Letters: Voters trusted our elected officials. Then they signed NDA deals behind our backs.

What have we done? 'We' are the voters of Louisiana. We have elected and entrusted our public officials (the governor, attorney general, federal and state senators and representatives, mayors and parish officials) to pursue and safeguard our health, safety and prosperity, enforce the law and uphold our freedoms guaranteed by the state and federal constitutions. As a result of our vigilant press, we are now learning that our elected public officials have signed NDAs (nondisclosure agreements) with the most powerful corporations in the world behind our backs, negotiated a massive sale of public lands, waived environmental laws and, through legislation passed without the disclosure of the secret negotiations, guaranteed corporate immunity from being held accountable for damage to our persons and property. And, of course, our officials have exempted these wealthiest of the wealthy from paying property taxes. All without notice to the voters. All without input from the voters. Rather than challenge and/or debate the merits of spaceports and data centers, our representatives and officials have signed NDAs, abdicating their duty to represent and inform their constituents on these most essential governmental matters. And now, based on these confidential deals, it appears there is no turning back. What have we done? MARK GOLDSTEIN Mandeville Want to see your opinion published in The Advocate | Times-Picayune? Submit a letter to the editor.