Government secrets are to protect national security, not to hide our leaders from embarrassment or legitimate public oversight. Classification of government data and reports should only be done to protect sources and methods, and the lives of our servicemen and citizens. The abuse of the classification system is an outrage to democracy. It also undermines the fundamental purpose of our first amendment rights, which is to guarantee that citizens have the information they need to make informed decisions in our democratic choices.
The Obama Administration promised new levels of transparency in government. Here is a good place to start on fulfilling promises that have not yet been realized.