Sample: Letter about Data

To the Editor:

Every day, our local, state and federal government is required to collect, analyze and make public vast amounts of government data. This data covers every single aspect of life. Hundreds of thousands of pages of data that paint a picture of who we are as a country, how we are changing, and how our elected officials are making their decisions gets released. But, much of it never gets read because it sits in books kept in offices in our state capitol or in Washington, D.C.

It is time for government to join the rest of us in the Internet age. I shouldn’t have to track down pages of data on microfiche in the local library or go to city hall to see how much is being spent on road repair. Today, for data to truly be public, it must be released online and in an easy to read, searchable format. I want to be able to look up the city budget on my cell phone, or watch video of a city council meeting on my computer. This is the standard to which I’m holding our elected officials.

Government transparency is a critical component that determines for whom and what I vote. I have made a pledge to hold government accountable by demanding transparency through my sustained engagement with government and political action. This November, when I go to the ballot box, I will be thinking about government transparency and voting only for elected officials who share my vision for a more transparent, accountable government.

Sincerely,