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Quote by Ted Gup

“The mechanics vary from place to place and from office to office. The handling of SBUs can be different in the same agency just across the hall, one from another. There are virtually no standards.”

Quote by Ted Gup

Author

Ted Gup is an American writer known for his in-depth investigations and writing. His works often focus on history and individuals, revealing complex stories through detailed narratives. more

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“You have tens, hundreds of thousands of people in government, and just as many among contractors, who feel totally comfortable writing at the top of the document "internal use only," "official use only," and a million other synonyms, all of which amount to "none of your business" to the public.”

People Feels Writing Use Government Millions Amount Comfortable Officials Internals Documents Synonym Contractor None Of Your Business

Author:Ted Gup

“One of the principal factors fueling the proliferation of the abuse of secrecy and sensitive but unclassifieds is the administration's adherence to the unitary executive principal. This administration more than any of its predecessors believes that it is its responsibility to collect power onto itself in the executive office when it comes to the conduct of war, foreign policy, the management of agencies and departments, regulations, etc.”

“There's no faster way or surer way to consolidate power and disenfranchise critics than to operate in secret. So this plays squarely into the promotion of the unitary executive. That's one factor.”

Way Play Secret Critics Factors Faster Executives Promotion

Author:Ted Gup

“Another factor is the post-9/11 security mentality, which views sunlight as toxic and imagines that somehow bin Laden is dependent upon our government documents, a "fact" that has never, ever been supported to my knowledge. So, that's the second factor.”

Facts Government Views Imagine Security Factors Posts Dependent Toxic Mentality Imagine That Sunlight Documents Bin Laden

Author:Ted Gup

“The third factor is the natural predisposition of bureaucracies, both governmental and private, to exploit secrecy to whatever degree they are licensed to do so, and in this administration they're given virtually carte blanche.”

Given Natural Degrees Thirds Factors Administration Bureaucracy Secrecy Exploits Blanche

Author:Ted Gup

“And fourthly there is a major shift in public opinion and attitude to accommodate to the post-9/11 mentality and the Bush administration's penchant for secrecy. I think the public has simply become increasingly accustomed to being turned away from vital information and is protesting less and less. You have some squeaky wheels out there, but I don't think they're representative of the population at large.”

Thinking Attitude Opinion Information Majors Population Administration Posts Wheels Mentality Representatives Accustomed Public Opinion Secrecy Accommodate Squeaky Wheel

Author:Ted Gup

“I don't think that the problems or the issues relate to any single piece of legislation. I think that they really do relate to the mindset that after eight years is pretty deeply embedded. It is not going to be easy to reverse itself.”

Thinking Years Problem Easy Issues Pieces Eight Mindset Relate Reverse Legislation Embedded

Author:Ted Gup

“If you are a reporter trying to find out what the hell's going on in government now, you have a devilish time. It is murder to set up an interview. It is murder to get someone's phone number. It's murder to be able to get in and talk to someone without a handler being present to chill it, or who doesn't insist upon questions in advance.”

Ifs Trying Government Able Numbers Hell Murder Phones Interviews Reporters Chill Phone Numbers Devilish

Author:Ted Gup

“Every effort is made to control information. Secrecy is just one of the toggles on their control board. The mindset is in place, and they've done a lot of hiring over eight years, not just political appointees. And they've done a lot of firing or driving people out who might have countermanded or resisted. So, institutionally, it's not going to be simply a matter of flipping the switch to undo it. You're going have to bring in people dedicated to transparency, and you have to demonstrate that there are rewards for candor.”

People Years Made Matter Done Might Political Effort Information Rewards Eight Mindset Driving Boards Just One Dedicated Secrecy Transparency Hiring Firing Candor

Author:Ted Gup

“The level of trust is extraordinarily low and the level of suspicion extraordinarily high, and with good reason and on both sides. The press has hunkered down for very good reason, because it's being treated like a mushroom.”

Reason Sides Levels Lows Presses Very Good Treated Suspicion Both Sides Mushrooms

Author:Ted Gup