The managers, accountants and budget controllers who make up a key element
of any organisations management all have an opportunity to personally
participate or commit resources to lobby processes as legislation is
drafted. I understood that parliament must be given a cost declaration
statement supporting the impacts of legislation when it is drafted allowing
them to consider potential financial impacts to the economy before it is
passed.
In a democracy, processes exist for everyone to 'have their say' but its up
to individuals to make use of them, whether its as a manager wearing his/her
commercial hat where the narrow financial cost view dominates, or as the man
in the street where he/she enjoys the freedom to air a view. If you
support democracy then you have to actively fight to win and retain it. .
Like privacy shouting after its gone costs you more than the narrow
financial aspect. Any legislative change generates costs but its being able
to identify the benefiits which counts.
It appears rather naive of those who manage the purse strings of an
organisation to suddenly decide to raise questions on the financial costs
after legislation goes live. As dear Delia said 'Where are you' - 'Lets be
'aving you' - but at legislative lobby stages please.
David Wyatt
----- Original Message -----
From: <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, April 05, 2005 10:59 AM
Subject: Re: [data-protection] FOI - a cheap research tool for journalists?
> Well said. It's just a shame you weren't talking about the government of
> this country.
> Informed free consent is a luxury not afforded to us. The really useful
> information, such as why the AG changed his mind on the legality of the
> Iraq war,
> or how the intelligence changed from "patchy" to "solid" in the blink of
> an
> eye, will never be divulged. A majority of citizens do not understand the
> implications of freedom, nor do they realise the implications of giving up
> hard-won
> freedoms for a little temporary security. Two cheers for democracy!
>
> Ian B
>
> ------------
>
> In a message dated 05/04/05 09:56:19 GMT Daylight Time,
> [log in to unmask] writes:
>
>> A government that is responsive and accountable to its citizens is a
>> cornerstone of democracy. To be able to give our free consent to a
>> government, we must be informed and have the ability to inform ourselves
>> as to what the government is doing in our names and with our money.
>> Therefore, a freedom of information act is needed so that we as citizens,
>> not subjects, can exercise our informed consent. To the extent that we
>> lack information and cannot find out information, we lose our ability to
>> give our free consent. As we lose that ability, we lose our ability to
>> function as citizens and become subjects.
>>
>> The government intended the act to make government, and its organisation
>> including the NHS, to be open and accountable. The act intends to shift
>> the balance between the individual and the state towards the individual
>> by
>> making the state more accountable to the people.
>>
>
>
> Ian Buckland
> Managing Director
> Keep IT Legal Ltd
>
> Please Note: The information given above does not replace or negate the
> need
> for proper legal advice and/or representation. It is essential that you do
> not
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> further explanation of any points raised please contact Keep I.T. Legal
> Ltd at
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