CATCH 22

"A SECRET CEASES TO BE A SECRET IF IT IS ONCE CONFIDED - IT IS LIKE A DOLLAR BILL, ONCE BROKEN, IT IS NEVER A DOLLAR AGAIN." THUS, JOSH BILLINGS, AN 18TH CENTURY APHORIST, UNDERSTOOD BOTH MORALITY AND POLITICS. IF THE INTEGRITY OF A SECRET IS CRACKED, IT CAN NEVER BE MENDED SAFELY. A MODERN WISE CRACKER WOULD AGREE THAT WITHOUT SECRECY, THE GOVERNMENT CAN'T FUNCTION. THAT IS WHY AMERICANS HAVE TRADITIONALLY TRUSTED THEIR JUDGES, CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENT TO PROTECT THEM. BEHIND THEIR BACKS, OF COURSE, ENTREPRENEURIAL AMERICANS HAVE OFTEN DONE WHAT FORMER PRESIDENT RONALD REAGAN SUGGESTED, "TRUST BUT VERIFY." CAN WE COUNT ON OUR POLITICAL REPRESENTATIVES OR OUR 'PRIVATE INVESTIGATORS' TODAY?

NO! WE CANNOT TRUST MOST OF OUR POLITICIANS TO PRESERVE IMPORTANT SECRETS OR DISCERN THE RIGHT THING. MONEY, POWER AND POLITICAL IDEOLOGY (OR FANTASY) WHISPER ANOTHER SECRET THAT INTEGRITY IS IMPRACTICAL AND UNELECTABLE. YES, AMERICANS CAN, IN MANY CASES VERIFY INFORMATION, BUT NOT IN ALL INSTANCES, BECAUSE OF THE GOVERNMENT’S INTRENCHED WALL OF SECRECY. IT'S A CATCH 22.

ARE WE CITIZENS HOPELESSLY TRAPPED? I DON'T THINK SO. NATURE ABHORS A VACUUM. AFTER TRUST SEEMS HOPELESSLY LOST, AMERICANS WILL AGAIN DEMAND TRUTH, PURSUE VERIFICATION OF FACTS AND APPROVE OF THE NECESSARY SECRECY FROM A LEADER THEY CAN FOLLOW.