Can a Democratic Government keep Secrets from the People?

A democratic government is never justified in keeping secrets from the voting public. Describe a specific situation in which the government of a democracy might be justified in keeping a secret from the voters. Discuss what you think determines whether or not a democratic government is justified in keeping secrets from the voters. Democracy is sometimes summed up as a phrase coined by Abraham Lincoln---that is, it is government of the people, by the people and for the people. Citizens to not have direct control over the laws and processes of government; however, they vote for leaders who they think will best represent their needs in the public sphere. In order for a democratic system to work, leaders need to maintain a transparent system where the people are aware of the hard-pressing issues, voting records, etc. Of course, there exists instances where keeping certain secrets from the public is necessary to avoid harm to the people and government.  In order to vote responsibly, citizens need to have access to information from a free press. The ubiquity of news information via the internet has helped people become more aware of the workings of government and how their representatives are performing. This transparency of information has, indeed, helped leaders become more accountable to the people. Their dissatisfaction with outcomes in government is likely to reach the ears of the decisionmakers who can then decide how to proceed in the future. Moreover, citizens can use information from the government to make better decisions for themselves and their families.  At times, the government may be justified in keeping information from the public. For instance, national security concerns allow leaders to label information as "classified." Other times, information may be kept secret to help maintain relationships in other nations. In the Wikileaks scandal, released diplomatic cables may have strained political relations and perhaps even placed lives in danger. Indeed, determining whether a government can keep  matters from the public is a subjective issue. While the functioning of a true democracy depends on an open society, there are certain instances where the government may hide information from the public. It has many interests to take into account, including maintaining order in society and protecting people from terrorist acts. Sometimes the release of information could pose serious obstacles in achieving these goals. It is important, however, for advocacy groups, such as those supporting Wikileaks, to keep government in check and make sure that it does not fail to release information that the general public could use for their own good rather than harm.