Op-Ed Argues for More Whistleblowers, Not Fewer

June 24, 2013

An op-ed in The Baltimore Sun argues that the long list of secret and questionable activities by the government means we need more whistleblowers to expose wrongdoing and inform the public.  

Melvin Goodman, a former CIA analyst, wants to know where the whistleblowers were for CIA black sites, extraordinary rendition, warrantless wiretapping and secret military facilities abroad.  

Whistleblowers serve a vital function in a system where internal government watchdogs, inspectors general, are hampered with temporary leaders and the traditional checks and balances of the judiciary and Congress have given way to the will of the executive branch, argues Goodman.

When these other systems fail, the public needs whistleblowers to be properly informed about the actions of their government.

[S]ecrecy itself has fostered ignorance in the United States. The overuse of secrecy limits necessary debate on foreign policy and deprives citizens of information on which to make policy and political judgments. Only a counter-culture of openness and a respect for the balance of power can reverse the damage of the past decade. As long as Congress defers to the president in the conduct of foreign policy, the courts intervene to prevent any challenge to the power of the president in the making of foreign policy, and the media defer to authorized sources, we will need courageous whistle-blowers.

Read more at The Baltimore Sun.

Topics: Whistleblower Protections

Related Content: Checks and Balances, Government Secrecy

Authors: Andre Francisco

Submitted by JadeQueen at: June 25, 2013

It's not just foreign policy that is at risk from insane secrecy. Local corruption in the U.S. feeds bad behaviors offshore. Corporate cronies want information for their own purposes. We must begin to support local people who want responsive local governments as well. As it is, local governments succomb to bribes and threats from bigger government, and local people suffer for this as "infrastructure" is added that takes homes and enslaves the people with debt for the takings.

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