Government secrecy on the rise.
Government secrecy on the rise.
A new “secrecy report card” by OpenTheGovernment.org finds that by almost every measure, government secrecy is rising. Some of the report’s indicators:
– “The government spent $195 maintaining the secrets already on the books for every one dollar the government spent declassifying documents, a 5 percent increase in one year.”
– “18 percent of the requested Department of Defense (DOD) acquisition funding is for classified, or ‘black,’ programs. Classified acquisition funding has more than doubled in real terms since FY 1995.”
– “Federal surveillance activity under the jurisdiction of the secretive Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court has risen for the 9th consecutive year — more than double the amount in 2000.”
The report credited Congress with attempting to increase government transparency, while at the same time Bush has tried to block such measures.
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So the Bush Regime’s secrecy rate ony rose a tenth as fast as its incompency rate?
September 9th, 2008 at 9:56 amNo shit, Sherlock…
September 9th, 2008 at 9:57 amThe fascist Busheviki are trying to privatize internal spying, on citizens and residents, thereby avoiding the pesky requirements for judicial oversight of ‘official’ activities.
Do not for a moment believe that ANY future Preznint will abjure those powers the Busheviki have arrogated to themselves…
September 9th, 2008 at 9:58 amInteresting… Sarah Palin runs a “secretive government” in Alaska.
September 9th, 2008 at 10:00 amWhat about “if you have nothing to hide…” ?
September 9th, 2008 at 10:02 amBut, but, but…
September 9th, 2008 at 10:03 amI thought the right was all about “less government”?
Your tax dollars at work. The government knows EVERYTHING about YOU, but YOU know NOTHING about the government.
“When the people are afraid of the government, that is tyranny. When the government is afraid of the people, that is democracy”- Thomas Jefferson
September 9th, 2008 at 10:05 amCats r Flyfishn Says: Interesting… Sarah Palin runs a “secretive government” in Alaska.
And uses it like a personal bank account:
Palin Billed State for Nights Spent at Home
Taxpayers Also Funded Family’s Travel
ANCHORAGE, Sept. 8 — Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has billed taxpayers for 312 nights spent in her own home during her first 19 months in office, charging a “per diem” allowance intended to cover meals and incidental expenses while traveling on state business.
The governor also has charged the state for travel expenses to take her children on official out-of-town missions. And her husband, Todd, has billed the state for expenses and a daily allowance for trips he makes on official business for his wife.
The state finance director, Kim Garnero, said Alaska law exempts the governor’s office from elaborate travel regulations. Said Leighow: “The governor is entitled to a per diem, and she claims it.”
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/08/AR2008090803088.html?hpid=topnews
September 9th, 2008 at 10:08 amAre you more safe than you were 8 years ago?
Are you better off than you were 8 years ago?
Are you, as an individual, paying taxes?(2/3 of Corporations don’t)
Are you, as an American citizen buying any of the McCain BS?
Are you OK with golden parachutes for Fannie & Freddie CEO’s?
Are you OK with Presidential records being sealed ‘forever’?
Are you OK with Cheney trying to stir up trouble in Georgia?
These are just a few of the questions Obama has to ask. Staying politically correct at this stage in the campaign is akin to bringing a knife to a gun fight.
September 9th, 2008 at 10:09 amLuis M Says: What about “if you have nothing to hide…” ?
Apparently, that only applies to Democrats, along with ethics, oversight, and ‘pork’…
September 9th, 2008 at 10:10 amWe live in facsist dictatorship that hires PR companies to paint a smiley face on it.
But we’re going around them and producing our own media and thus the crackdown.
Headlines in both Chicago papers today ran the storie about United Airlines stock taking a hit because of a false story on the internet. Morning Joe talked about this on MSNBC this morning. The hostess even said, “it may be time to crack down on the internet, you can’t trust the information there.”
