Full Disclosure: Truth in Politics

If you ever injected truth into politics you would have no politics. ~ Will Rogers

If politics is to continue to be viewed, as it is by most, as a venal exercise in enriching self and contributors, whatever the broader public or national security interest be secondary or seriously influenced, then there’s no better way than the current lack of full disclosure by political candidates and officeholders.

Generically, politics should be the arrival of reasonable, read legally set levels, of consensus in our legislatures and by our state and federal chief executives and agencies arrived at in the legally prescribed manner.

That’s not what we, far too often, get. Instead, we have secretive earmarks, we have cloudy candidate and campaign finances, we have past and recent personal peccadilloes and alliances, all shrouded in layers of secretiveness.

That extends from full school, military and court records to tax filings to health exams to the exact source of contributions, including the source’s exact source, and including the wide array of – in effect – taxpayer-subsidized 501(c)’s which work the fringes of lax regulations in order to influence policies and elections.

One can argue that what’s past is past, especially when long past. One can argue that donors have an expectation of privacy. One can argue that some things are too private.

All good arguments.

But, overriding them is that the very fate of our – the public’s – financial and physical security are at jeopardy when decisions are made that seriously affect our interests. Also, anyone who wants to be an anonymous donor is refusing to engage in open debate, but merely seeking influence. Open debate, particularly about matters of importance, is what we deserve, not back-room finagling or below-the-radar lack of transparency.

If a candidate or office-holder feels that something in their affairs is misconstrued, they have the opportunity to explain it. The sense and cogency of their explanation will determine others’ judgment of them and their behavior.

Sure, those who are scurrilous will seek advantages. However, they do now, and are aided by the very secrecy and shrouding of which candidates and office-holders take advantage.