Governmental Secrecy: Shield for Tyranny, Incompetence, and Corruption

An essential pillar of democracy is openness. There is no way that people can meaningfully participate in government, even if only by voting for representatives, if they do not have access to accurate information related to government operations. This was well understood by the founders of the US and embedded in the Bill of Rights. Conversely, a salient characteristic of undemocratic systems of all types, such as Czarist Russia, the Soviet Union, and Nazi Germany is a high degree of governmental secrecy.

Assemblywoman Mary Hayashi was arrested at a Neiman Marcus store after she walked out the doors with unpaid merchandise, and accused of stealing nearly $2,500 worth of clothing. The judge reduced a theft charge against her from a felony to a misdemeanor at a prosecutor’s request. (Her husband is a judge, too.) Her attorney said she was diagnosed with a benign brain tumor that contributed to the shoplifting incident.
"It's no longer affecting... her judgment", but her condition "can lead to some absentmindedness." Hayashi has no plans to resign from office.

Feds supplied 19 year old Somali with a fake bomb and quickly arrested him when he tried to use it at a busy tree lighting ceremony in Portland, OR.