do you think books & documents are banned so the government can try to  hide the truth?
89926
What are you talking about?\n\nClearly there are some national security reasons to make some things difficult to locate.  Yes, it is certainly true that national security is sometimes used where it shouldn’t be use.  However the recourse for such actions is public access to records and application can be made for anything.  If the government wants to keep it for only a high security clearance, then it must demonstrate that necessity in a court.\n\nBanning of books generally occurs at the local level in the local school or library.  In both of these situations there is recourse to get such decisions reversed.  A relatively few things should fall under banning acts.  For example, pornographic pictures and writings kept from those who are too young.\n\nWhat specifically are you referring to?  If you listed those it might be easier to join with you if those things have merit.
461413
why not ? there is only politics of politicions that create probelms so that their falts remain be hidden.
1110189
Who would you be happy to let decide which books you are allowed to read?  Your government?  History is littered with people who wanted to control what you are allowed to read, and none of these people have you're best interest at heart.
1069782
Yes and no,\n\nTelevisioin and newspapers are not censored for content, meaning the that media can tell whatever story they want to tell. However, we do have certain decency standards implemented by the goverment, so the media cannot use swear words or show pictures of nude people. Other than that they are free to print whatever they feel like.
815359
The word must be out that leaks will be anonymously taken at the NYT. I think both sides are leaking to the paper. Some things should be leaked, others shouldn't. It keeps the murky waters of our government slightly more transparent.
226920
Yes. I'm very upset at how the Bush administration has perverted the English language. "Patriot Act" takes away civil liberties. "Clean Water Act" allows companies to dump as much crud as they please in the water, and so on. \n\nThe Patriot Act allows the government to know which books you take out of the library. It denies the library the power to tell YOU that they they've been forced to tell the government which books you've checked out. \n\nStand up for your rights, kids. Once they're gone, they're gone.\n\n(And in response to another answer on this page: you don't have to wait until someone files a suit against a stupid law to know that it's wrong).
324120
will someone just tell it like it is.  True, there's not enough time, and a good bit of ALL history is omitted from the curriculum.  However, if researched, eventually you'll discover the whole truth from all aspects or points of view. Some information is deliberately left out of textbooks to control or manipulate the minds of certain people or cultures.  Yeah, I know it sounds farfetched, but it's the truth. And if the real truth were told, we would have either chaos or peace. Seem like we've had all the chaos we can handle for a while...
122648
I only know of 1 book that has been banned, but not really to the entire public. This book is the Da Vinci Code. The Pope banned it before he died, but it has already been made into a movie and sold in bookstores everywhere.
876028
I have assumed from the time I was a teenager that the government already monitors everything and that certain words or phrases are flagged, analyzed and stored.\n So if they are working together it would not surprise me the least.
899375
I believe something between C and D... With A and B, you are putting a lot of faith in a bunch of people not leaking anything and I find that hard to believe, especially today where anonymity is so easy to achieve.\n\nThe only reason I say between the two, it the government ALWAYS has secrets (and I don't have  a problem with that).
801604
I'd think no because they censor what they show. If they were more honest they would seem negative but it would actually be positive because we would know the truth.\n\nThe way things are now they make the bad look good and the good look bad, in order to be politically correct.
347008
Absoultely nothing. If parents are afraid their children are being exposed to something questionable, then the parents should make a point of supervising their children whenever possible. It might not be a perfect plan, but it's better than censorship.
90282
The information is readily available in any reference section of the library. It is a lot of tedious work to find it, but it is all there. They can sell the books because most people can not or will not spend the ttime it takes in the library. It is also posted on most of the govermental agencies websites.
545297
No.  That would require them to present the information in open court.  That would require that the information be declassified and made public.  Unless the President decides that declassification is in his best political interests, that is not permitted; the needs of justice and a fair trial be damned.\n\nIMHO, the poor bastard will be (have already been?  We'll never know for sure...) whisked off without trial to some third-world hell-hole or dumped off at Gitmo to rot.  Guilt or innocence no longer matters and need not be proven.  A mere accusation is better than a conviction as there is no judicial oversight and no appeal is possible.\n\nIndefinite incarceration without trial or access to counsel, in order to protect the state.  It's one of the great principles of freedom that our great nation was founded upon.  Oops!  Sorry, I've got that confused with Nazism.  No matter, the outcome is the same...
1184505
There are many reasons the government tries to cover things up. It could be a mistake they made, and so yes, they dont want to look foolish. It could be that they have a certain agenda or policy they wish to enact, and too many facts made public would make it more difficult for them to enact that policy.\n\nThere is no simple answer to your question, because there are so many reasons that the government feels like it's neccessary to keep things secret from the very people they are supposed to serve.\n\nOne solution of course, is to elect a different set of public officials who actually remember who it is they work for.
556997
no. because doing that would be the same thing they are trying to do. \nthey shouldnt be asking for the da vinci code to be banned because it is freedom of speech.\nbut if we, in turn, ban them for using their freedom of speech privages are we not stooping to their level?
836273
i think the government hides secrets from everyone.