Editorial: Let the 'Sunshine' in

Talk about it

Discussions about a perceived lack of transparency in President Obama’s administration have continued to crescendo during the past few weeks. We can’t help but wonder if someone in the president’s press corps will take note of the fact that this week is Sunshine Week.

Launched by the Florida Society of Newspaper Editors in 2002, Sunshine Week is designed to promote a conversation about the importance of open government and the freedom on information. Across the country, various entities — whether they be in the news media business or, say, a non-profit organization — mark Sunshine Week by hosting public forums on open government, writing editorials or articles and more.

While the White House may nowadays be a popular focal point of debate regarding transparency, we can also demand that our state, county and municipal governmental agencies be forthright with information that we have every right to know. Essentially, it’s up to us. After all, it should stand to reason that if the public is apathetic about (for example) their local government, chances are probably greater that more secrets will be kept from them.

Interest and activism, in other words, translate into accountability. That’s what Sunshine Week is all about.

Tags: opinion, editorials