THE PROBLEM WITH SECRECY

Reader comment on: Richard Epstein on the National Security Agency

Submitted by DAVID KETTLEWELL (United States), Jul 1, 2013 17:13

THE PROBLEM WITH SECRECY

It's a reasonable question….what's the problem with secrecy?

Secrecy as in what's happened with the NSA's PRISM initiative to access all communications in secret, & secret courts, revealed to the world by one Edward Snowden.

First, secrecy breaks down the dialogue of ideas of citizens so critical to the functioning of a healthy Democracy, and shuts down the protective checks and balances we depend on as a free nation…dedicated to the ideal of one man or woman- one vote. Representative Government where the people decide the course of things.

Secrecy shuts down public dialogue because no dialogue can take place regarding things we know nothing about.

Secrecy shuts down the ability of the judicial system to do its job.

Courts can't question the legality of programs which are a secret. The people can't bring things before the court and challenge them…if they don't know about them.

Then there's the press.

Journalists can't really function and do their job when they don't know the truth. After all, media is not about hiding secrets, it's about revealing them.

And the legislative branch…that would be our elected representatives, Congress and the Senate. Put gag orders on them so they can't talk with their constituents about the truth, even if they feel it is their moral and ethical obligation to do so, as elected representatives of the people.

Who's left? The Executive branch, which is the President and his assigns.

Secrecy shuts down public dialogue, the judiciary, the press, and the legislative branch, in the fulfillment of their rightful roles in our Democracy.

Secrecy shuts down the ability of a free Democracy to function. That's the problem.


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Other reader comments on this item

Title By Date
⇒ THE PROBLEM WITH SECRECY [277 words]DAVID KETTLEWELLJul 1, 2013 17:13
No sacrifice of liberty is tolerable! [27 words]Tibor R. MachanJun 24, 2013 21:16
If what was described in the hearings yesterday about the phone metadata is true: [180 words]LyleJun 19, 2013 21:59

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