30 Nov

the definition of transparency

People love to criticize libertarianism as impractical and idealistic, but few if any people have ever lived in a society that had anything approaching the level of transparency and access to “nearly perfect” information that is required for free markets to actually work.

Julian Assange, in this excellent interview, explains his organization’s very practical strategies to weaken governments (and the corporations in bed with them), level the playing field, and empower people to control their own destiny:

An Interview With Wikileaks’ Julian Assange

Some choice tidbits are below.

On how leaks create an environment that encourages self-regulation:

It just means that it’s easier for honest CEOs to run an honest business, if the dishonest businesses are more effected negatively by leaks than honest businesses. That’s the whole idea. In the struggle between open and honest companies and dishonest and closed companies, we’re creating a tremendous reputational tax on the unethical companies.

On fear and control: 

To keep people in control, you only need to make them scared. The CIA is not scared as an institution of people leaking. It’s scared that people will know that people are leaking and getting away with it. If that happens, the management loses control.

3 Notes

  1. pluckytree posted this