I feel sometimes like we are beating a dead horse. Unfortunately, that dead horse keeps coming back to life and rearing its ugly head. There are several San Bernardino County department heads that have to go. The county simply cannot afford to keep them on in these economic times. Federal court and federal juries do not care how broke San Bernardino County may be when it awards judgments. And Mr. Devereaux, you have some complete idiots (note HROs: be sure to print this out to add it to “the list”) running the show who are going to ultimately cost taxpayers dearly.
At the top of the list is County Counsel Ruth Stringer. How much longer are you going to tolerate her half-ass legal advice? When you take an attitude of “we have 138 attorneys, so bring it on,” as did our former County Administrative Officer and our current County Counsel has, you’re assuming you can outlast us all. Not all of us go away easily or cheaply.
Then there is Andrew Lamberto. Greg, at some point this county needs to abide by the Civil Rights Act of 1964. I know we have some slow learners and it has only been 46 years since it was enacted, but we really need to get on board. Human Resources should be a mechanism to attract the best and brightest to San Bernardino County. However, the ability to give a good blow job should not be among the criteria to determine who is the best and brightest. And when we have work places where the words “nigger” and “cunt” are used with regularity by supervisors, there is a problem no matter how many EEO complaints Andrew helps cover up. And don’t tell me he doesn’t cover them up. I know what happened at ARMC, TAD, WDD, PH, and a few others departments. One day the county WILL face a class action suit. Any reasonable person is going to be offended by what San Bernardino County officials allow to occur in the workplace.
The next on my wish list is the De la Rosa/Swanson/Haugen combination. First of all, males are not the only ones who sexually harass subordinate employees. And second, theft is theft is theft. Need I say more? These three aid and abet theft as a daily routine. They also willingly circumvent the law. I know you don’t know much about social services coming from a municipal background and Linda Haugen (or her protegé Arabatzis) is not the person to teach you if you want to learn the right way of doing things. Ask any employee not too intimidated to tell you the truth and you will find this county has violated the law for years. And our attitude about welfare fraud is atrocious. If the public only knew!
Doreen Boxer . . . well that one should go without saying. Greg, I bet you were at the City/County Conference and witnessed her behavior yourself, but if not, there were dozens of other witnesses. But more important is the lack of service being given to the clients they are supposed to defend. Morale is dismal in the Public Defender’s office with attorneys being disciplined for doing their jobs too well. They are ridiculed for caring about their clients and they are punished for defending them. Justice in this county is shameful.
Kari Verjil must be one of the most obnoxious department heads we have. She seems to always be on the defensive. She can’t take criticism. She seems to have a good staff, which is fortunate, but she, herself, needs to go. Mark my words. One day what she does BEHIND the scenes will be made public for all the world to know and San Bernardino County will have yet another corruption scandal, a corruption scandal that neither the state’s attorney general or the FBI will be able to ignore. Replace her before she embarrasses us more.
Dr. Dev is an amazing figure. Anyone ever read the story about Prem Reddy in the Los Angeles Times? Click here to read it. Here is a quote from that story:
Reddy said his company’s approach allowed it to be more efficient than its rivals, and he remained unapologetic to those who said the company was too focused on the bottom line. Patients, he said, may simply deserve only the amount of care they can afford.
Well, from the stories we are hearing about Dr. Dev, it seems he is mirroring Dr. Reddy’s philosophy on patient health care and hospital practices.
Let us not forget about Deanna Thompson. At last count at least nine employees have been terrorized by her. Several have already initiated lawsuits against the county. Exactly how many must sue the county before something gets done?
And finally, there is Dean “Oh Mr. Greg can I lick your feet to save my job” Arabatzis. This clown was one of Uffer’s hatchet men. He knew exactly what was going on, and like Mark Uffer, committed as many sins against the people of San Bernardino as did Mark. He may have had Mark convinced he was a budget whiz, but I assure you there are real budget whizzes out there who would be happy to work for his salary. The cocky little man needs to go.
