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The Silent State : Secrets, Surveillance And The Myth Of British Democracy (2010)

by Heather Brooke(Favorite Author)

3.83 of 5 Votes: 5

ISBN

0434020265 (ISBN13: 9780434020263)

languge

English

genre

Nonfiction

publisher

William Heinemann

review 1: This is an journalistic expose of Britians political bureaucracy and how it prevents access to information by the public. Brooke is the person who brought about the MP's expenses scandal and she shows the way we are prevented from seeing all kinds of government information which we ultimately pay for with our taxes. Britain is shown to be far from the open democracy it claims to be.We see how are denied access to all sorts of facts and figures as well as being prevented from learning details about our politicians and courts. Bizarrely people are even restricted from using information already in the public domain. There are the usual stories of petty officialdom and annoying council workers familiar to everyone in England.This is definately worthwile reading for anyone who ... moresupports the idea of transparent and open government.
review 2: This is one of those books which really makes you pause and question things.The term democracy is bandied around almost without thinking, but soem basic omissions and problems are laid very bare here.The tangle of bureaucracy and obstruction put in place beggars belief at times.There are fascinating insights into the workings of local govenrment, the justice system and of course the recent MPs expenses scandal.Very readable and very enlightening, but encouraging to see that some changes have already taken place. less

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