What Can Be Done To Stop The Corruption?

Americans are being overwhelmed by crime and corruption within our government and the defense industry. Every day, we hear of more instances of it. And we hear of more people whose careers and lives are being destroyed because of it. Corruption and greed abound and seem to be challenging ethical federal and industry employees with increasing intensity. The number of whistleblower complaints is increasing exponentially and the number of problems not being officially reported is increasing even faster. Polls show the American public has less faith in the integrity of the executive and legislative branches of our government than they ever have had in the past. Most Americans it seems, do not now trust their government or their leaders, and it appears they may have good reason not to and for many it is not clear what, if anything can be done to repair the damage.

What can be done? First of all, acknowledge that this is NOT political. It has been too easy for those who do not want to take action to discount complaints, as mere "political witch hunts" when nothing could be further from the truth. The problems cut across political boundaries and the causes are human greed, lack of ethics, and power mongering, not political affiliation. The solutions also will have to span beyond partisan politics. Next, realize this is a war of sorts. And if this is indeed a war against corruption and the co-opting of our government by special interests, then we must make sure there are continuing battles and a resolute outing of the wrong doers. If we don't, we (U.S. citizens), will lose the war and much more, if you will accept my framing it that way.

I recently read a piece that referred to Whistleblowers living the life of "choiceless choice." That seems an apt description. For those who are witness to things that should not be, it is important to realize that fear is a natural initial reaction, accompanied by shock and sometimes denial. Often, the reporter of an incident will try to work within channels to get the situation addressed. Sometimes this does work, if the supervisors above have an interest in resolving things correctly and ethically. If so, then the employee may be accorded respect for helping to solve a problem or for improving the workplace. If not, then it goes down hill fast. This is where the wrongdoers may turn up the heat. Some subtle and perhaps even blatant efforts to harass and frighten the employee(s) in an effort to make them shut up, and if that fails, to make them go away. Employees often start really suffering from stress at this point, and are afraid of loss of job and career, and the unknown.

An associate who endured years of abuse at the hands of some corrupt supervisors for just doing the job they were hired to do in a federal agency, and reporting criminal activities as a part of a routine inspection and report, put it like this.

"So, gosh, if I try to keep pushing this up more levels in an effort to get it addressed honestly, they might do what? Be mean to me? Hound me and demand I remove evidence that makes the case prosecutable? Increase my workload to four times the normal workload? Hold me to unrealistic statistics, so I might not have time to really delve into my investigations and find any more problems? Demand I falsify the report, and commit fraud? And when I won't commit fraud by sanitizing my report, rewrite my report themselves and then threaten me to try to get me to sign a fraudulent and falsified report? And when I won't sign the falsified report, send in the fraudulent report they wrote themselves in place of mine, in an effort to ignore my legally done investigation and properly submitted report because it incriminates them and their cronies? Cut my travel funds so I can't do my assigned job? Take away my office space? Call me in and publicly embarrass me by standing me up in front of my peers at a regional meeting, wrongfully destroying me in an attempt to humiliate me enough to drive me out of my job and agency and at the same time terrorize the rest of the employees so much, they won't even dare think of putting something negative in a report about a favored defense contractor? Put me on a blacklist so I cannot get another job in my field of expertise? Heck they've already done all that. What can they do that they have not already done? I can't afford not to stand up!"

This is one of those times where all of us, whistleblower, or not, must summon some courage and do what is right. We must stand up to the evil where and when we find it. And we must support those who are trying to do something about it. I would suggest:

1. If you are a government employee and know of some corrupt or criminal activity, report it. You have a number of ways you can approach this. Keep track of who you contacted, when, and what you told them each step of the way. You will need this paper trail later.

2. If you are a defense contractor employee and know of some corrupt or criminal activity, report it. You also, have a number of ways you can approach this. Keep track of who you contacted, when, and what you told them each step of the way. You will need this paper trail later.

