The People, the Press, and Grievances

By Ronald Charles Johnston, Jr.,

12th grade, Stanton College Preparatory School, Jacksonville

When the constitution was originally written, the people of America did not like the original draft. The document did not include any protection of the rights of the people or any guarantees of these rights. This battle rapidly led to a political battle that culminated in the creation of a Bill of Rights, or the first ten amendments to the Constitution of the United States. The first of those amendments, with its origins in the colonial court case of Peter Zenger and the Enlightenment, was the protection of the people to redress their grievances, to speak their minds through press or through public gatherings, and to freely practice any religion they so chose.

However, it wasn’t long before some in the government realized that the people, while they had the right to protest, could not protest something they did not know existed, or was happening. Secrecy among government officials was nothing new, as the founding fathers had even practiced it when writing the Constitution to replace the Articles of Confederation. At times, such secrecy may even be necessary for national security or for military measures. However, the same confidentiality that can protect the citizens can also be used to abuse them. Certain laws and practices must always be open to the eyes of the people, especially those concerning the everyday lives of the people.

This is where transparency in government and the Sunshine Laws of the state of Florida come into play. To the average citizen, one of the most important things about the government is where the money from taxes is going, as displayed in a budget. Other important government documents include the wording of the law, the documentation of court cases and licenses, whether construction related or driving, as well as documentation on the spending of government officials and agencies.

The information is invaluable in protecting the rights of an American citizen. Without knowledge of what the government is doing, one cannot protest the wrongs being done. The press has no documentation for their claims of government spending binges without access to government records, nor can a citizen claim his rights have been infringed if he cannot prove that they were.

Without the transparency of government the Sunshine Laws bring, the First Amendment loses vast amounts of its power. Anyone can claim the government is doing something wrong, or that a man’s rights are being infringed upon. Without proof, such claims are useless, especially in a court of law. The documents and views into the government are priceless, as even if the average citizen does not access them, the press will still reveal the infringements or questionable behavior. Without these laws, the press would be more like the tabloids and into so-called “yellow journalism” as opposed to concrete facts. The rights of both the people and the press to object to the government’s actions would be completely blocked. Thus, these laws are arguably some of the most important rights legislation in years.

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