Freedom from information
So the saga of the Freedom of Information Act continues with the attempt to add specifics that don't exempt MPs expenses, but still allow them to hide correspondence with public authorities.
So why do we need a FoI Act at all? Well it allows us to ask for information that hasn't been made public and probably won't be. Fair enough except then you have to ask well why hasn't it been published? Why should we have to make applications to see MPs expenses or discover how many 'wild' animals are owned by Londoners. The Guardian argues that these requests have a political motivation, so what does that mean? If all this information was published freely it would still be used politically, so should we head back to the good old days when you couldn't find out anything unless it had been approved for release? Brown envelopes under the door; that's only good for the newspapers who'd get said missives.
So what if everything got released, unless stamped Top Secret; well other then cynicism telling me that a lot more documents would achieve that label, you'd need to employ staff to go through and censor any personal information. So now define personal information. If Minister A writes to Minister B asking that their good friend Person C is a fine upstanding chap who happens to be looking to obtain UK citizenship; what information should be removed? What about Person A writing to Minister B about the state of rubbish collection in their area?
The simple answer would be to remove all personal information and use the FoI to have the censorship removed. A qualified panel (of judges perhaps) would determine if it breaches personal privacy, if it's in the national interest etc. and allows or disallows the appeal. No more gathering of information as it's already out there so no complaints on that score, if the public departments were efficient any created document would automatically allow <censor> tags that would automatically blank any information once the publish button is hit.
From the government's point of view they could be seen to be presenting an open government while at the same time drowning everyone in information that'd take them an age to sort through. Win win.
3 comments:
I heard from a colleague today that somebody had made an FoI request to the Diplomatic Service, asking to see their annual budget for Ferrero Rocher.
That is all.
Its so they can hide just how much money they get from shafting this country and its people each and every single day.
If you have never seen V for vendetta i suggest you go and rent it out,because the way things are going that and 1984 is becomming more and more a reality.
I for one am sick and tired of being told that things are getting better when in fact from where im looking from its worse than ever.
The fact that they are trying to push these "laws" thro for themselves is testing the water for bigger and better things that they all have planned to boost thier bank-balances and incur no feed-back from the public (whos money it is they are playing with)
I pray that this country doesnt stumble down the same path as America has,when one man can imprison anyone without due reason indefinatly..
try this link out for a insight into whats happening around the world,not the sugar coated drivel they subject us to in the papers and the Tv.
http://www.whatreallyhappened.com/
I just cannot beleive a goverment that lies time and time again to its people anymore.The blogs like this one and Agenda are a true insight into just what is happening in the world.I wonder how long till they try and control it too...
Dan do you know if the request included the number of staff needed to arrange them into a pyramid on trays?
Anonymous, did you read the Guardian link? It makes the good point that we demand this level of information from the government, but not from the companies who could be truly said to have more impact on our lives.
I'd be the first to admit that things aren't as good as they could be, but they're certainly better overall then they were in the 80s. The 'money and business is all' mantra has certainly been weakened. You only need to look at the recent reporting of Alan Sugar's remarks to see that.
As to the private members bill it's a damn broad brush essentially removing both Houses from the list of Public Authorities and preventing even those still listed as PA's from disclosing information from Parliament and that includes ones sent to 'other' government departments.
As for stumbling down the same road as America, I do hope that with a Democrat majority someone will have the courage to propose at the very least an amendment stripping the President of his 'enemy combatant' pointing finger. Of course the current incumbent will just veto it.
So if you don't believe in the government, I assume you don't believe in companies either. In both cases they can work provided they can always be held accountable by the people; that's where the power is, that's where it's always been just need to remind people of that.
V for Vendetta, read it, seen it, bought the mask.
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