Voters will fight to maintain open government

Politicians can rent out the people's house to lobbyists and pass toothless transparency campaign contribution and ethics laws, but this time they have gone too far; they have slammed the door on open government.

In passing HB477, politicians seem to have mistaken the patience and trust of Utahns for stupidity and complacency, thinking the people would not care or that they could out-wait and ignore the public outcry. What our governor and lawmakers have done is remind us that we cannot leave the reigns of power with individuals. Left alone, they seem blinded by their addiction for power and use it for their self-aggrandizement. Once caught, they want to cover up their actions by calling a special session — $30 thousand at taxpayers' expense — to clean up their mess. That's what happens when one party controls government.

Make no excuses, we have allowed politicians to hijack our government and let them think we are fools. We let them appoint committees, commissions and do studies to give the appearance of making government transparent while shoring up their own power. The most audacious move was to rent out the basement to lobbyists, so they no longer have to waste their time standing in line waiting to talk to a legislator. Much like cockroaches, once in, there's no getting them out. Lobbyists can now lounge around in their digs and text, e-mail and talk to any legislator without the public knowing they have been communicating — something lawmakers once had to do with the average citizen. Is it any wonder they passed HB477 to further keep the public in the dark about "their" government.

As far back as 1974, John W. Gardner noted, "… the enormous increase in the … advances in communications technology … increase greatly the possibility of manipulating, deceiving or coercing the individual … the urge to power is ancient, but the means of exercising power have been dangerously strengthened." Imagine what he would have to say about today.

As citizens, we have grown complacent, indulged in self-deception and absolved ourselves of any sense of responsibility for lack of ethics and openness in government. We have become numb to the misdeeds of our lawmakers and take on the role of victim when our leaders play loose with the facts. We have allowed our political process to become isolated from the people, to be controlled by small caucuses and ideologues on the left and the right. As a result, we let a few decide who will be our elected leaders.