[i习作temp] Issue8，政府信息公开，模考第4篇，我在奔往500的路上= =！ [复制链接]

shadow1987
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发表于 2010-8-2 19:06:37 |显示全部楼层

TOPIC: ISSUE8 - "It is often necessary, even desirable, for political leaders to withhold information from the public."
WORDS: 451
TIME: 00:45:00
DATE: 2010-8-2 12:28:17

In modern society, for a long term purpose, the government has to practice some policy under particular circumstance which might not be understood by the citizens immediately. Consequently, I agree with the speaker's claim insofar that it is sometime necessary for the governors to withhold information from the public. However, the statement that these behavior are often necessary is under doubt, in my view, the speaker fails to consider the importance of the honesty towards the public for the government. The people support their government because of this precious honesty, if they find out that their leaders are cheating on them frequently, they might stand forward and overturn their government.

In the first place, I agree with the speaker's assertion that sometimes, the political leader should cover the information in front of the public speciously some information about the programs that determine the national destiny. For example, the United States of America government practiced the Manhattan Project during the World War Two. Since the success or the failure of the atom bomb's invention hinged the result of the war directly, the government kept it as a secret all the time. Considering the dramatic power they would have, the leaders of this project withhold the information from even the employers involved in this project. In this case, the "information covering" behavior is justifiable and necessary.

However, on the other hand, the officials should also be aware of that it is sagacious to be honest under the public supervision. Usually, the people would not be angry with the truths but they would be angry if the truths have been hidden by the government. For instance, in 2003, the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) raged through China. Unfortunately, the leaders of Chinese Health Ministry failed to place enough weigh on this issue and lied to the public. At the time when people realized the severity of this disease, it had already become a horrible disaster. Therefore, to console the malcontent people, the officials took the blame and resigned. In this way, I believe it is also very important to keep the information be disclosed.

Additionally, the people have right to know the truth because they actually need the government of the people by the people and for the people. In other words, the officials are elected by the people and they of course should be responsible for the people. Thereby, it is the governors’ obligation to provide the information in all respects to the citizens. In modern China, the government pays more attention to the issue of information disclosure and promulgate certain decree aim to protect public right to know the truths. Oppositely, Chinese people are gradually wakening to their rights. I believe this consciousness should be achieved by both the governors and the people.

To sum up, I find the speaker's claim to some extent too extreme and I only advocate of withholding certain necessary information from the people. To block the information, having merits under certain circumstance, could bring about terrible influence and people might not trust their political leaders any more. For another thing, the government should be clear that they suppose to serve the people and they have right to know the truths.