What is the role of transparency in a representative government? The best way to address this question is via it's opposite, namely secrecy. Much has been said about secrecy, from its signaling of moral depravity to possible utilitarian functions. But the fundamental kernel of secrecy in all possible settings, whether public or private, is universal. Secrecy is the mask of fear.
Secondly, we must better examine the multiple forms of secrecy, specifically in how they relate to the dissemination of information. I hope it is not too far a stretch to state that when a populous is given the right to govern themselves, whether as citizens of a state or students of a university, the truth of the provided information for which they are to base their decisions is paramount to all other considerations in the election process. When democracy is run on deception, it is not so much a democracy as a folly.
Students for Better Government is not intended to use the Democratic System for any advancement through personal motivations, but only to preserve and protect the the democratic process itself. This can only be done with transparency. Because to think of transparency as an aspect of democracy is to belittle it of its rightful place. Instead, democracy should be the legal institution of transparency amongst people. In other words, transparency must and should always precede the democratic process, for the two are inextricable.
-Sean Murray
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some nice thoughts here sean.
ReplyDeletebut can you explain to me, since you seem to have a good head on your shoulders, why the SBG campaign has already been so riddled with controversy? Why people involved with YOUR campaign are deliberately using dirty politics to get the point across? I must say, I have never met you yet I already dislike you because of the people you have associated yourself with. It's a sad situation, since I liked what you wrote here, but majority of UIC students won't be coming here for info- they'll be asking their friends. And their friends won't have nice things to say...!
Dirty politics is what they do. They don't care about improving the campus; it's a contest to boost their ego's.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, thank you for your comment. There is always a slight hesitation when one accepts compliments on one's work, where they find themselves asking, "Are they just saying that so they don't hurt my feelings." Being that you said you do not like me, it only makes your compliment on my ideas all the more appreciated.
ReplyDeleteConcerning the controversy of the situation, I would like to first agree that there has been much controversy concerning this election. But what is controversy? It is certainly not wrongdoing. Something becomes controversial when people are confused over a situation, and consequently draw their own conclusions, rarely for the positive interpretation.
I would argue that this election is structured in such a way that the emergence of confusion and misunderstanding is inevitable, only more enforcing the need for openness on all sides. What distinguishes one group from other groups is not the groups themselves, but consensus (or lack thereof) on what differentiates said groups. In other words, distinctions are only actual if we are all on the same page, for if we are not, there is no real communication (and thus a site of disagreement), only confusion. This principle is known as concrete universality and was a concern of such political thinkers as Herbert Marcuse and Jürgen Habermas.
So where does this leave us in the end? If we're to acknowledge democracy as a product of western civilization, and the election process as a further component, what is the role of competition? It can be seen from the first Olympic games to the Socratic Dialogues, competition has always been used as a tool for elevating the most capable and most adept to a specific position since the beginning of western civilization. Thus competition is intertwined with the very notion of democratic politics. Recall John F. Kennedy's remark concerning politics, "I saw how ideally politics filled the Greek definition of happiness: A full use of your powers along lines of excellence in a life affording scope."
Now concerning your final statement in your comment. Let me be clear: the existence of confusion is unfortunate, but the capitalization of confusion to spread misinformation is beyond despicable. If by, "And their friends won't have nice things to say...!" is meant to reveal an intention of spreading rumors, I would simply direct you back to your original understanding of SBG as "deliberately using dirty politics to get the point across." I'll respect the ignorant over the hypocrite any day.
Confusion and ignorance are not welcome feelings for us, and we try to alleviate them by rationalizing a narrative, based upon our skewed half-knowledge of little evidence, to fill in this gap in our knowledge. Unfortunately, this fiction rarely corresponds to reality. What cannot occur is the acting upon this irrational and untrue fiction, like spreading a disease after first contracting it. We can stave off this disease from infecting these elections by real questions and real responses, not threats masked as rhetorical questions, further masked as legitimate concerns. Specific issues should be the only concern of this election. This is what I am trying to direct my campaign toward. Therefore I will gladly respond to specific questions.
-Sean Murray
Vice-Presidential Candidate
We can stave off this disease from infecting these elections by real questions and real responses, not threats masked as rhetorical questions, further masked as legitimate concerns.
ReplyDeleteInteresting that you would immediately consider it a threat; since I never said that I was spreading rumors. The most negative things I know about SBG are the things I've heard from others. I just thought it was ironic that you would post about transparency when the complaints I've heard (again, not said) are about that very issue; that SBG is not about transparency; and is not about the students.
Furthermore, thank you for the paragraph that sounds like it was pulled from a poli sci 101 class. My concerns were not about your theories on how a democracy should work (which your understanding of is elementary at best), but how your student organization (SBG) is functioning. A simple reply would have done the trick ten times more effectively.
It's like you guys try to disappear behind a cloud of created confusion every time you answer a question. Except no one is ever really confused, and no one gets fooled by the 'smoke.'
I Think its kind of funny that you talk about hiding behind smoke when not even you are willing to share your own name.
ReplyDeleteYou, know I understand the above person's concerns. But in all truthfulness I think the answers have been pretty clear. Sounds they're making a big deal about nothing.
ReplyDeleteCan I just say, that as a student at UIC for the past three years, I'm really glad that finally people are talking about changing this place.
Vote SBG, these guys are awesome!