A lot of special days and weeks are designated each year for some type of recognition, from Veterans Day to Fire Prevention Week. They all have the purpose of urging us to think, remember or take action.

Today is the beginning of a week that is important to every American: Sunshine Week. Like the great orb that lights and warms the earth, Sunshine Week is an opportunity to consider and insist upon open or transparent government.

Prodding political leaders to conduct business is open meetings, not to hide behind vague rules and regulations, and to discuss topics and make decisions in clear view of the public isn’t simply a matter creating worry among journalists. We worry over transparency because government belongs to all of us. Government is for the people and by the people.

We understand and appreciate those who take the time and effort to serve in public office.

Many of our officeholders clearly recognize the need for openness in government and serve out of a deep commitment to their community, state and nation.

What must be guarded against is the tendency of government to seclude itself in layers, private meetings and attempts to bury documents that are valuable to voters.

At The Cullman Times and other established news operations across the nation, we believe public notices are valuable information for residents of every community, and this information should be published in a manner that measurably reaches the greatest number of people.

When it comes to publications qualified to publish public notices in Cullman County, there is no other newspaper reaching more residents than The Times, and, again, audience reach is a critical aspect of governmental transparency.

We believe government boards should conduct meetings that are open to the public and avoid, as often as possible, adjourning into executive sessions that exclude citizens.

We question the legality of political caucuses meeting in private to discuss policy before entering into legislative sessions.

Government is valuable because it creates and implements policies for people – plain and simple.

In our nation, which uniquely guarantees valuable liberties and elects government from the citizenry, we should all insist on being a part of the process.

We should have the right to read proposed ordinances, legislation, bids and other acts of government.

We should have easy access to documents that detail projects, spending and any act of government.

Allowing openness and transparency within government is an American right, and one of our protections to freedom.