Elementary democracy check: why sign the open letter to Prodi to clear things up on italia.it

Originally posted (in Italian) March 22, 2007

That’s how it works.

Some Italian laws establish, besides a basic good civic sense, that citizens have the right to access their Public Administration Acts.

Why? Well, the reasons are so evident they shouldn’t even need explaining: citizens work hard all day long, their job is quantified in a salary and a good chunk of this salary goes into the community public fund.
The Public Administration, through its political and managerial personnel, decides how to spend that money in the supposed interest of the community.

Obviously, in order to drive away any suspect of abuses and to allow any possible malfunctioning to be pointed out, but most of all out of a simple sense of ethical and civil responsibility, transparency in the Public Administration acts is established: that is to say, to speak frankly, that I have the right to know precisely how and when that money that I share after slogging for 8 hours gets spent.

It’s not science-fiction, it’s the ABCs of democracy.

A very simple, basic act of ethical and civil correctness: that’s what we’ve decided to ask Prodi, Rutelli and Nicolais for in an open letter in which we ask to be given the possibility to view the documents regarding the project italia.it.

No uproar, no request for pillory or traumatic intervention: just a basic democratic act, and very easy to put into practice. “That’s not much, though”, many of you might say. Maybe: but it’s better to start from simple things.

From the 1st of April, the day the letter will be sent (and it won’t be a joke, at all) it will be Prodi’s, Rutelli’s, and Nicolais’ turn to speak.

Prodi, Rutelli and Nicolais will have the chance, frankly and simply, to confirm that the Italian public affairs are democratic and clear, by making a bunch of Public Administration documents available to those citizens who by right have requested it.

In alternative, they can ignore that request.

From which each one of us will all draw our own conclusions. And will act accordingly.

OPEN LETTER TO THE GOVERNMENT TO SHED LIGHT ON ITALIA.IT: HOW TO PARTICIPATE.

You can underwrite the letter through the Petition On line service.

This link takes you directly to the Petition On Line page where you can read and sign the letter (with your full name and surname please – no nicknames – just select “Sign the petition”).

This link takes you to the original scandaloitaliano initiative introduction page.

If you agree with the form and content of the letter, please sign it and most of all help us get it signed: advertise this initiative on your web site or blog, contact your friends, molest the passers-by etc. Just do everything you consider valid for the cause.

For the more willing ones, here’s a small banner:

ITALIA.IT
TRANSPARENCY IN EVERYTHING!
SIGN THE LETTER TO PRODI