‘Secrecy and a free, democratic government don’t mix.’ Harry S. Truman
Harry Truman understood the importance of open government in a free society. George W. Bush does not.
From the first days of his administration, President Bush has taken steps to tighten the government’s hold on information and limit public scrutiny of its activities. … Here, Public Citizen chronicles and documents the administration’s obsession with secrecy, as well as the steps we, and others, are taking to fight it. … In the long run, we don’t think Americans will put up with a government that operates on the principle of keeping them in ignorance. The more light we shine on these actions, the less likely they are to succeed.