If the current employees are too intimidated to speak up, there are ex-employees NOT afraid to speak out on the MDLR/NS/LH trio! As an ex-, I owe it to those I was forced to leave behind.
Stringer has no business telling a homeowner, “The Preliminary Change of Ownership Report is not a public document and held secret by the Assessor.” This statement was sent by email to the office of Supervisor Dennis Hansberger. No wonder, Stringer instructed Hansberger to destroy his constituient correspondences.
Could this be the reason, Neil Derry will not speak with me? I’m not asking for much, just the return of my home that you bullies decided to take…..unlawfully.
Are you referring to Swanson, who is employed by the Assessor?
Mr. Devereaux please don’t skip over investigating the Welfare Fraud Unit, all the EEOC complaints that have been filed against Ms. Lugo and her senior supervisor, FORCED RESIGNATIONS under the threat of destroying a peace officers chance of ever working again, inappropriate behavior complaints never investigated that were killed someplace between PERC, Haugen and Gomez without ever interviewing the complainants who identified themselves and wanted contact (violation of law), and the complete destruction of the fraud unit by Ms. Lugo by restricting and obstructing the investigators ability to properly conduct criminal investigations. Welfare fraud is HUGE in this county and cost millions of tax payers dollars every month. HSS must be investigated and the administration replaced with people that want to stop fraud and prosecute the offenders. Not prosecute the investigators and turn a blind eye at the offenders.
Isn’t there anyone who has virtue, honesty, and a forthright ability to establish ethical solutions using policies, laws and procedures??? There are regulations in law to assure a safe place to work,
who will bring a trusting work environment free of harrassment, intimidation and unlawful discrimina-
tion.
Please do the right thing. All reports of complaint MUST be turned into the HR. This is what the Law requires. Once a “Pink Slip” is received for improper behavior, the HR, can and will be effective, however, it can lead to termination. This is where the process begins. Fraud is turned into the FBI.
Greg,
Dean was a co-conspirator with Uffer (both of whom were heard making statements daring you to attempt to unseat them). You don’t need any of the knowledge that this little tyrant portends to hold. Show Arabatzis the door, and show us (as employees) that it really is a new day in SB County under your leadership. We’ve been promised a new start so many times now, will you please renew our faith in our County? Thank you for considering this very important matter.
Please get rid of Lori Ferguson before you get rid of Boxer.
Please get rid of Lori Ferguson before you get rid of Boxer.
Why not both?
How about thinning the herd a little bit further? Debbie Kamrani, the incompetent unqualified Deputy Director of CDH was promoted by her CWN buddy Pat Cole (the troll) of EDA.
Then there’s the hatchet man, Mark DeBoer of Human Resources, he should be ‘redundant’ already.
Let’s just sit back and enjoy the fun!
What I find funny about this blog and the comments contained herein, is that many of the posters are simply disgruntled current or former employees with a ax to grind but not real basis in fact for any accusations made. What is even more amusing, many of the people slammed in the articles/posts are people that used to be on friendly terms with the administrator, but have done something to piss her off, or piss off her friends (Postmus, Erwin, etc.) so the attack dog starts to bark. I think we can all admit that there is an ethical lapse in County operations, but to paint the picture that only your friends’ enemies are the unethical ones is simply beyond belief, and to further allege conspiracies between County Counsel, the DA the attorney general’s office, etc. all the while ignoring the clear proof of unethical and unlawful behavior by your friends and benefactors is simply ignorant. If you truly have the facts to back up your accusations, take them to the proper authorities, file civil litigation, etc., but stop trying to damage people’s careers and reputations simply to satisfy your own personal motives. Sometimes you just need to look in the mirror and admit that you might be at least partially to blame for your own problems, and not look for someone else to blame it on. So tomorrow, wake up, look in the mirror, and say to yourself, what can I do to make myself a better person, and not what can I do to make someone else’s life miserable.
