> Unfortunately governments are obliged to reveal their 'secrets' despite any misgivings
What if the electorate decides that a government should keep certain things secret from them? Directly at the ballot box or through their representatives?
I think in the US we have done so when we allow or congressmen to continue to renew the patriot act. For good or ill, the government keeping things secret for national security purposes is something we (through our votes, and through our congress) have asked them to do. Maybe we should stop doing so.
The electorate has done no such thing. The expansion of institutionalized secrecy in government by our representatives is an example the principal-agent problem. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Principal–agent_problem
What if the electorate decides that a government should keep certain things secret from them? Directly at the ballot box or through their representatives?
I think in the US we have done so when we allow or congressmen to continue to renew the patriot act. For good or ill, the government keeping things secret for national security purposes is something we (through our votes, and through our congress) have asked them to do. Maybe we should stop doing so.