The media says that the economy and Iraq are the two issues of most concern in the 2008 Presidential Election. However, the media has said many things political lately and walked away with egg on the face.

Personally, when I got my little survey card, I did not put "Open Government" at the top of my list simply because I did not understand it. What it actually meant or how important "Open Government" is to our country. Until I began looking into things, I never gave much thought to the "Freedom of Information Act". It did not seem to concern my living life from paycheck to paycheck.

"Transparent" or "Open Government" is more important today than ever before. Never before has the government been so overwhelmingly secretive. When local Board of Education meetings are closed to the public whose children they serve and Presidents issue an Executive Order* that their actions in office be hidden from public view for twenty years, something is amiss.

The Constitution of the United States of America does not allow the three branches of government to cloak themselves in secrecy. The Constitution allows secrecy in one, and only one instance. That allowance given to the Congress if the Congress believes it is necessary. It was very important to the life of Congressional persons of the time.

Being a Congressperson was a very dangerous occupation. In the heat of debate, fistfights between statesmen were hardly unusual while Congress was in session. At times, the floor of Congress might look more like a bar brawl than a place of honorable debate.

A Congressperson not only risked physical altercations in the House and Senate, they also risked getting pummeled to death in public by people who might be incited to violence at a stance taken in the Congress.

The Constitution gives the Executive branch no allowance for Secrecy in its functions. Secrecy for the Oval Office, apparently swiped while behind closed doors.

"Open Government" opens those doors, allowing "We the People" to participate in Democracy as it should be.

Today, we have with a very telling Presidential Election in progress. The three main candidates, at this time, are John McCain, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. It is important to know where they stand on the issue of "Open Government". All three have given positions on this issue.

Much better than listening to a sensationalist media and gossip, one should probably go to the

• 1
• 2
• next page >>

---

Add your voice

Know something about US elections 2008: Are candidates missing an opportunity to connect with voters on open government issues??
We want to hear your view. Write now!