Jimmy Carter: We Need Fewer Secrets
The former president bemoans the current White House's obsession with secrecy: "Increasingly, developed and developing nations are recognizing that a free flow of information is fundamental for democracy."The former president bemoans the current White House’s obsession with secrecy: “Increasingly, developed and developing nations are recognizing that a free flow of information is fundamental for democracy.”
WAIT, BEFORE YOU GO…Jimmy Carter in the Washington Post:
The U.S. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) turns 40 tomorrow, the day we celebrate our independence. But this anniversary will not be a day of celebration for the right to information in our country. Our government leaders have become increasingly obsessed with secrecy. Obstructionist policies and deficient practices have ensured that many important public documents and official actions remain hidden from our view.
The events in our nation today — war, civil rights violations, spiraling energy costs, campaign finance and lobbyist scandals — dictate the growing need and citizens’ desire for access to public documents. A poll conducted last year found that 70 percent of Americans are either somewhat or very concerned about government secrecy. This is understandable when the U.S. government uses at least 50 designations to restrict unclassified information and created 81 percent more “secrets” in 2005 than in 2000, according to the watchdog coalition OpenTheGovernment.org.
Moreover, the response to FOIA requests often does not satisfy the transparency objectives or provisions of the law, which, for example, mandates an answer to information requests within 20 working days. According to the National Security Archives 2003 report, median response times may be as long as 905 working days at the Department of Agriculture and 1,113 working days at the Environmental Protection Agency. The only recourse for unsatisfied requesters is to appeal to the U.S. District Court, which is costly, timely and unavailable to most people. Policies that favor secrecy, implementation that does not satisfy the law, lack of a mandated oversight body and inaccessible enforcement mechanisms have put the United States behind much of the world in the right to information.
If you're reading this, you probably already know that non-profit, independent journalism is under threat worldwide. Independent news sites are overshadowed by larger heavily funded mainstream media that inundate us with hype and noise that barely scratch the surface. We believe that our readers deserve to know the full story. Truthdig writers bravely dig beneath the headlines to give you thought-provoking, investigative reporting and analysis that tells you what’s really happening and who’s rolling up their sleeves to do something about it.
Like you, we believe a well-informed public that doesn’t have blind faith in the status quo can help change the world. Your contribution of as little as $5 monthly or $35 annually will make you a groundbreaking member and lays the foundation of our work.
Activism
Carter, who died on Sunday at 96, was a 'pioneer' as equal partner, diplomat, mental health advocate and champion for caregivers.
A new book shows how the activist's positions on issues like the Vietnam War and environmental justice helped move civil rights leaders left.
Thanks to the Vermont senator's campaign, Americans finally understand the depredations of neoliberalism, and that is no small victory.
The process is unrepresentative and undemocratic, but national political reporters and Iowa businesspeople will never let it die.
It's about cosmetics and will do nothing to halt the decay that is destroying the republic.
Like a partner who wants to repair a damaged relationship, Democrats must return to core principles and stay faithful to them.
There are currently no responses to this article.
Be the first to respond.