Mmm, no. I think there is a real and legitimate purpose for a government to be able to tell its employees that certain information shouldn't be shared.
What most of us are bothered about is the way that the classification process is bandied about like a cheap rubber stamp with no justification or review, and worse how it's being used to cover up some pretty alarming (and probably illegal) things themselves.
Classification is a tool, you don't throw out the tool because it's misused sometimes (or even most of the time).
I am just curious: don't you think that Ellsberg's actions had a positive effect on our society? I actually don't know anyone who with hindsite does not believe that what he did was in the public interest.
I think that the point is that whistle blowers put themselves in harms way because they believe that it is important for the public to know specific information.
Karunamon|12 years ago
What most of us are bothered about is the way that the classification process is bandied about like a cheap rubber stamp with no justification or review, and worse how it's being used to cover up some pretty alarming (and probably illegal) things themselves.
Classification is a tool, you don't throw out the tool because it's misused sometimes (or even most of the time).
youngerdryas|12 years ago
mark_l_watson|12 years ago
I think that the point is that whistle blowers put themselves in harms way because they believe that it is important for the public to know specific information.