Every Thing is Secret, So Don't Bother Asking.

[xchrom]

http://www.nationofchange.org/everything-secret-so-don-t-bother-asking-1342793816

Did you know that in 2011 the U.S. government classified more than 92 million documents? Did you know that less than a generation ago, we got by with fewer than six million documents being classified? Along with this explosion in classification and state secrets, did you know that efforts to declassify documents -- to make them theoretically accessible to ordinary Americans -- have plummeted from 196 million pages declassified in 1996 to only 26.7 million in 2011?

Put simply, in less than a generation classification has increased by a factor of fifteen and declassification has decreased by a factor of seven. Boy, that makes me feel a lot freer and safer.

These facts and others that should raise the hackles of any red-blooded American are in this eye-opening article by Tom Engelhardt. Why should they raise our hackles? For at least three reasons.

First, classification is important; state secrets do need to be guarded. But more important than classification is government transparency. We the people need to know everything that we can know, because if we don't, we can't hold government and our elected officials accountable. Classification in a democracy must be used judiciously and sparingly, else democracy itself is imperiled.

[pinboy3niner]

1. You people don't have a right to know about this stuff

If you knew, who knows what that might lead to?

[xchrom]

2. we might get uppity and start askin for stuff.

[pinboy3niner]

3. Might even lead to equal rights, and shit nt

[xchrom]

4. That's just CRAZY talk!11

[pinboy3niner]

5. Gotta fight 'em in Uganda so we don't have to fight 'em here!1!!

Luv ya, xchrom.

[xchrom]

7. ...

[pinboy3niner]

9. ...

[xchrom]

11. ...

i just LOVE that!

and they can poke fun all. they. want. i love champagne!

[pinboy3niner]

13. Not a big fan of champagne...

But Bud Light's new "Lime-a-Ritas" have been getting me through the hot weather.

[xchrom]

14. i have champagne taste -- and NO BUDGET.

and the dogs are afraid of the central air -- so most of the time i just sit and swelter and curse at the dogs.

i'm trolling the bottom of the glamour barrel.

[pinboy3niner]

18. At least you still have the glamour

[Ezlivin]

6. The coup in 2001 was quite successful

The 9/11 psych-op has made Americans a pushover for the magic words "protecting you from terrorists."

Approximately 3,000 people died on 9/11 and it was a Hollywood-like spectacle. That one event changed this country forever. And because of those deaths we've launched multiple wars and chewed through over a trillion dollars "to keep Americans safe."

Yet over 30,000 citizens die every year in vehicle accidents and we've not increased the budget for highway safety nor put pressure on automobile manufacturers to make safer vehicles.

Over 500,000 citizens die annually from cancer. Where is funding to protect us from that threat?

The greatest threat to Americans is not terrorism, but you would not know that from our government's reaction.

9/11 was a great gift to a number of people. Without it we would not have Homeland Security, the TSA, invasive searches, wiretapping and the classification of too many documents as secret.

It's instructive to always ask "Who benefits?" (Cui buno)

[xchrom]

8. as always -- follow the money. nt

[formercia]

10. ..and who has all the Money?

Jus' askin'.

[xchrom]

12. not me, that's for damn sure. nt

[pinboy3niner]

15. Oh, damn! I was counting on you to help me out.

[xchrom]

20. I'll be right over w/ my imaginary bag of money

I set aside for champagne & the glamour barrel. You can try on my Tiaras.

[formercia]

16. That simplifies things.....

Me neither...

[whatchamacallit]

21. You will be maligned for your views

And the "sane" will continue to scratch their heads as we tumble further and further down the rabbit hole.

[woo me with science]

17. Except our phone calls and emails.

Joe Lieberman trying to pass Cybersecurity Act of 2012. Please oppose.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002978169

Why is Obama pushing Joe Lieberman's surveillance "cybersecurity" bill?
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002981288

[xchrom]

19. +1

[pinboy3niner]

22. You know we've had our eye on you for a long time

I'm probably not supposed to say that, but I figure they'll never find out about i...GACK...

[woo me with science]

23. I suspect our accounts at DU will be color-coded soon.

Turd Way will have one color, potential terrorists the other.

[pinboy3niner]

24. Not by our admins

They've done a great job managing the site--even turning over much of the admin to the members.

If you want to dis David & crew, be assured that a lot of us will be standing up for them.

[woo me with science]

25. Oh for pete's sake. nt

[Tejas]

26. I call dibs on your pickup truck!

Aw crap, now I'm on another list!

[monmouth]

27. I would love to have a peek of documents during the Bush administration. Just a peek..n/t