3. Do not allow yourself to be silenced. If your situation involves classified information, then don't violate the law, (and end up in federal prison), but report the situation in an unleaded version, showing the corruption but not revealing classified information to anyone until you can get someone to investigate who can get the required level of security clearance to hear the details. Often the crime itself and the various ugly things done by the wrong doers to cover it up are compelling enough you will be able to get someone to hear your story.

4. Getting someone in authority to carry your report of wrongdoing to an honest resolution is the next problem. If you are a Federal employee, you are expected to work through the protocol, i.e. work your way up the ladder. If you have confidence a supervisor will respond appropriately, tell them about it. If not, seek someone higher. Most agencies have OIG offices (Office of the Inspector General). This is usually the highest authority you can go to for a particular agency. There is some evidence that some OIG's have had their problems lately too, (remember heads of agencies are often in control of executive branch appointed administrators), so do not stop here if you cannot get satisfaction.

5. Visit whistleblower sites on the Internet. Read about other's experiences. It will support you emotionally, and you may find help there, both people and organizations who can help you.

6. Visit organizations that exist to help Whistleblowers, and will even take anonymous reports of illegal or corrupt activities such as: POGO http://www.pogo.org or The National Whistleblower Center http://www.whistleblowers.org. There are an increasing number of these organizations as well; do an internet search and find many more. Why anonymous tips? Once you've commmitted yourself to advocating for yourself and what is right, you will probably not remain anonymous, but some of your colleagues who have pertinent facts or information which supports your complaints, may not be ready to do that yet, so they will have an oppotunity to report it anonymously. This can help cases currently being investigated, and perhaps broaden those cases, with specific information and evidence.

7. Visit the House of Representatives site by going to this address and then clicking on the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: http://www.house.gov/house/CommitteeWWW.shtml You may well find similar cases already have or are currently being investigated. If you have additional information for the Committee's investigators and attorneys you can submit a letter or other information to the committee using their email contact system or send it in snail mail if you prefer. Every contribution of relevant and accurate information helps those who are trying to see that justice is done.

8. Contact your elected politicians and write to ask or maybe even demand the problem be addressed. You may reach the House of Representatives members at http://www.house.gov
and the Senate at http://www.senate.gov You will not necessarily get a response, but you can keep chipping away at the problem. Do not give up. Be sure to be very specific about what you want your elected official to do about the problem. If your expectations are clear, it is more likely you will get a response. Keep in mind that elected officials also are under pressure politically and financially from the wrongdoers, and corporate pressures, including campaign contributors. They may sometimes quite reticent to overtly take up your cause. (Note this for future reference; elections come about every two or four years!) They will often quietly pass along your complaints to others however, such as other investigative elements of government or congress. Just keep pushing and never give up!

9. The House of Representatives passed improved Whistleblower protection law some time ago. As of June 28, 2007, the Senate is still unable to bring this proposed law (S. 274) to a vote due to a hold that Senator Tom Coburn (R) of Oklahoma has placed on the legislation, effectively preventing it from coming to a vote. It is believed that enough votes are available to pass this law if it can be brought to a vote of the Senate. Your help is needed in putting pressure on the Senate to bring this to a vote and pass it. The majority of the Senate must deal with Senator Coburn and stop his willful derailing of a vote on this bill. It will help all Whistleblowers, but in particular Federal Employees and Defense Department Federal Employees who are not currently protected at all, effectively silencing them and holding them in an ongoing state of misery.

10. If you are not a whistleblower, read up about those who are. Listen to friends and co-workers. Help someone who is fighting this fight. Support them. Write your politicians; write letters to the editor; start a whistleblower blog and complain in every place possible to try to put enough pressure on those in authority to make whatever the issue is, be confronted and resolved rather than silenced and pushed under the rug.

If ever in recent times we, American citizens, needed to band together and support each other, this is the time! Please join those of us trying to make a difference in our present and our future!