2000 Winning Essay!
The Freedom of Information Act
by Ronald J. Vaccaro
"What the American Public doesn't know is what makes them the American Public." This attitude was common in the era prior to and leading up to Watergate. However, the American Public was about to become informed, largely due to this attitude. When the Freedom of Information Act was enacted 25 years ago, Connecticut residents were done a great service. From being able to attend meetings of public agencies to the right to view police reports, the FOI act was a way for Connecticut residents to monitor their government's behavior. The FOI laws allow people to closely monitor the government and its activities, resulting in a more honest government.
I have been able to see the benefits of the FOI act in my hometown of Ansonia, where weekly Board of Alderman meetings are held, as well as broadcast on television. Many times, residents attend the meetings to voice their opinion on a matter of importance to them or to ask why something was or was not done. The FOI laws ensure this right for any citizen, and this is crucial for the people to check up on the candidates they entrusted with public office.
Recently, I traveled to my local town hall for information for a class project for my American Government class. I was able to obtain a budget as well as numerous other reports, that if it weren't for the FOI act, I might not have received. I was able to examine precisely where my parents' tax dollars were going, and was able to make sure they were not being wasted on ridiculous projects.
Generally, the residents of Connecticut have benefited from this act by becoming informed about their government. Armed with information, citizens are able to fully enjoy the benefits of the democratic system which makes this country so great. When necessary, the information has led to challenges of the government, and sometimes resignations of high ranking public officials. In my neighboring town of Seymour, just this past year, the First Selectman declined to run for re - election because public records proved that at the very least he was irresponsible with the budget. Before the FOI act, chances are he would have been able to get away with his possibly criminal act.
The Freedom of Information Act benefits everyone in some way or another. Whether it is what we are allowed to see on television or in person, people are now more informed than ever about their government, which is why we see more scandals now than ever before. It doesn't mean that scandals didn't exist before, but rather that we weren't able to detect them. The Freedom of Information laws have changed this, making Connecticut a better place to live by making the government accountable for its actions. The Freedom of Information Act has substantially aided in making state and local government truly a government of, for, and by the people, as our Founding Fathers intended.