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The FOI Advocate is a compendium of ideas, edited story excerpts and other materials from a variety of Web sites, as well as original concepts and analysis. When the information comes directly from another source, it will be attributed and a link will be provided whenever possible. The blog relies on the accuracy and integrity of the original sources cited. We will correct errors and inaccuracies when we become aware of them.

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Freedom of Information Day Celebrates Counsel of James Madison

Mary Treacy, executive director of the Minnesota Coalition on Government Information, celebrated this Freedom of Information Day by honoring James Madison.

Treacy argues it's fitting to honor Madison, born on March 16, 1751, during the annual celebration because of his confidence in government transparency and a free press, embodied in the quote: "A popular government, without popular information, or the means of acquiring it, is but a prologue to a farce or a tragedy; or perhaps both. Knowledge will forever govern ignorance; and a people who mean to be their own governors must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives."

Treacy challenges us to make a serious individual effort to "'get up and do what needs to be done' to ferret out reliable information, examine facts, share ideas with those who agree, and listen with equanimity to ideas with which we vehemently disagree."

Read the full tribute here.

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