WikiLeaks, government and electorate

When we vote in political elections we donate a mandate. We do so for a limited period of time. We do so because we elect the people we trust.

Those people – Parliament and the government – act in our name (and only in our name). By paying taxes we allow the government to manage all departments of government.

But the government does it on our behalf. In a democracy, the government has to be accountable, transparent and, if they have done so, we – the sovereign – will probably re-elect them.

The concept of freedom of information applies to all that the government (or Parliament) has done and completed in our name. Those actions of the government have to be accountable and transparent. There might be a certain closed window of information (for example during the negotiation stage of a project) but, at the end of the electoral period, at the latest, all that has been done – on our behalf – should be transparent. This means that “you and me” could see what the persons we trusted have done with our mandate. If they have done nothing wrong they would have nothing to hide and can therefore be proud of their accomplishments. If not, we – the sovereign – will not re-elect them!

Thus, what has been done by WikiLeaks has been done in order to preserve accountability and transparency of government.