Opposition to FOIA did not solely stem from self-interest.

Evidence

Such objections unsettle any easy assumptions that agency opposition to FOIA could only have been motivated by cynical self-interest, a hostility to democratic governance, or a wish to conceal abuses. … Opposition to FOIA, in other words, was not necessarily antidemocratic. It could emerge from agency desires to protect the public interest. — David E Pozen; Michael Schudson, Troubling Transparency- The History and…, 71

Categorization

• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim — David E Pozen; Michael Schudson, Troubling Transparency- The History and…, 71
• XREF: connects to: The Justice Department has resisted FOIA compliance since its inception. — Nicholson Baker, Baseless- My Search for Secrets in the…, 113; Certain businesses profit by reselling records obtained through FOIA requests. — David E Pozen; Michael Schudson, Troubling Transparency- The History and…, 359; Commercial requests diminish the original democratic intent of FOIA. — David E Pozen; Michael Schudson, Troubling Transparency- The History and…, 353 (+1 more)

Related

• The Justice Department has resisted FOIA compliance since its inception. (similarity 0.83)
• Certain businesses profit by reselling records obtained through FOIA requests. (similarity 0.83)
• FOIA can contribute to public perceptions of government incompetence. (similarity 0.80)
• Absence of FOIA hinders truth preservation, not just its presence. (similarity 0.80)
• Commercial requests diminish the original democratic intent of FOIA. (similarity 0.80)
• Commercial requester prevalence limits FOIA’s intended use for democratic oversight. (similarity 0.79)
• FOI requests have led to significant government action. (similarity 0.79)
• FOIA may harm the regulatory state by increasing administrative costs. (similarity 0.79)
• The percentage of FOIA requests denied has significantly increased over time. (similarity 0.78)
• FOIA’s ideal of transparency has practical implications for government. (similarity 0.78)
• Transparency is viewed as a secondary value despite FOIA’s existence. (similarity 0.78)
• FOIA’s current impact on government democracy is increasingly questioned. (similarity 0.78)

Library Connections

• The Justice Department has resisted FOIA compliance since its inception. #complicates (0.70) — Nicholson Baker, Baseless- My Search for Secrets in the…, 113

Broader Connections

• FOIA can contribute to public perceptions of government incompetence. #expands (0.70)
• Certain businesses profit by reselling records obtained through FOIA requests. #exemplifies (0.60) — David E Pozen; Michael Schudson, Troubling Transparency- The History and…, 359
• Commercial requests diminish the original democratic intent of FOIA. #exemplifies (0.60) — David E Pozen; Michael Schudson, Troubling Transparency- The History and…, 353