One area where citizens’ freedoms are curtailed is in government-private-business contracts.  There is a growing trend for governments to restrict public information about the details of arrangements it makes with businesses in the name of commercial confidentiality.  It is understandable that businesses may not to want the details of their methods and internal economics to be made available to competitors.  But is there any reason for those who are paying for a freeway (the citizens) to not be given details of the financial arrangements between a government and the company building a multi-billion-dollar road?  Should we not know what penalties are to apply for late completion, or what arrangements are in place should a bridge start cracking after, say, twenty years?

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