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all the categories Maslow mentioned, the need for transparency falls on the safety and security needs. When man's basic needs are not met, there is a natural tendency to want to be assured that the means which the basic needs are set will always be within one's reach and that one will not be unjustly deprived of that which he had tried to procure by dint or hard labour.

The concept of savings and insurance is a response to this particular need. Other than the material security and safety needs there is the psychological needs of freedom from fear, from attack or violence against one's property or person. Man tries to organize society in such a way as to meet his safety and security needs.

He needs the assurance of a continued peaceful existence. Peace and order is a response to this need. Akin to electing a world leader to institute the reform needed by the people, "the need for transparency" is a must and therefore a need that has to be met and fulfilled by the Obama administration. Voting for a certain candidate means investing trust and confidence in the person who was chosen by the people to lead them.

The elected and the electorate has an unseen bond that thrives in having one mission and vision for the entire nation towards a progressive and a just administration.

Hence, transparency will fight against lip service by ensuring that all transactions to be entered by the govenrnment will be magnified and studied by the constituency if such information will be made available to the public.

It is a requirement for a honest governance, but the methodology of deliverance should be carefully delivered with adequate study and information.

There is one concern that the Obama government has to deal with: If transparency in governance means everybody has the right to raise criticisms, then who has the right to air a grievance? What steps must be set to ensure that some sectors will not be used by politicians with vested interest to put down the Obama administration?

If freedom has to be given to the people, the Obama administration must always be vigilant in determining which group raised legitimate complaints and which group are not.

Sectoral leaders claiming to speak for the people they represent must really stand for truth. The true voice of the people must overcome the noise caused by divided politics and other form of discriminatory campaigns.

Meaning, the Obama government should conduct sectoral consultations and appoint credible and principled people to immerse themselves into the problems of one sector by feeling the emotions of the oppressed and knowing the details of the techinicalities that go with the problems. Government transparency is not limited to who speaks what and for whom,but who speaks the truth that is credible and witnessed by the eyes and not merely relayed by the mouth to the ears.

The feedback system is a very effective way of monitoring developments of governmental initiatives. Meaning, the beneficiaries of a government project should be the proper people to give feedback on the result of such undertaking by the government.

Transparency in the Obama administration should not start and end with the government. The people must also help the elected president deliver what is expected of him by giving him the true feedback and this is why GRASSROOTS connection must be exhausted.

The poor and the helpless must have a voice to let their leaders know what kind of assistance is rightfully theirs.

By identifying sectoral problems and ensuring that the right beneficiaries get what they deserve, transparency will work in both positive ways: for the receptive and reachable presidency and for the participative people whose concern is for the success of the government where they belong.

Learn more about this author, Bai Maleiha.
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