Diff Between Authoritarian v. Democratic Govt re: Info Access

[Blackhatjack]

This should be a red flag waved every day. The time to begin the fight against the transformation of our democracy to authoritarian rule has long since passed, and the critical point to success or failure lies just ahead. We need to expose those leading the charge toward authoritarian rule, and those who are enabling them by failing to stand up for democratic principles.

http://www.buzzflash.com/articles/contributors/316
From his book "Conservatives Without Conscience" by John Dean, he quotes:

"In his landmark book, Privacy and Freedom, Alan Westin...defines democracy and authoritarianism in terms of information policy," wrote Robert G. Vaughn, a professor at American University's Washington College of Law.

Summarizing Westin's work, Professor Vaughn continued, "Authoritarian governments are identified by ready government access to information about the activities of citizens and by extensive limitations on the ability of citizens to obtain information about the government. In contrast, democratic governments are marked by significant restrictions on the ability of government to acquire information about its citizens and by ready access by citizens to information about the activities of government."

[skooooo]

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