Secrecy Report Card 2007: Posted by Lorelei Kelly

Government secrecy rationalized by "security" claims is a corrosive problem that has widespread political, social and cultural implications. The extent to which democratic governments thrive or are damaged by external threat perceptions depends on the actions of elected leaders. Today, the threat of terrorism presents an unprecedented challenge to the US Government. How we interpret this threat –a stagnating and indecipherable fog of fear, or an opportunity to dramatically shift resources and policies—will determine the future of American democracy.

The increasing difficulty of public access to government information in the post 9/11 world comes at a critical time for American democracy, where political institutions are struggling to adapt to legitimate fears about terrorism on top of globalization and ideological extremism on the right.

Today’s strategic policy vacuum has had implications for government. Lacking compelling leadership to give us a positive vision of the future, institutions and bureaucracies take the path of least resistance. In this case, clinging to Cold War philosophy— insisting that a complicated and diverse threat such as terrorism can be remedied internally by secrecy and coercion and externally by a constant state of military readiness. This tendency to seek comfort in these known patterns has been exploited with skill and with dastardly results by the Bush Administration--and turned into the chief rhetorical calling card of today's Republican party.

the oldest FOIA request in the federal government has now been pending for more than 20 years.
See morehere.

Comments

[Cal]

Lacking compelling leadership to give us a positive vision of the future, institutions and bureaucracies take the path of least resistance. In this case, clinging to Cold War philosophy...

Leadership isn't the main problem. It's the institutions and bureaucracies that are in control here, and these structures are able to completely thwart any individual leader. Even anti-war Democrats like Sanchez are willing to fund this war forever so long as it means more money for C-17's.

What's missing isn't a fuehrer, but people at the bottom organizing and demanding a change in how they're governed. IOW, I think we're f'ed.