David Brin Quotes
Transparency is key to reciprocal accountability, which we use to be both free and smart. It is the miracle tool that enables us to question the lies of monsters.
Brin, David. Contrary Brin, davidbrin.blogspot.com, 2012.
While there are dramatic exceptions such as during the Nixon and George W. Bush administrations, compared to most other nations were the indicator of official lying is a leader’s lips moving, the United States is among the leading nations with respect to official deception of the citizens.
While many people hold that view today, in the 17th century this was truly a radical notion. There were NO democracies at the time and this philosopher argued that the citizens had a need to know that might supersede the need for the state to maintain secrets from enemies. Spinoza was one of the most feared intellectuals in human history-feared that is by the established power structures. He is the only known person who was excommunicated by the Catholics, the Jews and the Muslims-all were forbidden to read his works. He was the enemy of authority and advocated personal reason as the guide for men.
Her immediate reference was to George W. Bush and his administration who had not been candid with the American people as to the reasons for the Iraq War
That was the position that candidates from both parties took as judged from their reactions to the other leaving out important information. While to most Americans, this is lying, it has become a political norm with the exception of a few politicians.
Glen David Brin is an American scientist and author of science fiction. He has won the Hugo, Locus, Campbell and Nebula Awards. His novel The Postman was adapted into a 1997 feature film starring Kevin Costner.
