Transparency is the ONE key to effective, responsive and efficient government
Transparency is essential to making government responsive, efficient and honest. Without transparency, we cannot begin to understand the true size and scope of government, or assess its true costs. Without transparency, we cannot see where government services are inadequately serving the needs of the people, or where there is waste and graft. Without transparency, we cannot begin to peel away the layers of inefficiency that consume our tax dollars and make Massachusetts a less desirable place for people and businesses to call home.
It would be fair to say that no one person today truly understands all government operations and spending, nor could they identify most waste on their own. It would be impossible for any one person to know that, or even for a room full of accountants. Transparency will provide the information and tools which will empower the people — all of the people — to become investigators of waste, fraud and corruption. Areas of spending that are typically overlooked by most people will come to someone’s attention because millions of taxpayers will have access to ALL the information.
Transparency is a prerequisite for good government. Transparency makes accountability and efficiency possible. We already have everything we need to have TOTAL government transparency today, except for a State Auditor willing to not just make it a priority, but to make it THE priority. For TOTAL transparency and accountability, there is only ONE choice for Massachusetts State Auditor: Kamal Jain.
Tags: Accountability, Government Spending, Massachusetts, Transparency
