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Right of Information

(AP Photo/Bell County Sheriffs Department, File)

Right To Information

The Right to know is a cherished freedom in any libertarian democracy. It is the basis of accountability of government, transparency in its operations, and the public trust that characterizes public office. The working of democratic society heavily deals with the disclosure of information concerning the public. In fact, the sector occupied by media depends on this ideal as the basis for its place and role in society.

The Truth And Democracy

In a democracy the truth, its prevalence, proliferation and valuation are essential. Systems of Justice, punishments and public policy are essentially based on the truth. The truth takes on not only a purely moral and ethical value but also a socio–political one. It becomes the foundation of a government for, of, and by the people. In fact, a cherished right in a democracy is the right to information. More than that is the duty of the state to keep its people updated and informed. After all it is merely an extension of the will of the people, whom the government exists to serve. It often becomes controversial when the truth and the right to information is set aside for matters of national security and public safety. However, these exceptions to the right to information have been overused and in some cases abused by governments, especially in peculiar instances.

State Secrets

In most cases the government deems it necessary that there would be no information released despite the right to it. These decisions are made in the context of state security and often bind not only certain kinds of information but even entire agencies and a multitude of government personnel or enlisted individuals. In a recent news, a soldier was ordered by his superiors to erase a video he took of a rampage. It is in these cases the right to information by the public is set aside for an undue cause. Now the matter is in court and the foremost right of the people to know is on trial. It is demandable from the government that certain information be made available to the public.

Greater Value Involved

The greater value at stake is the preservation of the ideals of democracy while still protecting national security and public safety. It is a difficult balance to strike between these two. Moreover, the more advanced a government is the more it will rely on the ability to control the flow of information for state purposes. However, these state purposes also include keeping the citizenry updated as to government policy and efforts. This is truer in cases regarding issues of great national importance. The court has to decide, which will prevail of the two, the right to information or the state rights to secrecy.

References:

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7249613.html

http://www.article19.org/pdfs/standards/righttoknow.pdf

October 20, 2010 - Posted by erichagardner | Legal, New | Greater Value Involved, Right of Information and the Military, State Secrets, The Truth and Democracy