An informed public is necessary for a functional democratic government, and glasnost is necessary for an informed public. Therefor, glasnost is necessary for a functional democratic government. It stands to reason, then, that the public should have some access to public records. The private information that is contained therein adds some context and utility to the public records, and should probably remain part of them, but it would perhaps be nice if individuals were totally conscious of the extent to which their private information goes into these public files.
So I'm curious about the degree to which public officials are required to make private citizens aware that portions of public records may concern them or contain their private information. Even if the private data is redacted or records that might contain it are legally sealed from public access, it would be interesting to know who, if anyone, is keeping track of where this private information ends up and who has access to it, whether the public does or does not.
On another note, the tone of the "Access to Online Local Public Records" is humorous--in particular the author's hope that the fraudulent tax sleuth be incarcerated with some of his patsies (and presumably suffer violence at their hands). Who writes academic pieces like that?
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