Freedom of information / Phill Jones.
Material type:
TextSeries: Point-counterpoint (Philadelphia, Pa.)Publication details: New York : Chelsea House, c2012.Description: 126 p. : ill. (some col.) ; 24 cmISBN: - 1604139064 (hardcover)
- 9781604139068 (hardcover)
| Item type | Home library | Collection | Call number | Materials specified | Status | Date due | Barcode | Item holds | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Adult Book
|
Main Library | NonFiction | 342.7308 J78 | Available | 33111006700740 |
Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:
Even before the Revolutionary War, American colonists held the view that government control went hand in had with a managed press and an ignorant public. Today, laws enable the public to access government records that reveal how government agencies function. The information ensures that the government is held accountable to the public. Yet government transparency conflicts with another important value: personal privacy. After all, U.S. federal and state governments store massive amount of personal information about their citizens. An open government policy also clashes with national security interests. Where should the line be drawn between government transparency and defending the nation? Freedom of Information explores these and other debates raised by a policy designed to educate American citizens about their government.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Introduction : freedom of information : the necessary, but controversial, right -- Point : an open government infringes privacy rights -- Counterpoint : laws and courts safeguard privacy -- Point : protection of state secrets requires strict restrictions on FOI -- Counterpoint : democracy requires inspection of state secrets -- Point : targeted transparency effectively promotes freedom of information -- Counterpoint : targeted transparency laws are flawed -- Conclusion : a matter of balance.