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03/12/06
Two
polls find public worries about government secrecy -- and
when it goes too far
By The Associated
Press
Two new polls gauging Americans' views on government openness
found a majority believe the federal government leans more
toward secrecy than openness, while eight in 10 are convinced
that an open government is necessary for an effective democracy.
The polls released Sunday also found, however, that the public
believed government should keep some information private,
particularly if it was necessary to combat terrorism.
One poll, by the Scripps Survey Research Center at Ohio University,
found that 64 percent of respondents thought the federal government
is somewhat or very secretive, while more than a third think
their local and state governments lean more toward secrecy.
Fifty-five percent said state and local governments were somewhat
or very open.
But Americans were more closely divided on when government
information should be made public, according to the telephone
poll of 1,007 adults.
Forty-six percent said government records should be considered
public and their release should only be blocked when it "would
do harm"; 42 percent said the government should protect
its information and only release it if there is a "sound
legal case" for it to be public.
A separate poll released Sunday found respondents were supportive
of open government and access to public records -- though
solid majorities also said that government officials should
keep records secret if "necessary", or to help in
the war on terrorism.
The poll by the AccessNorthwest research and outreach project
at the Edward R. Murrow School of Communication at Washington
State University in Pullman found that 81 percent said democracy
requires government to operate openly.
Nearly seven in 10, or 69 percent, told researchers that open
public records and meetings keep government honest. Nearly
as many, 63 percent, said it was OK for government officials
to keep records secret if they deem it necessary, and almost
three-quarters, 73 percent, believe the president should "make
some public records secret if it might help with the war on
terrorism."
The Scripps poll was conducted from Feb. 19 to March 3. There
is a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.
The Washington State University poll, conducted from Feb.
19 through March 4, surveyed 403 adults nationwide. It has
an error margin of plus or minus 5 percentage points.
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