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One simple answer to the question above would be to return our country to it's Constitutional roots. A government "of the people, by the people, and for the people" and accountable to those whom it serves does not provide for the British monarchial privilege of sovereign immunity, or what is euphemistically labeled "executive privilege." The President, and all those who are holding that office and report to him (or her), have no legal protections accorded to them in their official duties and functions and the impeachment process has been circumvented by an errant Supreme Court political ruling in this century that undercut the entire checks and balances system the founders so painstakingly put in place. That ruling and provision must go, and must go if this nation is ever going to return to it's former greatness again.

The Executive Office, especially under this last president, has ursurped powers it was never intended to have and instead of an open and transparent government, we have an upside down government claiming privileges while striping Americans of their Bill of Rights protections progressively where freedom in America is almost non-existent for the citizenry. Unlawful searches and seizures of their personal effects, homes and even telephone conversations under the Patriot Act means America now resembles more Orwell's nightmare than the "Land of the Free, Home of the Brave." Not one American citizen was ever implicated in 9/11, the fault was Washington's alone according to the 9/11 report and the Bush Administration used 9/11 to increase the powers of the Executive Office beyond measure.

Another change that would bring back some transparency to our government is Mr. Obama foregoing the friendships and political influence of the media moguls who have distorted the function of our free press beyond recognition. Rather than a press secretary handling the announcement of major policy changes and national and world events, holding a weekly 30 minute discourse with the press and select private citizen journalists broadcast weekly would allow both more public information to be disseminated as it is occurring, rather than in pat and prepared speeches after the fact. A Friday forum on national events with no prepared speeches but fifteen minute presentation followed by fifteen minutes of questions might begin to build more trust and also provide much more in the way of accountability and political subterfuge on major issues.

In a dream world the only true transparency in government would be public dissemination of the topics of conversation at all Cabinet meetings, and backroom committee meetings where the true government business is conducted. We can only dream. But those two suggestions, removal of the fallacy of "executive privilege," and weekly forums on the major issues facing this nation would be a start.

Learn more about this author, Linda Gehring.
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