talking about true conservatives, I would have to say they value transparency also. Our goals are different, yes: we want positive change and progress (action), while they prefer slow or no change, but we both share a distrust of backroom deals.

For us, backroom deals (we believe) are most often done by those who would avoid progress, while conservatives believe changes are being made without their knowledge.

That's just my opinion, though.

the individuals who are in government are leary of transparency. They do not want people to know the true depth of thier knowledge (or lack of knowledge) of the situation.

With that, they will "back door" meeting things to figure out what stance as a body they want to be at. To figure out some little bit of idea of just what is proposed in front of them. They will then come to an meeting that is "open" to the public, but will already have their minds made up with what facts they have. IF someone in the audience has a valid argument that was not briefed before, they will not know what to do or how to handle this new data. They then feel they are made to look foolish, stupid, not learned. They will not be willing to ask for additional time based on this new data.

Speaking from my county of only 11,000 people, I have seen this with my commissioners. Speaking from past military experience where I had to call my officer "in the bed" and if I had to wake him up 5 - 20 times a night to keep him informed, he was happy. He did not want to go to his superior or meet his superior at breakfast and not have a brief or idea of what happened while he slept.

So to me, it is human nature to want to protect both the "mystique" of the office as well as "aurora" of the man thus making government translucent and not allowing for a true transparent government.

I would bet that the founding fathers held their meetings in private and did not let the general public know what their intentions were until solidified (think that guy swinging at the gallows might have had something to do with this also). I also bet even after we gained our freedom from England, that the decisions were made in a translucent government, and not a transparent government.

I believe that most leaders (except those that work in Dictator or heavily in Authoritarian leadership mode) would love to work in a transparent government.

They just do not know how.

Depending on who is making the decision on both sides, or from any point of view, when the decision is made in our favor or down our thought process it is "wow, xxxx finally is seeing the light", or "yipie, another proper move by our government". When a decision is made that we do not like, it is "They are agenda driven", "they do not care" or "dang, wonder why they went down that road" depending on party affiliation.

Until we only have one party in this country (which will put us in a "dictator to Authoritarian" form of government) we will always have "lack of transparency" in government. Once we do have only one party, it will not be run in transparent or translucent mode.

There is a quote about absolute authority begets absolute power but the connotation of that quote shows only bad things happening.

I would love for a strong third party to step to the plate. Then we would have some serious checks and balance. We would have a congress that actually had to work with each other across the isle. This would cause transparency as people would have to explain why they are crossing or nothing would get done and that person would be voted out. I know decisions and compromises would happen.

I do not advocate for a one party government. I feel this country is better served (albeit slower) with a congress that is divided. Then representatives have to work for all the people and not just the majority of the people. (electoral collage comes to mind here).

His work helped me understand why "they" don't get me, and why I don't get "them." I really hate the "us" and "them" mindset, but that's because I'm one of "us".

BlueprintNC doesn't appear to have a website, but an old description I found said

Blueprint NC is a partnership of state-level public policy, advocacy, and grassroots organizing groups dedicated to achieving a better, fairer, healthier North Carolina through the development of an integrated communications, civic engagement, and policy strategy. Organizations involved represent a diverse range of issues, including the environment, poverty, community development, affordable housing, reproductive rights, immigrant rights, education, children’s issues, criminal justice, and more. They are united by the shared values of justice, equality, responsibility, fairness, community, opportunity, shared prosperity, democracy, and hope.

Sounds like people we should get to know.

Be the change you wish to see in the world. --Gandhi