Newspaper Crowdsources 700,000-Page Investigation of MP Expenses

projector writes with an interesting project from the UK: "The Guardian are crowd-sourcing the investigation of 700,000 pages of UK MPs' expenses data. Readers are being invited to categorize each document, transcribe the handwritten expenses details into an online form and alert the newspaper if any claims merit further investigation. 'Some pages will be covering letters, or claim forms for office stationery. But somewhere in here is the receipt for a duck island. And who knows what else may turn up. If you find something which you think needs further attention, simply hit the button marked "investigate this!" and we'll take a closer look.'"

Re:I know this isn't the point....

[calmofthestorm]

Clearly the solution is to build a massive database monitoring Parliment then lose it in the middle of Trafalgar Square!

Re:I know this isn't the point....

[seyyah]

There is a saying "who will guard the guards". Nobody apparently.

The Guardian guards the guards apparently.

Shameless Yes, Minister quote

[newcastlejon]

Hacker: Don't tell me about the press. I know exactly who reads the papers: the Daily Mirror is read by people who think they run the country; The Guardian is read by people who think they ought to run the country; The Times is read by people who actually do run the country; the Daily Mail is read by the wives of the people who run the country; the Financial Times is read by people who own the country; The Morning Star is read by people who think the country ought to be run by another country; and The Daily Telegraph is read by people who think it already is.

Sir Humphrey: Prime Minister, what about the people who read The Sun?

Bernard: Sun readers don't care who runs the country, as long as she's got big tits.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGscoaUWW2M for those who'd like to see the original

Newspaper - "Yes Minister"

[bmsleight]

the best explanation of newspapers was given in "Yes Minister"

The Daily Mirror is read by people who think they run the country
The Guardian is read by people who think they ought to run the country
The Times is read by people who actually do run the country
the Daily Mail is read by the wives of the people who run the country
the Financial Times is read by people who own the country
The Morning Star is read by people who think the country ought to be run by another country
The Daily Telegraph is read by people who think it is
Sun readers donâ(TM)t care who runs the country, as long as sheâ(TM)s got big tits

sounds legit

[danlip]

Viggers also claimed for 28 tonnes of manure

He's a politician, that sounds like a genuine work expense.

Re:Why TF doesn't it happen in US?

[Anonymous Coward]

This reminds me of one of the best quotes from "Yes, Minister"

From http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Yes,_Minister

Hacker: Don't tell me about the press. I know exactly who reads the papers:
The Daily Mirror is read by people who think they run the country;
The Guardian is read by people who think they ought to run the country;
The Times is read by the people who actually do run the country;
The Daily Mail is read by the wives of the people who run the country;
The Financial Times is read by people who own the country;
The Morning Star is read by people who think the country ought to be run by another country;
And The Daily Telegraph is read by people who think it is.

Sir Humphrey: Prime Minister, what about the people who read The Sun?

Bernard: Sun readers don't care who runs the country, as long as she's got big tits....