Right out of the 2005 gate bills were filed that would enable local governments to work in secret with 'corporate interests' to take land (via the government force of eminent domain) from private land owners and give it to corporate interests that promise to generate more tax revenue. Eminent Domain is supposed to be used only to secure "the public good" (e.g., public roads, buildings and rights-of-way) with "just compensation," NOT to take from one private owner and give to another in the name of "revenue-base enhancement" or to "remove blight."

On the up side, media outlets began screaming foul early in 2005 and in this instance they did their duty to sound the alarm and alert the public when governments threaten to withhold information or enact laws to shield their activities from public scrutiny. In 2006, some strong bills emerged to address the eminent domain issue, only to be watered down by Perdue and whatever shady interests he was representing. With Secret Chamber Man, you never know. After saying he wouldn't meddle in the legislature's business, somebody 'persuaded' him to do some hands on legislating and lobbying. Perdue's Lying Habit grows more and more legendary.

Do a Google Search for "national sunshine week." Then compare the ideas presented there with the prevalent theme of legislation advanced during the 2005 Georgia General Assembly and continuing through 2006. Have a look at the list of pending legislation (some good, some bad) that impacts citizen access and open government. There's a whole lot of monkeying around going on!

The tragedy is that the 2005 legislative session squandered precious time in an effort to pass legislation that everyone KNEW---they HAD to know---that the public did NOT want. The farce is that they had the audacity to think they could get away with it or force it through despite the opposition. Several secrecy bills are still pending; the 'powers that be' apparently think they can ramrod them through while others have their wet fingers in the wind to gauge opposition and potential backlash. For 2006, they scrubbed any meaningful agenda to pass placebo and lip-service legislation designed to shield them in an election year.

Yet, as Jeff Davis has pointed out, some of these people apparently think they are "bulletproof" and beyond the reach of the people's rule at the ballot box. It's all part of an emerging pattern. Sure, this legislature has passed some measures that are popular-----as long as those items didn't clash too much with the interests of those mysterious and unelected 'corporate interests' that seem to be calling the shots from the backrooms.

But popular ideas like a Fair Flag vote [ HB-15 ] are completely ignored, or more accurately, buried deep in third tier sub-committees as a sure death sentence. A recent Mason-Dixon poll showed that 79% of Georgia voters want to have a Fair Vote (regardless of which flag they actually prefer). Yet, it seems the 'backroom boys' carry more weight with this Governor and legislature than those 79% of Georgians. It's not only a farce, it's an outrage. Think about it. Eight out of ten Georgians want the Fair Vote. But the two who don't are calling the shots.

It's not just the Georgia legislature. Florida is having its own struggle to maintain Sunshine Laws in the face of pressures from 'corporate interests' and the desire of the States and their politicians to attract and recuit the monied interests into their respective States. Bad ideas spread like dandelion seeds in the wind. Sure, we all want more jobs and economic prosperity, but the politicians are spending OUR MONEY to buy headlines and votes for themselves and the corporate interests are milking local governments (taxpayers!!) for every dime they can.

But again, it doesn't matter whether essential information---and therefore essential power and essential liberty----is surrendered in the name of "security" or in the name of "economic development." The result is the same.

As Mark Twain once said, "No man's life, liberty or property are safe while the legislature is in session." True as that is, it's the local governments that are more likely to take away your property or permit a zoning change that's detrimental to your quality of life and property values.

We have plenty of arrogance and defiance to deal with in our legislature. But most folks think we have a handle on what they're up to. Generally speaking, that may be true, but there are a number of instances where the planning and backroom deals went on without public scrutiny. Three which come immediately to mind are one-term Governor Roy Barnes and his backroom deals to steal the Georgia flag and ram a new one through in a sneak attack. Another is Perdue's backroom deals to sell a promised Fair Vote for a tobacco tax increase. And finally, the GOP-controlled House changed the rules in order to allow legislation to be pushed through quicker, in a 'blitzkrieg' if you will, using what they call 'hawks' to stack committee votes in their favor.

We can't necessarily prevent a sneak attack, but when they act and their actions ARE in the public eye, we can react at the ballot box. Just ask Roy Barnes. The current one-term Governor will learn the same lesson in 2006. The best deterrent to such brazen thwarting of the people's will is swift and sure punishment.

The scary part of this severe secrecy front that's storming Georgia this session is the thought of local governments working with corporate interests to take your property or mine. These "economic development" meetings and local zoning meetings are what they want to shield from public view and convert to 'backroom' meetings. If they get their way, we won't find out until it's too late to undo a "done deal" and our property can be seized or rendered worthless by the stroke of a pen---without any input or recourse.

Fortunately, Senate Bill 5, the worst of the "land-grab" bills was soundly defeated by overwhelming public reaction. But other less 'ambitious' legislation continues to march forward, with the same ill-intent. History shows that liberty is lost most commonly by gradual erosion rather than frontal assault.

Based on his writings, we all know where James Madison stood with regard to open and accountable government. ALL of the government's just powers derive from our informed consent. If we allow them to withhold or conceal information----for ANY reason----we will rapidly accelerate down the proverbial slippery slope.

We know about these brazen power-grabs of 2005 and slimy sellouts of 2006. If we, the people, don't react with swift and certain retribution at the ballot box, we will encourage MORE of the same. Will the efforts of James Madison and the other Founders be in vain? Will American liberties be surrendered to the highest bidder without a struggle?

The brazen 'bulletproof' backroom boys apparently think so. The new sheriff in town thinks so. What do you think?

"[T]he necessity of any Government is a misfortune. This necessity however exists; and the problem to be solved is, not what form of Government is perfect, but which of the forms is least imperfect." ----James Madison