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to broadcast the discussions and negotiations with the insurance and healthcare industries. This will in no way breach the safety of Americans and will only proffer honest and accurate information for our citizens. If open government is at the base of a candidate's campaign then that candidate shows nothing to hide and evokes trust in the American public. Trust gets votes, and trustworthy actions move this country forward.

Step 2: Articulate definitive policies that will enable open source government. Such policies may include the outlaw of document shredding, ease of ability for citizens to track tax dollar spending, and ways to encourage citizen input on important issues. If candidates can show obtainable ways to implement such policy, they will simply reel in voters due to the fact that too many people in this country feel a lack of control over what happens. These types of policies mentioned will break down walls that shield the government from the citizens, thus creating more transparency, resulting in more accountability.

Step 3: Implement the policies once elected. The promise of this type of action may get a candidate elected, but the hard part is getting a candidate to actually do what he/she says. But imagine for a second that it actually happened. Americans would regain trust in the Executive branch, and in the government as a whole. This would guarantee a second term for the president, rejuvenate that particular party, and transform the attitudes of many apathetic citizens and nonvoters.

President Bush's ratings on whether he is an honest and trustworthy president have been subsiding. This country has lost a lot of trust in its government over the last decade. Now would be the optimal time to introduce these open government policies to the American people. The next president of this country must be more open than any president in the past and work to implement more policies promoting government transparency and accountability than anyone before.

It is perplexing to try to understand why a candidate hasn't pounced on this immensely important issue and made it the platform of his/her campaign. It is certainly a possibility that none of the candidates truly have the intention to push this issue once in the White House. These candidates speak of change, but it would be this kind of change that would be truly monumental. In a democracy, do we deserve anything less than truth and openness?

In the wake of a failed administration, a broken economy, and a financially draining war that has taken too many human lives, it is about time that they let the citizens in. Things aren't working in Washington and the next president must have the emotional intelligence to understand the citizens' needs in these trying times. Let true democracy ring out and listen to the American people because we are hoarse from yelling.

Learn more about this author, Ryan Headley.
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