Open government empowers the people
Open government empowers the people March 25, 2008 - 4:31PM You don't need a psychology degree to realize that people behave differently when they know someone is watching. So when government officials know the public is keeping its eyes on them, it creates a powerful incentive to behave responsibly and ethically. The key word there is powerful, a term that reflects the importance of open government. Laws that require people in positions of official authority to conduct the public's business openly provide a check on government power. These laws generate records and documents and make them available for inspection. They restrict the ability to meet behind closed doors. They eliminate hiding places where activities might otherwise go on unmonitored. In short, the power that these laws deny to the government flows to the people. All that remains is for the people to use it. And when they do, interesting things can happen: In 1972, a case stemming from a Freedom of Information Act request resulted in the IRS releasing a 40,000-page manual on auditing procedures. Eight years ago, another FOIA case led to the FBI making 35,000 pages of information about its crime lab available on the Internet. In both examples, power flowed from the government to the people in the form of information. And in each case, government officials got a reminder - every now and then, scrutiny catches up with secrecy. It's "Sunshine Month," a time when newspapers and other media outlets are putting emphasis on the people's right to know. You may hear many arguments for keeping government accessible and transparent, but for now remember the one we've talked about today. The cause of open government not only champions the people, it also empowers them. Inserted from <http://www.havenews.com/common/printer/view.php?db=havelock&id=3863>
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