Part 12/14:
The Broader Impact on Society and Trust
This tight integration between government secrecy and media portrayal fuels public distrust. Berles comments that the government’s reluctance to reveal the truth about UAPs, combined with covert media manipulation, erodes confidence in institutions meant to serve the public. This concern is heightened by instances where military tests are masked as extraterrestrial phenomena, complicating citizen understanding and fueling conspiracy theories.
He stresses that transparency is vital not only for safety and scientific understanding but also for restoring faith in democratic institutions. Without honest disclosure, citizens are left to speculate or believe misinformation, which can have destabilizing effects on society.