A Wonks Guide to the Web

Designed especially for policy wonks, activists, and civic-minded cyberspace cruisers, the following is a special CommonWealth Guide to the World Wide Web. Not all information is created equal; herewith are a few sites that hold promise of being useful, or even high-minded, mixed in with some that achieve real depth–or depths. Feel free to raise our awareness of others: We can be found at http://www.massinc.org.

Massachusetts sites

MAGNet
http://www.magnet.state.ma.us
The acronym stands for Massachusetts Access to Government Network. Brainchild of the Executive Office of Administration and Finance, the two-year-old network links more than 600 state agencies, cities and towns, businesses, and others.

Here are some of MAGNet’s more interesting/useful links:

Executive Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation –
http://www.tiac.net:80/consumer/
File a consumer complaint, ask state consumer advocates a question, or browse a number of booklets that explain everything from the obligations of landlords and tenants to the state’s New Car Lemon Law.

Massachusetts Department of Education
http://info.doe.mass.edu/
One of the most popular features of this site allows you to see a profile of your local school district. Parents can also research the dropout rates at local high schools.

Cherry Sheets: Cities and Towns, Department of Revenue
http://www.magnet.state.ma.us/dor/dls/cherry/cs96ct.htm
The Division of Local Services now posts the amount of state funds the legislature has appropriated to each town and city in the Commonwealth.

National Government Information

Federal Government
http://www.fedworld.gov
One of the most comprehensive sites on the various branches and functions of the federal government. You’ll find information on Congress, the Supreme Court, and the regulatory agencies.

Curious about milk price supports available from the Department of Agriculture? Wondering what Attorney General Janet Reno has to say about community policing? If Yahoo is your search engine, this address will plug you into a dozen different federal agencies and some of their databases. Yahoo’s Catalogue of federal government agencies.
http://www.yahoo.com/Government/Agencies/Executive_Branch

THOMAS Legislative Information on the Internet
http://www.thomas.loc.gov
This Library of Congress site includes bill texts and floor statements from the U.S. Senate and U.S. House.

The Zipper
http://www.voxpop.org
Enter your zip code and–presto!–get a list of your representatives in Congress, complete with addresses, telephone and fax numbers. With links to The Jefferson Project http://www.voxpop.org:801jefferson, a fabulous source for information on politics, political personalities, and magazines.

U.S. Census
http://www.census.gov
Ever wonder what the demographic makeup of your city or town is? Check it out here.

Social Security Administration
http://www.ssa.gov
Not sure if you qualify for benefits? Look here for guidelines and information on how to apply.

Citizens Research Foundation
http://www.usc.edu/dept/CRF
A little-known but excellent source of information on campaign finance issues from a foundation whose board of directors includes leaders from both parties. If you’re looking for a rundown of legal battles over campaign finance or just want a peek at your local Congressman’s financial disclosure form–you’ll find it here.

Politics, Media & Interest Groups

Democracy Place USA
http://www.democracyplace.org
The Internet site for civic journalism: where ordinary people set the agenda, not the politicians. You’ll find stories, interviews, and polls geared toward helping citizens make informed political choices.

Civic Practices Network
http://www.cpn.org
A clearinghouse for ideas on how to increase democratic participation.

C-Span
http://www.c-span.org
Seeing is believing but hearing is even better. Catch your favorite member in ‘real audio’ action, thanks to the wonks who brought you live to the Senate floor.

The Netizen
http://www.netizen.com
Well-written dispatches from the place where politics and culture merge.

PoliticsNow
http://www.politicsnow.com
Brought to you in a joint venture between The Washington Post, National Journal, and ABC News, this site is splashy, bright, and interactive. If you’re interested in catching up on politics in a certain state, just point your cursor to a section on a map and click. If you want more information on a subject covered by PoliticsNow, the site allows you to dip into selected Post archives.

CNN/Time Magazine/Congressional Quarterly
http://www.allpolitics.com
They bring you breaking news, feature stories, and insightful analysis.

Town Hall
http:// www.townhall.com
The Heritage Foundation’s conservative gateway to sites like the National Review, Family Research Council, and The Progress and Freedom Foundation.

Miscellany

Woodshole Oceanographic Institution
http://www.whoi.edu
A truly amazing assemblage on everything oceanographic. You’ll find summaries of the group’s undersea lab projects as well as volunteer listings. A great source for information on coastal outings–Elizabeth Islands anyone?–sponsored by the Massachusetts Coastal Zone Management department.

The Boston Harbor Page
http://ftp.std.com/NE/harbor.html
You’ll find a primer on the history of the harbor cleanup, ferry schedules, harbor statistics, whale watch information and the “history of Massachusetts Sewage Drainage.”

MIT Media Lab
http://www.media.mit.edu/MediaLab/Noteworthy.html
Plenty of mind-bending puzzles, games, and wacky research.

Play With Hillary’s Hair?
http://hillaryshair.com/index.shtml/
Yes, you can indulge your Vidal Sassoon fantasies. It’s like playing paper dolls–or Mr. Potatohead. Vote for your favorite First Lady ‘do.