“Government” and “morality” aren’t words that usually belong in the same sentence. Our federal government seems to have no short supply of corrupt bureaucrats. Most people shrug their shoulders in disgust and act as though government will always be that way. To an extent, there is some truth to that. As long as government bodies are controlled by people, there will always be some greed and lies in the mix. However, Americans do not have to accept our current quagmire of corruption as inevitable. Morality in government is possible.
The key word to remember is “transparency.” You have probably heard the axiom that “sunlight is the best disinfectant.” In short, that means corrupt government officials are less likely to be corrupt if they know they will get caught. As an added bonus, those that are not deterred by the threat of exposure can be ousted once their misdeeds are exposed. It seems almost too simple to be true. The federal government acts the same way any child would. They shape up when they know an adult is watching them.
One of the best tools for transparency in America today is the Freedom of Information Act. Enacted in 1967, this law makes it possible for any citizen of the United States to request previously unreleased documents from the federal government. Obviously, there are some limits on this. You cannot request documents that contain military secrets, information on ongoing law enforcement actions, or the personal information of individuals. However, you can request everything from memos to emails in pursuit of truth.
Corrupt bureaucrats would love nothing better than to make you believe that they are untouchable. They will try to dismiss you with long delays and confusing jargon. If you want to come at them, you have to come with the attitude of a bulldog: latch on and refuse to let go no matter what. Transparency work is a tough game best-suited only for tough people, but America is better off with the courageous citizens who engage in it. Find out what Freedom of Information laws or sunshine laws exist in your state. America needs more patriots for transparency.
