Open Government

The governor made much last week of his initiatives since arriving at office at promoting Florida's Sunshine Laws and mandates on open government.

Over the past couple of years he has created a panel to promote open government and issued mandates promoting more transparency in Tallahassee and throughout the state.

In the parallel universe of Gulf County, Gov. Charlie Crist is, of course, referring to the brazenly open discussion of county or city business at any number of establishments, just not in public meeting rooms.

By Florida law, two or more commissioners can not discuss business before them save for an open, noticed meeting. 

But apparently, if the sun is shining, that is good enough for too many of local elected officials or those who earn a living on the public dole.

There are the weekday morning breakfast gatherings at each of the county where any number of county or city officials can be found, often in discussions about business before them.

Or there are the after-meeting dinners county commissioners often assemble for; and anybody believing the discussion remains on cigars and parks - raise a hand.

This brand of open government produces a system in which special interests and mutual-back-scratching is the currency, not the good of the community or constituents.

This brand of government, good-old-boy, incestuous, whatever the label, is not so much one of maintaining transparency, of adhering to Sunshine Laws.

This is a government of shadows, of back-room deals brokered with political survival, selective private sector enhancement and protecting the status quo as priorities, one that is no more about serving and enhancing the community than a hurricane.

Except there is more sunshine in a hurricane.