Transparent government
Subtitle: what it means and how you can make it happen
By: Donald Gordon ; foreword by Joseph Ferguson
Publisher: Prometheus Books
Published: 2014
Language: eng
Number of pages: 273
ISBN-13: 9781616149192
Subjects: Politics and government; Government information; Transparency in government; Public administration; Access control
Description: "Provides a blueprint for more effective government and greater citizen participation. "Transparency" has become the new mantra of politicians and pundits alike. But what does it mean in practice? In this informative, clearly written book community activist Donald Gordon defines the essential features of a transparent government and makes a convincing case that it is critical for a healthy and maturing democracy and the basic liberties we all take for granted. Gordon first presents a clear definition of transparency in government and why we should pursue it, followed by a review of the history of transparency in American politics. He then makes the case for how transparency serves as the foundation for active civic engagement. The heart of the book is Gordon's "Transparency Index." The author examines best practices in measuring transparency and then isolates the critical factors that can be used to assess any type of government and its commitment to transparency. In addition, a scoring system is presented that allows for comparison of government entities. For anyone who wishes that government were more effective and responsive, this book shows how these goals can be achieved"--
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.