Does government secrecy makes us safer?

The following is an article I wrote for Helium.com



Last I checked America was still considered a Democracy. As a democratic nation we have the responsibility to elect our officials. In order to take our responsibility seriously we have to be able to make informed decisions. How can we, if secrets are being kept? We are not talking here about a "few" national security "secrets". We are talking about information that every citizen needs in order to make an intelligent decision.

Unfortunately this administration views every piece of information as a national security issue. Instead of digging for the truth, the media feeds us the same mindless crap over and over again. Secrecy has not made us safer, in fact we are in more danger than ever. Fear-mongering and bi-partisanship have only served to exclude American citizens from the real issues. Issues we have a right to know about, to vote for, or to write to congress about. How could we, if we don't know what is going on? When a few are making decision for the many, it is never safe. When a few think that they know best and are making decisions for the better good, it is never safe. When a few break laws because they feel that the ends justify the means, it is never safe.

Living in darkness is never safe. Following the blind is never safe. Invading sovereign nations while denying our children medical care, that is never safe. In government, like in marriage, keeping secrets leads to discourse. One day you wake up and realize you are sleeping with a stranger. Soon, Americans will wake up and not recognize the government they have. Our officials will be strangers because someone felt it was in the interest of national security to keep citizens dumb, deaf and blind. How safe will you feel when that happens?

Learn more about this author, Alida Chacon.
www.helium.com