This report from US News and World Report is worrisome. What do automotive tire safety ratings have to do with national security? Apparently someone thinks that they are related, since the tire safety data is now no longer available to the public. Neither is some public drinking water-quality data.
I haven't read the whole article yet, available here, but I will. Here's an excerpt from the summary:
New administrative initiatives have effectively placed off limits critical health and safety information potentially affecting millions of Americans. The information includes data on quality and vulnerability of drinking-water supplies, potential chemical hazards in communities, and safety of airline travel and others forms of transportation.
and...
New administration policies have thwarted the ability of Congress to exercise its constitutional authority to monitor the executive branch and, in some cases, even to obtain basic information about its actions.
If true, this is what I would generally call "Not a Good Thing."
Thanks for blogging Pierre. You are showing great leadership here. Keep it up.
Posted by: Doug Kenline | December 15, 2003 at 05:43 PM
Childs play from our 'leaders' and we fall for it.
This is not unlike causing some type of emergency across town while the bank on the otherside of town gets looted.
No, this is not good.
Posted by: James | December 16, 2003 at 10:45 PM
Keeping secrets to the community and the general public in our "democracy" is not something new.
From area 51, Aliens and UFOs, Political Lies, Military and Government Projects, War On Terrorism, Political Scandals, to Medical Issues and Conspiracies, there have always been secrets being held to the common public.
There have been movies exposing this topic (A civil action) and real cases too.
I understand if the government doesn't want to disclose Alien information to the public, but these earth problems affecting us, are only in people hands, information to be disclosed to the public it's on the hands of the community as a group, and until it doesn't get approached like it, a single person won't be heard and information will remain in "unavailable for public review" status.
It really doesn't surprise me this or if someone told me that Saddam Hussein was held captive until presidential elections got closer. Maybe Bin Laden will get caught a week from presidential elections... sorry for the disbelief.
Posted by: Johnny | December 17, 2003 at 08:37 PM
hi pier how r you doin? i have a question i heard from my iranian friend that you have iranian background or something like that is it true ..sorry for that
Posted by: jim | December 18, 2003 at 03:20 PM