gerard,

I would be glad to, however, there is no Harpers article titled Visible Man on the Web space.

GRYM: Please just read the Harper’s article.

gerard,

Come now.  Human-beings are not kept ignorant slaves due to State Dept. cables being confidential.  Confidentiality, the ability to hold a private dialog, is an easily understood necessity. 

With that said; I believe all governments classify far too much information.  I can think of several dozen ways to mitigate that very real problem.  What you demand, however, that no government have the ability to keep anything private, is anarchy.  The anarchy Julian Assange wrote and spoke of for at least 15 years prior to becoming notorious.

GRYM:  Please see the current Harper’s magazine article, “Visible Man” by Peter Singer for a cogent presentation of our situation and the importance of the choices we make regarding secrecy, privacy, and public information.  The decision for all of us is not an easy one, but as this writer says:  “The way we answer the question will depend on whether we share Assange’s belief that decision-making leads to better outcomes when based on the truth than when based on lies and ignorance.”

Of course the question has been asked, and answered, before—and most often civilization (what there is left of it) has fared better when knowledge is as accurate and widespread as possible.  But—and it’s an important but—that depends almost entirely upon information having the courageous and determined support of educated majorities of caring people who determine to uphold it at all costs.  A big order for little people—but they have managed to come through many times in the past.

“Do we want to know the truth of what our governments are doing?  Or do we wantto remain helpless victims of secrecy and manipulation? What we decide is literally a matter of the life or death of ‘government of the people, by the people, and for the people.’”

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Honestly, gerard, how do you go from writing something of manipulation by way of fear, then move on to such dire and dramatic warnings of, what you claim is “literally a matter of the life or death”? - So you intend to scare others into agreeing with you?  Interesting dichotomy…lol

How do we gain by avoiding all discussions of what could very well happen to any one of us if a sole “reformer” takes matters into his or her own hands?  Banks for example.  Or government as another example.  I can see no benefit in avoiding the issue entirely.

It seems to me you’re willing to, literally, risk everything but yourself.  It seems to me you refuse to let go of your own rights to privacy and private personal property.  Yes, if it effects you, personally, this noble thing Manning has accomplished would clearly be a crime.

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Listen. Your personal view of your government is not the issue.  A Bradley Manning has no right, no good excuse, to release your protected information.  Which is, there is no denying, precisely what Manning seems to have admitted to and stands accused of.  You simply have no right to tell Pfc. Manning that State Dept. cables should not be confidential.

Reducing this case to the personal level is the only way to prevent people from understanding its vital public importance to the entire nation.  It is also the most simple-minded way of attempting to prejudice ignorant people by frightening them.  In fact, one of my acquaintances who has no interest whatsoever in politics and no understanding of what is going on has already confronted me with the same “argument” (threat):  “How would you like it if WikiLeaks hacked into your bank account?”
As though the two cases were analogous!

In response I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.  I knew it was impossible to explain the truth because it would take me a week, at least, to remove the self-willed, deliberate blindness which protects him from dealing with the more complicated facts.

Truth is, WikiLeaks faces citizens of democracies with a dilemma:  Do we want to know the truth of what our governments are doing?  Or do we want
to remain helpless victims of secrecy and manipulation? What we decide is literally a matter of the life or death of “government of the people, by the people, and for the people.”

berniem,

I forgot to ask you to post some important information.

You see, I firmly believe you’ve been involved in criminal wrongdoing by a corrupt and fascist group of extraordinarily smart and elite human-beings.  I need you to post or send me your SSN, DOB, home address, IP address, MAC ID, and your last 10,000 E-mails and chat conversations.  Please include all mobile and home telephone numbers.

Only if we release this information to the general public can I “reform” your evil, albeit highly intelligent, intentions.

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You cannot refuse.  This is a just cause.  Perhaps the best of causes.  It is mine alone to decide your privacy and/or your secrets.

berniem, - “WAKE UP!!!!”

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Not only has Pfc. Bradley Manning admitted to “stealing” and disseminating protected information, he’s been charged with over two dozen criminal counts.

It’s interesting that you have such strong opinions on a matter you appear to know so little about.

grym: Spare us your tortured analogies! The information “leaked” by whoever(Manning has yet to be charged!)is of criminal wrongdoing by a corrupt and fascist nation governed for the benefit of the greedy few supported by the ignorant, intolerant, greedy, and in many cases, outright stupid people who continue to believe the devisive reactionary rhetoric of the swindlers promising the blessings of the Trickle Down if only they be permitted to achieve total control! WAKE UP!!!! On second thought maybe you’re not one of the dupes but actually a perpetrater.

Manning may very well be a hero to many.  It’s looking increasingly likely that he’s also a criminal.  Quite possibly several crimes of treason.

Would it be fair to say that nearly everyone here would be thrilled if one of the young and idealistic IT Techs with your local bank passionately believed that the best way to harm (reform) the bank itself would be to release all social security numbers, addresses, and account numbers of its entire clientele list?  He or she would be a national hero.  The cause is certainly just, nay?

No matter how Obama handles the debt crisis fiasco or anything else so adamantly being pimped by the MSM, I as a progressive who fell for his initial bullcrap and supported him, will not vote for him or any other democrat or independent who tries to rationalize the need that he be re-elected for the simple fact of what has been done to Mr. Manning as well as Obama’s fostering of crimes against humanity as well as his unabashed efforts in league with the fascists who continue to usurp our rights and freedoms! This charade of bipartisan squabbling and cheesy political theatre aimed at keeping us at each others’ throats at the same time catering to the lowest common denominators of our society fails to disguise the fact that this nation is spiraling down into a dark Orwellian miasma which bodes ill for us all. I fully expect to see this country to turn into a totalitarian state with martial law declared followed by civil war and government overthrow as this awful empire sinks into the slime of tis own creation!

Seriously, Glenn Greenwald for “Truthdigger of the Week.”