The Open Government Begins

Today President Obama issued a memo to all Federal Agencies regarding the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).  In the memo (PDF), the President said that "in the face of doubt, openness prevails.  The Government should not keep information confidential merely because public officials might be embarrassed by disclosure, because errors and failures might be revealed, or because of speculative or abstract fears."

I like the "speculative or abstract fears" part of his message.  He is directly speaking against the paranoia that has permeated Washington for the past 8 years under the Bush/Cheney team.

He also directed agencies to use "modern technology" to make information available to the public before they even receive a request.