
I see Peter Gleick, the man who obtained and leaked the devastating documents from the Heartland Institute, as a democratic hero. I do not think he should have apologised, nor do I believe that his job should be threatened. He has done something of benefit to society.
I believe we have a right to know who is paying for public advocacy. The groups that call themselves thinktanks but look to me more like lobbying organisations working on behalf of corporations and multi-millionaires, exist to try to change public policy. Yet, with a few exceptions, they operate in a vacuum of accountability.
Anyone with democratic instincts should support the demand that the major funders of groups engaged in public advocacy should be made known to the public, whether those groups are leftwing NGOs, rightwing "thinktanks" or self-declared lobbying companies. Yet in most cases no mechanism exists to ensure this happens, so powerful interests – big business, bankers, corporate bosses – are able to steer public debate without having to reveal their identity.
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