The achievement of the American ideal of Government of the People, by the People and for the People depends on access to federal, state and local government information for all residents, whether citizens or not.
Government information is the currency of democracy.
To participate in the democratic process, individuals use government information in everyday transactions of citizenship in much the same way as they would use money in economic transactions. The more government information persons can bring to bear on a particular issue, the more effectively they can intervene in government processes. The challenge in a democracy is to make government information equally available to all. Those without information are effectively bankrupt. Wealthy individuals, corporations and powerful private interest groups can afford to get and use government information.