When the Jilin provincial government began work on its own 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-1015), it decided to let the people have their own say, because it obviously needed to brainstorm on a much larger scale.

So, it began a 10-day campaign on Dec 13 seeking advice from the locals, who could make mail in their suggestions or send them by e-mail.

The idea was to improve the guidelines by making them closer to ordinary folks' interests, explained Chang Xiaochun, the deputy director of the provincial development and reform commission.

The local media also got involved, with newspapers and websites setting up special columns and programs over the 10-day period, and soliciting comments that the legislators could use in their decisions.

The people actually contributed quite a lot, many of the comments obviously focused on current problems and things that needed to be dealt with over the next five years.

One example of these was a web user with the name "Zhubao Mama" who said that more innovative education methods were needed as well as better handling of education funds.

Two other web users "Currency War" and "Heng Dao", had some things to say about environmental problems. "Currency War" said that they needed large methane gas tanks near towns so they could make bio-gas out of household, restaurant, and grocery store waste.

"Heng Dao" said the government needed to encourage the use of electrically powered buses and taxis as part of any new energy policy.

"This will help develop clean energy vehicles," the person said, "and will help cut carbon dioxide emissions."

Another web user, "Wenxinniao", said the government needed to try harder to improve the public transportation system and put limit on the number of private cars. Wenxinniao also pointed to environmental problems in the countryside, including untreated sewage and garbage.

"Feng Zhu" and "Hong Xingzhe" said that the elderly needed to be given greater attention.

"I'm looking forward to more community services, because my children are always busy with work and they don't live with me," said Feng, a pensioner in his seventies, who added, "I hope a nurse can come to my home every week. And it'd be great if there were a psychologist to talk with."

Other topics include resource planning, housing, employment, and government services.

(China Daily 01/26/2011 page5)