dollars are being spent in other countries for what purpose? It seem that this is a “sacred cow” that can’t be touched. If we must maintain a presence, why can’t it be limited to ONE base per country?

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It is difficult to present varied and indepth information at any website, especially if it links to other government websites that are not navigated or present information in the same manner. I think it would be helpful for agency web pages to have a similar homepage and/or navigation. It really is a rabbit hole, perhaps boxing and highlighting the breadcrumbs might help with the navigation. Please do not use gray text, it dissapears into the background.

Overall I like the site, but it can be a bit overwhelming finding information on a topic.

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I generally like the audience and topic organization of the site but I get confused / lost when I click on a link on your site and then I’m taken to another government web site that has a completely different look and feel; the navigation structure; and I have to really search sometimes to find the “search” box! If USA.gov is the gateway to all USG information than why isn’t there a more uniform presentation of USG information across government? I’m tired of having to learn how to find stuff on this or that other USG site.

Maybe, USA.gov becomes the service delivery portal for all things USG and leave the agency sites to serve up the message of the day kind of thing. As a citizen, I expect better from my government. It’s my government and I want it my way! So, let’s separate message from service and make it easy for citizens like me to conduct my business with my government.

Happy Holidays!

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Make every member of congress, the Presidesntial office and the judicial branch subject to the same retirement system and system of health-care that the general public is subjected to. Do away with their special retirement program and medical program.

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I would like to see a better way to post a resume and having more space to add more information to your resume. Add a space for 2 emails addresses not just one. A POC for the agencies who are doing the hiring.

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As a librarian, I often get questions related to how women should change their name on government documents when they get married. Can there be a “Documenting Life Events” section? It could have information on documents when you get married, have children, die, etc? (I’m not very good naming things- sorry)

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On the homepage, above the search box, there are several options such as “Images” and “Maps”, it would be nice if they were tabs, so you could more easily see that they would limit your search. I initially thought they would take me to a page of images or a page of maps. Also, it would be nice once the results are returned to know what resources were searched, so you could tell which ones were not.

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Please add links to the DoD Service Portals (Navy Knowledge Online http://www.nko.navy.mil; Army Knowledge Online http://www.us.army.mil; MyAirForce http://www.myaf.mil ) and to http://www.militaryonesource.com. The DoD MWR Libraries provide access to electronic content available to their service members, families, civilian employees, etc. through their portals and MilitaryOneSource. We would also like to provide links/lists of all of the DoD MWR Libraries — (similar to a public library on a military installation).

We can provide more information on the types of products & services we provide to our service members.

Also, it would be great if we could have a listof/links to all of the DoD Libraries — academic, medical, sci/tech, research, etc.

For that matter, it would be great to provide a link to all Federal Libraries. We are great resources for the public — they just don’t know how to reach us.

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It would be helpful if there was a link for the disabled to chat with a person to help find and fill out a job application. It would make it easier for the ones who are disabled.

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Provide a ‘Retiree Page’ to include links to Pay, DEERS,
Records Update/Address changes and Medicare/Medicaid TriCare/Tricare-for-Life.
All on one page if possible.
Thanks for your efforts.

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Simple. Make it Simple. Example: When looking for a small business grant, I shoud be able just type in (Small Business Grants), and then perhaps a link to the type of industry (Food and Beverage), then it takes me to the application form that I need to apply for such.

Simplify for the “normal” working class, tax paying citizen.

Thank You.

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I would like to see a tab for educators so that we can properly direct students from K to 20 to resources that are factual and definitely not political.

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I would like to see PHOTOS of government servents from all departments doing their jobs and helping their customers. The main complaint i get from customers i audited is that the government is large unknown nameless faceless entity. I changed that with my customers by providing world class customer service and told them that we all work for them and we provide them customer service. The best thing that can happen is to have the public and our contractors and customers see the good works we all do as government employees. Have photo links to all agencies photo website or make them if they do not exist. Defenselink.mil has some great photo ops but there is no quick link in the USA website to access the photos there. Other agencies dont even have photo website. Perhaps this photo question can be looked at by the experts and addressed in a appropriate manner to address security and relevent questions pertaining to this suggestion.

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I would like to see one resume fit all. By that I mean when you post a resume on USA.gov, you should be able to that resume for all job listing on USA, instead of reposting within the USA site for different branch. Example: If I post my resume for DOA, I should be able to use the same resume for USAF.

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Get the Prime Time networks to promote the usa.gov site so the people will know they can have the ear of government. I mean you already have the press there for daily briefings….

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The USA site needs to link resumes and applications to the other government agencies.

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Two comments:
*How about using plain language and the various guidelines the gov’t suggests for making materials easy to use?
*I really like that you have connections to state resources. However, without the invitation to comment on the gov site, I never would have known to look for state info on a federal site.

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Hello.

Please improve USA.gov to be more friendly for GNU/Linux users. I think that official govermental site should be as versatile as possible. Beauty is in simplicity, not in sophistication. Thanks and have a Merry Christmas.

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The site is a bit difficult to use, and the point is what exactly? Other than posting words and sharing with others, which has its merits, what is the point of this site? I’m not putting it down, rather I’m very curious about the impact/consequence of what is being said.

thanks

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I am a physics major and I would like a site where I can access tutorials
on computers and computations implemented by the government. Scientific
computing in science and industry for research and in the development is my major interest.

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First, I recommend getting rid of the Get It Done Online box or making it smaller, as this is a waste of valuable screen real estate in the topfold. Move Today’s Government News higher on the page, preferably above the Government Information by Topic section. Replace the hyperlinks in the top right column with the Features section and create a more visible container to promote free content. Move Connect With Government to a more prominent location on the page. It might be worth it to replace the keywords listed under each Government Information Topic link with a brief description of what a visitor could expect to find. The current layout’s stylesheet creates excessive padding around text areas, which creates a lot of unnecessary white space on the page. Finally, the use of gradients would make the site’s colors and graphics appear more modern.

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I would like to see a bit more guidance on USA.gov. A list of links is OK…but how do I know which links are best, or really get me to the info I need? I would like more explanation, and some curation of the links (especially for the most-requested government tasks) to pull out the “best” and provide more direction for people.

For example, don’t just give me a list of 17 agencies that have a piece of the “homebuying” puzzle – how do I know which of those 17 agencies can really help me or answer my question? Instead, give me an explanation or overview of the homebuying process, then point me to the one authoritative source that can get me started.

PS I LOVE being able to provide feedback in this way!

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Nice Open Source Word Press site. And WordPress is a great blogging platform, but I hope this site doesn’t intend to do much more than blog with WordPress. Drupal, Joomla, even Plone would be better vehicles for more dialogue outside of a blog component.

http://plone.org/
http://drupal.org/
http://www.joomla.org/

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