The Lake City Reporter

Sunshine Week lets us bask in freedom

Today is Sunshine Sunday, a day set aside as the entry point into Sunshine Week - the week when we in the public sector celebrate a free and open government in this country. Living in a republic with a free and open public government is one of the best blessings possible.

Government works best when it operates in the sunshine. It works for the people who pay the bills and the fund the public-service entities. Procedures are above-board. Meetings are held in public where any citizen is welcome to see how government operates - both in the board room and with the everyday paper-pushing applications that exist at the taxpayers’ discretion.

We have the ability to search nearly any government record, from the courthouse to Congress, without question and with very little red tape required for records requests. Information is readily available for persons wishing to dig for it.

And the privilege is open to any American.

People need to remember that government at all levels sometimes makes shady moves in hopes of legislating change and tightening its grip on records and procedures. It is the responsibility of free Americans to make sure this doesn’t happen.

Once the freedom of open records laws - or Sunshine Laws - vanishes, it is gone forever.

Open government is healthy. It is the hallmark of a free and progressive society that cares about the livelihood of its entire population. Sunshine Laws are the great equalizer between big government and everyday citizens.

Utilize the freedom to ask questions, research topics, gather information or just look at receipts to see where your tax money is being spent. Join us as we enjoy the glow and warmth of Sunshine Week.

Reproduced courtesy of the Lake City Reporter.
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