As we reported earlier this week, a DOJ memo suggests that Gitmo detainees will be relocated to Thomson Correctional Center as “expeditiously as possible” and that the Illinois Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability will be holding a public meeting on December 22nd to discuss the matter.

You can read our original article on this here.

We in the 9/12 Project take great care to reaffirm and also have much concern regarding the relationship that the American people have with their government. A proper working relationship, as recognized in our Founding and affirmed through history, is absolutely fundamental to the proper functioning and security of the nation. We the people claim our unalienable rights and responsibilities – and delegate proper authority to our leaders to manage what we cannot on our own. That means we absolutely must be able to trust our leaders in those matters just as we must trust our fellow citizens in our private lives. This trust doesn’t come automatically or by fiat – it must be built and fostered by honest leaders who are willing to be transparent and accountable to the people.

So now with Thomson, we have an issue of national security where we must depend on our government the most. How are they earning the public trust? Well, what kind of signal does it send that there will be only one public hearing about this, and that it will be held in Sterling, far removed from the Chicago media? Considering that in leading up to this lone public hearing, a leaked memo was the only means of public engagement in this most critical issue, what kind of trust has been fostered by our leaders?

Since our leaders don’t seem willing to engage the public, the public must engage itself, and fortunately it seems it is doing just that. In response to the public hearing, several groups, such as the Band of Mothers, are organizing a protest at Sterling High School at 1:00 on Tuesday. You can find more information about it here and here. The Central Illinois 9/12 Project is not directly involved in the organization of this event, and therefore brings it to your attention for informational purposes only. However, the lack of trust our leaders have once again shown is a fundamental concern to us and the danger to national security is of preeminent concern to everybody.

Our leaders apparently don’t even trust us enough to let us so much as voice our opinion at a public “hearing.”  The supposed open hearing being held really is more an “act” than a “reality.”  As has been acknowledged by several media sources, the Thomson issue is already a done deal.  U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood even went as far as to say yesterday that the Thomson prison sale is a “Christmas gift for the people.”

Guess we’ll add that gift to the other one we’ll be likely to also receive by Christmas: healthcare reform.

The Christmas cheer sure is being spread all around this year…