The first words of the Constitution are “we the people” which identifies that sovereign power from which the government derives its power and legitimacy.
I do not wish to abolish secrets - merely to make it clear that US citizens are the rulers of the country and therefore nothing should be kept from them. I can imagine many ways that could be done without the kinds of dire consequences you extrapolate.
It sounds to me like you’re just speaking in generalities. I can just say “we the people” decided that this information should not be given to citizens except on a need-to-know basis as described by the institutions that we created.
Do you think that “we the people” created and are overseeing those institutions effectively? I do not. One aspect of that lack centers around excess secrecy, the borders of which seem unpatroled.
Maybe, maybe not? It's just a matter of opinion. For example, I'd say our institutions aren't being overseen effectively when they let criminals who try to overturn lawful election results go unpunished. I would say our institutions are effectively overseen with regards to classified information, partially due to personal experience, partially due to the FBI, DOJ, and National Archives who are investigating a breach of how those classified materials are handled. I'd say our election related institutions are not being overseen effectively. Governors and state legislatures in certain states are ignoring constitutionally mandated maps (like in Ohio) or are finding ways to make voting difficult.
When you go down this path, you're just stating your opinion about how things should be and trying to anchor that to an interpretation you have of what "we the people" means. That's ok, but the problem you run into is that it's wildly open to interpretation. For every "we the people' argument you make, someone can put forth any number of contradictory but equally correct arguments.
“Working from underlying ideas about consent, early Americans assumed that a rule could have the obligation of law only if it came from the constitutionally established legislature elected by the people, and that a judicial decision could have legal obligation only if it came from a constitutionally appointed judge exercising independent judgment. The U.S. Constitution therefore places the power to bind Americans in Congress and the courts, not in executive or independent agencies.“
I do not wish to abolish secrets - merely to make it clear that US citizens are the rulers of the country and therefore nothing should be kept from them. I can imagine many ways that could be done without the kinds of dire consequences you extrapolate.