@dan first I would like to say thanks for bringing this thought to my attention

If governments already know everything, then transparency will give them no additional benefit. What transparency will do is increase the knowledge of everyone else and therefore reduce information asymmetry while enabling communities to self police without violence.

Next, I do believe our personal privacy is important. Those of us born in a time before all the technology knows this. Privacy comes with a price though and many are not willing or at least do a trade on it or other advantages, such as a facebook account. I don't have one but see the benefits people derive such as keeping in touch with others.

In Steemit there is privacy and not all the transparency in some areas IMHO. Such as the accounts linked to one person and many times that individual has lots of power in the form of funds. Their right, since they do have a right to that privacy. So in here is not an equal playing field. I am only pointing this out because that is one place there is not transparency and not looking to offend anyone.