IS secrecy the best policy
The truth is a very fickle thing, being when you tell someone the truth there could be two possible reactions: first the person is very happy that they were told; second, the person could be angry about the fact that you told them the truth, especially if the truth hurts. When it comes to the government being up front with the country, there is the same double-edged sword, will the people be grateful or will they be angry? However, during the past few years, letting the citizens of the United States know what their government has been doing has not been the policy. Most importantly, Bush administration's enthusiasm for classifying information-even from government officials-is not a good idea. President Bush and his administration need to enforce the policy of open government instead of suppressing it. Now in the past, presidents have classified information and they have done it for many reasons, whether it has been for the protection of the people or because he was trying to cover his own tracks. One example is President Richard Nixon, whose cover-up of the Watergate Scandal was as explosive as the fact that he did it. It was during this time that Rumsfeld, now Secretary of Defense, made an interesting point. That out of all
However, in truth he took the most progressive steps towards "open government. The government needs to realize that they have a relationship with the country, and with any good relationship, one has to be up front about the things that are going on, or the partner will never be considered trustworthy. ' Ironically, citizens felt that former President Clinton lied to the country about more things than an indiscretion. Informing people helps to keep them alert and on their guard. Not only have information concerning the war on terror, 9/11, and other policies-one example being the Vice President Cheney's Energy Task Force-the Bush administration has deemed other information classified as well. Classifying information in the end creates more problems than it solves. " Even Mayor Giuliani, former mayor of New York, said that classifying information after 9/11 prevented New York police officers from doing their jobs. Knowledge will forever govern ignorance; and a people who mean to be their own governors must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives. Not only is classifying information clogging up the chains of command, but it is also costly. The government cannot be trusted; the people cannot believe what the government says, and the people cannot rely on the government's judgment. The current administration needs to realize that classifying information is not a good way of governing a country. 8 million dollar increase due to classification. Vice President Cheney, in response to his refusal to provide information about his Energy Task Force, said that his refusal was a, "principled attempt to restore presidential powers that have been eroded 'because of the unwise compromises that have been made over the last 30 or 35 years.
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Acceptance Essays
