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walt fristoe
SFN Regular
USA
505 Posts |
 Posted - 09/22/2003 : 20:27:52
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Here's one I think you folks will like!
In the October issue of Discover is an article titled Watching the watchers, in which is discussed a website called Government Information Awareness.
The mision statement, as given at the site, is:
quote:
To empower citizens by providing a single, comprehensive, easy-to-use repository of information on individuals, organizations, and corporations related to the government of the United States of America.
To allow citizens to submit information about government-related issues, while maintaining their anonymity. To allow members of the government to participate in the process.
This is a really great idea, and long overdue. For much too long we have been letting our elected and appointed representatives get away with abusing their power, to the extent that we are in grave danger of having a government of the rich, by the rich, and for the rich. Only because we never seem to be able to have the knowledge of the activities of the political power elite in order to prevent and/or punish such abuse. It's time we began to scrutinize our so-called public "servants" in such a way that they can no longer further their power-mongering, money-grubbing agendas.
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"If God chose George Bus of all the people in the world, how good could God be?"
Bill Maher |
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Fireballn
Skeptic Friend
Canada
179 Posts |
 Posted - 09/23/2003 : 17:16:41 [Permalink]
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Walt-"It's time we began to scrutinize our so-called public "servants" in such a way that they can no longer further their power-mongering, money-grubbing agendas."
Ah yes the downside..... so many times democracy looks like two wolves and a sheep wondering what to have for dinner......I can't see an end in sight, the whole system was set up this way. |
If i were the supreme being, I wouldn't have messed around with butterflies and daffodils. I would have started with lasers 8 o'clock day one!
-Time Bandits- |
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Renae
SFN Regular
543 Posts |
Posted - 09/24/2003 : 06:18:44 [Permalink]
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I agree that access to information is crucial to a democracy. I think Americans are under-informed on their elected leaders and startlingly uninformed on political issues and on science.
I don't think it helps, though, to pit government as The Enemy--or to assume that all government leaders are corrupt, stupid, or inept. The government is US. We create it and maintain it, and whether we like it or not, it reflects our strengths and weaknesses.
The "throw the bums out" mentality seems popular now (hence the recalls in California and, I think, Wisconsin.) Being a skeptical sort, though, I question the long-term wisdom of this trend (and of most trends, really).
I don't have the answers as to how to make government either more accountable or more efficient. It's only 6 am here on the Left Coast, after all...and I need another cup of coffee. 
"God have mercy on the man/who doubts what he's sure of."
--Bruce Springsteen
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