[ExI] former exi poster is smiling

[spike]

Some here might recall Julian Assange occasionally posting on ExI twenty or
more years ago.  A few of us formed an off-list chat group where he posted
more frequently but he was always very one-dimensional.  He was all about
government transparency being the best path to accountability.  

 

Julian wasn't even identifiably left or right as far as I could tell, didn't
seem to know much about any particular government or ideology.  He
occasionally posted some detail about Australian government, but in a sense
was the classic pure libertarian, way back when many of us were just
figuring out what libertarian really is about.  Julian's persistent message
was that governments will always be corrupt until there is accountability
for their secrecy.  He was the one who often said that sunlight is the best
disinfectant.

 

The US government has been at war with itself now for at least a couple
years.  With today's comments regarding the FBI by the top guy in the House
of Representatives, Julian must be feeling enormous satisfaction as he is
holed up in a foreign embassy in Britain: 

 

"Let it all out, get it all out there. Cleanse the organization.  I think we
should disclose all this stuff. It's the best disinfectant. Accountability,
transparency -- for the sake of the reputation of our institutions."  Paul
Ryan

What is striking to me is how similar is this sentiment to that spoken by
one of ours twenty years ago.  Could it be that the US government's path to
peace with itself is through. transparency?  Whooda thunk?

 

spike

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