Transparency Projectof Georgia

Free Editorials

Transparency Project of Georgia features editorials written by award-winning editorial writer and open government advocate Jim Zachary that can be republished free of charge.

GOVERNMENT DOES NOT KNOW BEST

Government does not always know best.

In fact, it seldom does.

Government cannot be of, by and for the people unless it’s before the people.

It should never be forgotten that government belongs to the governed, not the governing.

Whether talking about the federal government in Washington D.C., the General Assembly in Atlanta, the county commission, the school board, or city council, government does not know better than the citizens it represents.

Those elected to office should never usurp the will of the public or assume they know more about what is right for their community than the public at large.

We do not elect officials to think for us.

We elect them to represent us.

That is what is meant by the word “republic,” a representative form of government.

Given a choice between the will of elected officials and the will of ordinary citizens, we should always defer to the people.

The people we elect should never be so audacious so as to abridge the rights and interests of citizens.

Public service is not autocratic rule.

Being elected to office should not be viewed as being placed in a position of authority and privilege.

The Declaration of Independence, provides, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.—That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.”

These words are primary to our entire form of government.

All real power, belongs to the governed, citizens, and not to the governing, elected officials.

We have protections in place, laws, to prevent a governing class from seizing power away from citizens.

The problem, however, is that citizens and the media have become accustomed to looking the other way while officials have become accustomed to looking out for themselves.

Then intention of a public servant should never be to simply do what is necessary to get re-elected.

Their intention should always be to adequately, competently and ethically represent the interests of the citizens they are elected to serve.

Written by Jim Zachary, originally published Henry Daily Herald, Nov. 29, 2013. Jim Zachary is an award winning editorial writer, longstanding advocate for open government, featured speaker at Tennessee Press Association and Georgia Press Institute and creator of both the Tennessee Transparency Project and the Transparency Project of Georgia.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the purpose of the Free Editorials section?

The Free Editorials section of the Transparency Project of Georgia provides opinion pieces written by Jim Zachary, an award-winning editorial writer and open government advocate. These editorials are offered free of charge and can be republished by any publication or media outlet without licensing fees.

The goal is to spread awareness about government transparency issues across Georgia and beyond. By making these editorials freely available, the Transparency Project ensures that smaller publications and community newspapers can access high-quality opinion content about open government without financial barriers.

Jim Zachary brings decades of experience as a journalist and transparency advocate to these writings. He is the creator of both the Tennessee Transparency Project and the Transparency Project of Georgia, and has been a featured speaker at the Tennessee Press Association and Georgia Press Institute.

These editorials serve as educational tools for citizens and elected officials alike. They remind readers of the fundamental principles underlying our democratic republic, particularly the idea that government exists to serve the people and must operate transparently to maintain public trust.

Why is government transparency important for citizens?

Government transparency is essential because it ensures that the people maintain control over their elected representatives. In a democratic republic, citizens are the ultimate source of authority, and they cannot exercise that authority effectively if government operations are hidden from public view.

When government meetings and records are open to the public, citizens can evaluate whether their representatives are acting in the community’s best interest. This accountability mechanism prevents corruption, mismanagement, and the concentration of power in the hands of a few elected officials.

Transparency also builds public trust in government institutions. When citizens can see how decisions are made and how public funds are spent, they are more likely to have confidence in the democratic process. Conversely, secrecy breeds suspicion and erodes the relationship between government and the governed.

Furthermore, transparency enables informed civic participation. Citizens who have access to government information can engage more meaningfully in public discourse, attend meetings with relevant knowledge, and advocate effectively for their communities. Without transparency, citizens are essentially shut out of the democratic process.

Can these editorials be republished by other publications?

Yes, the editorials featured on the Transparency Project of Georgia are explicitly offered for free republication. Any publication, whether print or digital, can republish these editorials without charge. This open republication policy is a deliberate strategy to maximize the reach of government transparency messaging.

The Transparency Project believes that the message of open government should not be limited by copyright restrictions or licensing fees. By removing these barriers, the editorials can reach communities across Georgia and beyond, particularly in areas where local publications may have limited resources for editorial content.

Publications wishing to republish these editorials are encouraged to credit the author, Jim Zachary, and the Transparency Project of Georgia. Proper attribution helps readers understand the source and context of the opinions expressed while building awareness of the broader transparency movement.

This approach reflects the Transparency Project’s commitment to openness not just in government, but in the dissemination of ideas about government. Just as public meetings and records should be accessible to all citizens, the arguments for transparency should be freely available to all who wish to share them.

Who is Jim Zachary and what is his role in the transparency movement?

Jim Zachary is an award-winning editorial writer and longstanding advocate for open government. He is the creator of both the Tennessee Transparency Project and the Transparency Project of Georgia, two organizations dedicated to promoting openness and accountability in local government.

Throughout his career, Zachary has used his platform as a journalist to champion the principles of government transparency. His editorials focus on the fundamental relationship between citizens and their elected officials, consistently arguing that government belongs to the people and must operate in the open.

Zachary has been recognized for his work through various journalism awards and has been a featured speaker at prominent organizations including the Tennessee Press Association and the Georgia Press Institute. His expertise in transparency law and advocacy has made him a respected voice in the open government community.

Beyond writing editorials, Zachary’s work with the Transparency Projects provides practical resources for citizens, journalists, and public officials. The organizations he founded serve as educational platforms that help communities understand their rights under open meetings and open records laws, empowering citizens to hold their government accountable.

What does the editorial mean by government belonging to the governed?

The concept that government belongs to the governed is rooted in the foundational principles of American democracy. It means that elected officials do not possess inherent authority over citizens. Instead, their power is derived from the consent of the people they represent, as stated in the Declaration of Independence.

In practical terms, this means that every meeting held by a county commission, school board, or city council is the public’s meeting. Every document produced by a government agency is the public’s document. Citizens are not outsiders seeking permission to view their government at work; they are the owners of that government.

When elected officials operate in secrecy or restrict public access to meetings and records, they are effectively taking away what rightfully belongs to the citizens. The editorial describes this as “stealing their liberty” because access to government information is a fundamental component of the freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution.

This principle has practical implications for how citizens should interact with their government. Rather than passively accepting decisions made behind closed doors, citizens should actively exercise their rights to attend meetings, request records, and demand transparency. The editorial encourages both citizens and elected officials to never lose sight of these core democratic values.