PERSPECTIVE FROM THE 19^TH HOLE: This is the title I chose for my personal blog, which is meant to give me an outlet for one of my favorite crafts – writing – plus use an image from my favorite sport, golf. Out of college, my first job was as a reporter for the Daily Astorian in Astoria, Oregon, and I went on from there to practice writing in all of my professional positions, including as a Congressional press secretary in Washington, D.C., an Oregon state government manager in Salem and Portland, press secretary for Oregon’s last Republican governor (Vic Atiyeh), and a private sector lobbyist. This blog also allows me to link another favorite pastime – politics and the art of developing public policy – to what I write.

I wrote earlier in this space about this pet peeve:  Certain words frequently readily used in politics have meanings that are at least veiled, if not totally unknown.

One of those words is “transparency.”

It has become a very popular word in political circles these days, but I never know what it really means.

Sure, open government is a good idea, including for voters who need to understand how to understand and rate their government. But open everything? No.

Wall Street Journal writer Kimberley Strassel wrote about this concern recently, adding perspective to my unease with “transparency,” even as she related the word to the current kerfuffle between Members of Congress and Attorney General Bill Barr over release, or not, of the Mueller report.

Here are excerpted quotes from her column:

“More important than the practical consequences of going along with the Democrats is the principle of standing firm. ‘Transparency’ is one of those feel-good words that lead to sloppy thinking. Who doesn’t want more government transparency? Most people, when they think about it.

“But, who wants generals posting attack plans online? Who wants President Trump tweeting out the nuclear codes?

“More important, who wants the federal government spreading unfounded or uncorroborated accusations? Grand-jury and special-counsel investigations represent government power at its biggest and scariest. They can compel witnesses to reveal all manner of intimate details—banking records, personal text messages, loan defaults, medical information. The proceedings are kept secret to encourage candor—and candor also results in witnesses with grudges, speculation and even false testimony. Those swept up in probes like Mr. Mueller’s are often private citizens, innocent of any wrongdoing.”

Well said, both in the context of release of the Mueller report, as well in the general issue of the meaning of “transparency.”

As in the cases of the words “progressive” and “democratic,” “transparency” should be defined, not just used as a generalization.