What do you think?
Rachel Carson attacked the chemical and pesticide industry in her 1962 book Silent Spring, which stirred up the notion of transparency—to unmask hidden information. Carson’s war on pesticides and the clarity it required for public information was condemned by private industry, just as the battle over tobacco and its relation to increased cancer was beginning. Nevertheless, her action on behalf of the environment resulted in Congressional action in 1970 with the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Occupational Safety and Health Act.
Later, in 1984, a pesticide plant in India released toxic fumes into the environment, killing more than 2,000 people. The plant had been cited for a poor safety record with no emergency plan or damage control information available to the public. With this tragedy, community and workplace “right to know” policies and laws were enhanced around the globe.
A free society thrives on openness, honesty, and accountability. Sharing information on government decision making and corporation largess is how you and I can hold our elected representatives accountable to rules of law, fairness, and freedom from corruption. During the “age for openness in government” in the ’60s, Ralph Nader was convinced public information is essential to a free society, and he pressed for public access to government documents and open government meetings.
On July 4, 1966, President Johnson signed into law a freedom of information act to give the public access to the documents of most federal agencies. All states followed suit, granting citizens the legal right to access, as well as providing for open meetings, the place where elected leaders and staff converse and make decisions that impact you and me.
These early FOIAs, however, excluded any scrutiny of private business doing business with the government. And therein is the rub. Increasingly, private corporations are providing services that were once in the domain of public service. Privatized trash service, privatized prison management, economic development corporations, and conference and visitor centers receiving beaucoup public dollars are off limits to public scrutiny.
As early as 1951, Denmark and her Scandinavian partners led the way in the field of freedom of information acts. Considered a historic pioneer, Denmark was the first to open the doors to freedom of information requests for private business receiving public dollars or providing a public service. They were joined by Estonia in 2000.
Over 100 countries have laws or a constitutional guarantee that protect citizen access to information on government actions. Noticeably, Russia, North Korea, and Saudi Arabia are not among this group. In 2003, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution in support of citizens’ right to know. In 2015, UNESCO declared September 28th as International Day for the Universal Access of Information.
In today’s world, efforts are being made at state and local government levels to open up visibility for information to curb perceived abuses or failure in the right to know. Maryland’s elected leaders are moving SB719 to open up visibility of The University of Maryland’s governing board of regents. There are efforts to expand the visibility of judges’ decisions. And since October 2018 in New York City, for example, police officers must provide more information to the public they encounter, including offering business cards with name and rank
Transparency is the political in-word of the day. It means “to see through.” In the government context, it means openness and honesty. If we choose to use them, we have all the tools to see our government at work. We can live stream committee meetings, witness floor debates (Maryland’s legislature will begin live streaming in 2020), read proposed legislation on the Internet, attend hearings, and access public documents. There is little excuse not to know, unless of course we are blocked from knowing by executive or legislation action. Or, by our own attitude.
When times are tough, the tough get going or simply drop out and become unengaged. Indifference, the surrender of interest, and apathy are the greatest threats to our future. It feeds an atmosphere that encourages good citizens to do nothing. Partisan spin fills the vacuum. Sixty years ago, Rachel Carson opened the door to transparency. Knowledge and the judgements we make about maintaining our free society and quality of life are linked. Today, public release of the U.S. Government Mueller Report on the potential collusion with a foreign government to undermine our open political system and western values is on a collision course with the right to know. A free society thrives on openness, honesty, and accountability. What do you think?