I think even Amy Goodman is in a state of shock after St. Paul
September 9th, 2008 at 10:16 amGiven the BushitCo’s predilection for rule by fiat, this can hardly be surprising. Electing Obama will go a long way toward opening our government back up to the people who pay for it.
September 9th, 2008 at 10:16 amAre you OK with golden parachutes for Fannie & Freddie CEO’s?
They deserve a golden shower.
September 9th, 2008 at 10:17 amCats r Flyfishn Says:
Interesting… Sarah Palin runs a “secretive government” in Alaska.
September 9th, 2008 at 10:00 am
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Democracy Now has a good piece today on Sarah “Bookend Christian” Palin and the Wasilla Church of Insanity.
September 9th, 2008 at 10:22 amUm, they spent $195? Gee, I could afford that.
Perhaps TP has missed the word “billion”?
PEACE
September 9th, 2008 at 10:22 amradiodujour Says: But we’re going around them and producing our own media and thus the crackdown.
Frankly, I’m surprised they haven’t shut us down already in the name of stopping terrorism and child pornography…
I looked at some other blogs – mainstream media blogs where anyone can leave a comment, and frankly, the comments don’t match the polling.
There were 10 pro-Obama comments for every mispelled and grammatically incorrect pro-McCain comment. I thin the MAM is terrified that their fascist overlords are going to lose – BIG – so they are misrepresenting the truth in an attempt to discredit us.
Sure to become an ugly battle…
September 9th, 2008 at 10:24 am– “The government spent $195 maintaining the secrets already on the books for every one dollar the government spent declassifying documents, a 5 percent increase in one year.”
Wow, a whole $195. Can US citizens afford it? So much waste.
September 9th, 2008 at 10:35 amGame of Life Says:
Wow, a whole $195. Can US citizens afford it? So much waste.
September 9th, 2008 at 10:35 am
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Nice reading skills, meathead. That’s $195 for every DOLLAR spent declassifying documents.
September 9th, 2008 at 10:39 amDRxJ Says:
But, but, but…
I thought the right was all about “less government”?
September 9th, 2008 at 10:03 am
Well, if you place all the responsibilities of government in private hands, that will certtainly be “less government,” innit?
September 9th, 2008 at 10:39 am– “The government spent $195 maintaining the secrets already on the books for every one dollar the government spent declassifying documents, a 5 percent increase in one year.”
I think a couple of you missed the “FOR EVERY ONE DOLLAR” portion of the quote. What they are saying is if they spent $1,000 declassifying documents, then they spent $195,000 maintaining the secrets.
I’ll just assume that the coffee hasn’t hit the nerve endings yet. LOL
September 9th, 2008 at 10:40 amlivelongandprosper
Thank you live. I did misread it. Thats for not being a prick like toaster.
September 9th, 2008 at 11:15 amThanks for not being a prick like toast.
September 9th, 2008 at 11:15 amThat reminds me…
You never hear “the press” or should I say the “corporate media” using the term.. “the public’s right to know” — real journalists used to use the term all the time to insist that politicians answer to the public. But ever since journalists turned into talking heads, no one actually does any investigative reporting anymore, or if they do, then it is squashed by producers with an agenda.
September 9th, 2008 at 11:22 amGame of Life Says:
Thanks for not being a prick like toast.
September 9th, 2008 at 11:15 am
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Hehe – thanks! :)
September 9th, 2008 at 11:26 amGame of Life Says:
Thanks for not being a prick like toast.
It’s early and I haven’t had a beer yet! I can be just as prickish. LOL
BTW, I used to love that board game “The Game of Life”. Still have it somewhere – might have to dig it out.
Have a great day Game!
September 9th, 2008 at 11:42 amlive, it’s not the game game. It’s a has to do with automation.
It’s quite interesting.
Wow I can’t even comprehend that amount of money being wasted.
September 9th, 2008 at 12:39 pmIt’s hard to imagine some one is making money off of this crime. repugs have infiltrated every part of our lives.