Comments on: Leaks are vital to democracy, drones controversy shows http://boingboing.net/2013/02/10/leaks-are-vital-to-democracy.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Sat, 25 May 2013 17:15:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: bkad http://boingboing.net/2013/02/10/leaks-are-vital-to-democracy.html#comment-1651800 bkad Mon, 11 Feb 2013 02:18:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=212130#comment-1651800 I knew about the problem, but I didn't know Congress was debating it. So that's news (and good news) to me! I knew about the problem, but I didn’t know Congress was debating it. So that’s news (and good news) to me!

]]> By: bkad http://boingboing.net/2013/02/10/leaks-are-vital-to-democracy.html#comment-1651794 bkad Mon, 11 Feb 2013 02:14:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=212130#comment-1651794 The referenced article compares this leak to the ones Wikileaks is famous for. I'm not sure that's a good comparison. Wikileaks' work is more philosophical in motivation and indiscriminate in scope than a 'single issue' leak like this. Or at least, it appears that way. Obviously the following is biased by my own view rather than a knowledge of politics, but I bet it is a lot easier to get people support specific leaks that hold the Government accountable than to get people to support organizations like Wikileaks which may accomplish the same but also bring some baggage (a philosophy of leaking that is hard to accept half way).  Regardless of that however, I definitely think journalists should be able to publish what they want, regardless of classification. Punish the leaker if you want -- I'd prefer there was a better path for legitimate whistleblowing but at least people who have access to secret stuff have signed papers saying they wouldn't talk (and are presumably compensated for it). Journalists do not and should not live under such restrictions. The referenced article compares this leak to the ones Wikileaks is famous for. I’m not sure that’s a good comparison. Wikileaks’ work is more philosophical in motivation and indiscriminate in scope than a ‘single issue’ leak like this. Or at least, it appears that way. Obviously the following is biased by my own view rather than a knowledge of politics, but I bet it is a lot easier to get people support specific leaks that hold the Government accountable than to get people to support organizations like Wikileaks which may accomplish the same but also bring some baggage (a philosophy of leaking that is hard to accept half way). 

Regardless of that however, I definitely think journalists should be able to publish what they want, regardless of classification. Punish the leaker if you want — I’d prefer there was a better path for legitimate whistleblowing but at least people who have access to secret stuff have signed papers saying they wouldn’t talk (and are presumably compensated for it). Journalists do not and should not live under such restrictions.

]]> By: lafave http://boingboing.net/2013/02/10/leaks-are-vital-to-democracy.html#comment-1651784 lafave Mon, 11 Feb 2013 01:52:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=212130#comment-1651784 most transparent administration ever - evar! most transparent administration ever – evar!

]]> By: Cowicide http://boingboing.net/2013/02/10/leaks-are-vital-to-democracy.html#comment-1651669 Cowicide Sun, 10 Feb 2013 22:59:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=212130#comment-1651669 Thank you for posting this, Xeni.  It's vital that more Americans know this. Thank you for posting this, Xeni.  It’s vital that more Americans know this.

]]> By: class_enemy http://boingboing.net/2013/02/10/leaks-are-vital-to-democracy.html#comment-1651462 class_enemy Sun, 10 Feb 2013 18:10:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=212130#comment-1651462 <i>why is this just happening now?</i> Because conservatives like it just fine, and liberals like it just fine when it's their guy. why is this just happening now?

Because conservatives like it just fine, and liberals like it just fine when it’s their guy.

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