“If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be.” ~ Thomas Jefferson
An informed nation hinges upon a citizenry desirous of the truth and a government steeped in the principles of transparency and trust. The farther we veer from these two things the more likely we are to see the freedoms we enjoy dissipate.
Even if everyone had equal and free access to all available information at any given point in time, I cannot imagine that many would take the time to access it given the often embarrassing statistics surrounding something as simple as voter participation in Presidential elections, let alone in local votes.
Our Republic was founded on the principles of transparency and trust, yet at every turn it seems the culture of secrecy and spin obfuscate and twist the facts of the matter. How much protection does the average person really need from the truth? The government – which should be of the people, by the people and for the people – must constantly weigh this question and resolve to redress any imbalance as soon as it is perceived.
“I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crisis. The great point is to bring them the real facts.” ~ Abraham Lincoln
Gregory Hake 
I wonder if the lack of voter participation has anything to do with a basic mistrust of the current political arena? I believe mine is – I don’t know where to turn to in the hopes of making a decision that harmonizes with my views. What you talk about in your posts are more of my ideals, and I see a few politicians beginning to articulate their views in terms of the fundamentals this nation was built upon, no doubt because there simply has to be a return to ethical governance if we are going to survive and prosper; but they seem few and far between. I sense there has to be a compromise somewhere to begin to build a bridge from where we are today to where we need to be, and that’s where I scratch my head because we can only vote with our conscience, hopefully truthfully informed, and trust that this is the best that we can do with what we have, and that siimply has to be good enough. I don’t think a jaded and cynical view will ever help any problem.
I apologize for the ramble, but I need to resolve the situation and not just sweep it under the rug.
LikeLike
Whenever we have government members that will put their own interests or that of a special interest group, before the greater good, it results in subterfuge and confusion.
Government is supposed to manage various entities to support the people; not be an entity in itself that lives off the people.
We should be teaching, from first grade on, what our government is, how it works and what a citizen’s responsibility is.
Benjamin Franklin, as left the meeting where they had just finished drafting the Constitution, was asked about the form of government that was decided; he supposedly quipped, “A republic, madam, if you can keep it.”
I think we can, but it will take citizens willing to do the work to understand the mechanism that was put in place by our amazing Founding Fathers.
Thanks for the post.
LikeLike
I think personal responsibility is a large part of the problem we are facing. Responsibility of the governors and the governed. Careerist bureaucrats only think about liability and the next election, and lazy citizens only think about their next bit of entertainment. A society where this is the standard is not a society which will always be on top. Thanks for another great post.
LikeLike
How about a new Governing influence? One characterized by it’s trancparency, which is trustworthy to those contained within?
This is where we each have personal responsibility to show the world that there is a different way, through what you outlined as “constantly weigh this question and resolve to redress any imbalance as soon as it is perceived”
Each and every one of us know exactly what those matters are that need to be redressed, if we have any capacity for honesty.
Perfect timing as always, thanks.
LikeLike
Given the complexity of the various messes out there, I appreciate the relative simplicity of your post – and it’s effectiveness if it really were to be taken to heart at the level of the citizen. That means me! Thanks for the intelligent food for thought today.
LikeLike
Mr. Hake,
This an eloquent statement. Thank you.
LikeLike
It seems our founding fathers had much more faith in the citizen than our government does today. If it were only a matter of protecting people from harm, that would be one thing. Unfortunately, what masks most truths from being revealed are nefarious intentions, financial gain and fears that these motiviations will be revealed.
LikeLike