Government officials often spread information to put themselves in a good light. Some might change numbers on a graph, others might twist the truth. Former President Donald Trump recently lost the 2021 election. According to a CNN article by Daneil Dale, Trump claimed that he won the election, stating that it was “stolen.” Dale points out that Trump told lies that led to rioting and the Capital invasion on January 6, 2021. This attack against democracy was based on lies and manipulation!

             Lies are not the only problem. According to an article found on Newsela, The United States passed the PATRIOT Act after 9/11, allowing the government to spy on possible terrorists and other suspects. Evidence wasn’t needed to snoop through citizens' personal lives, sneak into homes without permission, record phone calls, and search computers (“The USA Patriot Act”). The government might have had good intentions, but power is easily abused. How can we trust our government when our right to privacy is at risk!? 

          Some might say that secrecy is necessary. Jeffrey Fields, a former member of the Department of Defense, said, “I worked with classified information that had to do with nuclear bombs. We wouldn't want our country's enemies to get their hands on that kind of information” (Fields). He says the government has classified information to keep the U.S safe, but too much secrecy can lead to abuse of power and mistrust. We must keep politicians from deceiving the public. George F. Kennan, counselor at the Moscow Embassy, thinks that what is told to the public, even if it is a lie, will be made into truth. Society will act like the information is fact even if it is untrue! (Higgins). Abuse of power is always a risk, when people can be so easily persuaded, it is important to protect the truth. 

Students also have strong opinions about this topic! I surveyed fourteen students, asking if the PATRIOT Act should have been created. Around 64%, nine of the 14, think that it is an invasion of privacy. Four out of the 14 (28%) believe that the government's powers should be restricted. Most believe that the government shouldn’t be able to invade the public's privacy without telling them. Only one of 14 students thought the government should have this power (Lamensdorf). If the government was transparent about the PATRIOT Act, maybe citizens could have more trust.  

          The government doesn't want information leaked that will impact their image or politicians’ reputations. Elora Mukherjee, who interviewed immigrant children at a Texas facility said, “If videos were released there would be massive changes” because the public outcry would be enormous” (Farhi). Mukherjee further stated, “If journalists had access to the detention centers at the border where children are being held in filthy conditions, those centers would not exist” (Farhi).  As a result, the government took away press access to not let negative information get out! If they wouldn't have been so secretive about the situation, it would be easier to trust the government.

          Elizabeth Cooper, an active American citizen, was asked her thoughts about this quote: “Perhaps the main issue of controversy revolves around the fact that neither citizens nor politicians can agree on how much secrecy is enough” (Smuskiewicz). Cooper believes that government officials will lie for what they think to be good reasons, such as protecting the country. Cooper continued, “But I also think that sometimes politicians lie for not good reasons, in order to preserve their political future or to help people they know, like donors (Cooper). She feels that the government constantly hides the truth. When consuming information, people need to check their facts if the government refuses to change!

  Although some government secrecy is necessary, this ability can be abused! Lies will spread to the public. There should be laws restricting government secrecy. The choice is yours to figure out who you want to trust!