A few scattered observations...
I read an extract of Robert Mann's essay titled "Inside Julian's brain" in the Inquirer section of this weekend's Australian where reference was made to the search for openness and the need for governments and large corporations to be transparent and accountable - to be 'open, just systems'.
The reaction to some of the most recent WikiLeaks would indicate that not everyone views total openness and honesty as desirable. These reactions and other observed experiences, I believe, indicate that such systems require a maturity in the community. The very 'comfort, reassurance and security' nanny-state systems provide us has rendered us impotent and lacking in the maturity to deal with this honesty... Jack Nicholson boldly challenges Tom Cruise with "you want the truth, you can't handle the truth..."
The openness Assange is talking about would appear to be ahead of societal ability to cope with and maturely respond...
...and just above the final piece on Assange, is a headline that confirms this....
"As Facebook users wonder who is really friend, a new book asks if friendship needs to be regulated."
Such are the dilemmas open systems present us!
Turning to the professional section of the same paper, I found a piece by Andrew Brushfield on improving employee engagement and the need for open communication to avoid 'us and them' dynamics.
The question would appear to be, we say we want the truth, but can we handle it?
