Secrecy can spoil American dream
By Robert M. Williams, Jr.
The Blackshear Times

A home of your own. It's the American dream.

That dream for thousands of Georgians could become a nightmare if legislation being touted for the next General Assembly becomes law.

Legislators across Georgia are being told our state allows too much information to be public regarding economic development. Large business interests want to allow exemption to Georgia's Open Government laws so virtually any discussion by state, county or city leaders that involves economic development could be conducted in secret. This will pull a dark curtain over thousands of decisions involving public funds and quality of life.

Your Senator or Representative has likely already been given the sales pitch: " You want more jobs in your community, don't you?" Legislators, eager to bring home business expansion, eagerly respond " yes" .
But hold on. There's much more they're not being told.

A Similar bill was rushed through the Georgia House in 2004 before public outcry stopped it. Here's some of the potential downside your legislator isn't being told:

Land near your home could go from being a serene pasture to being a smoke-belching, gear-grinding industrial complex - and you won't know about the change until it's too late to raise objection.
Local officials could increase your taxes to pay for incentives given to bring in that industry - and you won't know about the tax increase plan until it's too late to ask questions.

Local officials could site a hog farm, a landfill, any number of undesirable developments near your home, or elsewhere in your community - and it will all be approved in secret and not revealed to you, the taxpayer, until the deal is signed.
Local officials could offer a new industry tax abatements -
or no taxes at all - and make your taxes go up in the process. You won't know until the deal is signed and official.

You've just poured your life savings into a new home. Officials could route a new highway close by to serve business, sending trucks and more traffic by your driveway. And, you guessed it - you won't know until the deal is already finalized.

Sound like something that couldn't happen in America?

Well, House Speaker Glenn Richardson, one of the bill's proponents, doesn't necessarily believe open government - the way business is normally done in America - is the best way. In fact, he's said other countries don't like dealing with Georgia development recruiters because our " open government" discloses too much information.

The Speaker didn't name the countries who find government accountability so offensive, but we all know plenty of countries where information doesn't flow nearly so freely.

Do we really want to emulate those societies?

The scenarios described here go on now, every day in Georgia. That's how we're growing;. The difference is, today, the public is allowed to know before these deals are finalized. The public, who pays the bill, has oversight.

And that's the way business is done in America.

Your local Representative and Senator are going to be under tremendous pressure to sacrifice your right to know what developments may be occurring near you. The money and influence of big business speak loudly in the legislature.
An election is coming soon. Now's the time to talk to your legislators. Remind them you are in favor of open government and don't want nasty surprises showing up near your home.

Don't let secrecy in government spoil your American Dream.

(Robert M. Williams, Jr. publishes weekly newspapers in Blackshear, Alma, Ocilla and McRae. His commentaries can be heard on Georgia Public Radio.)