Guest:
It sounds as if you have an agenda. Perhaps you should look at yourself and take your own advice. Don’t assume you understand everyone here.
Where is Waldo Dawson?
Beaufort:
So when is asking for facts instead of character assasination an “agenda”. I can honestly say I don’t know you, but it would be like me starting a blog that said, “I heard from someone, which I won’t reveal, but I say is reliable, that every day when Beaufort gets home from work, he kicks his dog.” Now that statement is going to make a lot of people not like you, but is there any basis of truth in it? No…I don’t know you, I don’t know if you have a dog, nothing. Like in the article above…under “” when it is quoted that Ruth Stringer says something about having 138 attorneys at her disposal. Come on…a simply look at employment records for County Counsel will show you that there aren’t even 138 total employees including clerks, secretaries and other staff in the whole County Counsel office. So putting that kind of statement in quotes as if it was truly said is simply a fabrication. And no, I don’t work for County Counsel…I don’t even work for the County. But I have lived in this County my entire life and value it. I am just tired of character assasinations, and false stories about people that the writers on here don’t even know. When you can show me some facts to support the statements, and stop making fanciful statements to get people upset, then I say do what you have to do, but until then, this blog serves no function other than to spread hate and lies.
Guest,
Either you haven’t been reading this blog for long or you have had your head in the sand. The reference to “138 attorneys” is a sarcastic reference to Service First II, which all supervisors and above had to attend. At Service First II, Mark Uffer told attendees that the county has “138 attorneys” so “bring it on” meaning go after employees in any way management wanted to to get rid of them because they can outlast any employee who tries to hire legal counsel.
Stringer, Ramos, Uffer, Lindley, Hall and a few others have been working together under that premise for a couple of years now. And finally, they are reaping their just rewards. Ruth will be leaving in time and I expect Hall to go the way that Lindley did, especially since proof was provided to the Board of Supervisors that Mark Uffer and Jim Hall were using county equipment to spy on the personal communication of Board members. Hall just hasn’t been axed yet. But expect to see both gone.
BTW, no one but Mark Uffer knows where the 138 attorneys are. We have all been wondering the same thing. But the threat works on scared, uninformed employees.
I have actually read the blog for a long time, and usually get a good laugh from it, as do people that I know that work for the County. What I don’t understand is all the accusations without support. If you actually have people providing you with information, and the information is accurate, they would be considered whistle blowers and their rights are protected under law. So not disclosing where you’re getting your information just seems so strange. Also, your changing stances on people depending on what they have done to your so called friends is disturbing. Example…Adam Aleman….I don’t know this person, but I do know that he was a golden boy within the Republican machine in this County. He was caught doing illegal things, and decided he would cooperate with authorities to help clean up the County, and also save himself some hard time. Now, since he has turned on your friends, you attack him in this blog. You complain about the ethics in this County, but you continue to stick up for Postmus, Erwin, and others that have shown just as many ethical lapses as anyone else you complain about. You can’t have it both ways. Either you are a champion of an ethical cause and want to fight corruption, or you have your own goals, which is not to fight corruption and simply take on personal vendettas against certain people which you feel in some way have hurt you or your friends. If the latter is the case, then just call this blog what it is, and don’t get on a high and mighty ethical horse, because you are not fighting corruption, you are fighting a personal battle.
Guest,
Once some of the trials get under way maybe you will understand better where I’m coming from. I was never a supporter of Adam Aleman, although I did give him a break for a while. However, along with Mike Ramos and his investigators, Adam Aleman has caused more waste of taxpayer funds, more grief, and has told more lies than anyone I know. Adam is nothing but a little punk. There is nothing good or righteous about what he is doing. He has hurt himself, his family, his new wife, his former friends, and the taxpayers of San Bernardino County. If anyone deserves state prison in this whole mess, it is Adam Aleman.
I realize most of you only have seen what Ramos wants you to see. As the trials get underway you will see the other side of the story and it is far uglier.
I have stood up for Postmus and Erwin because I believe what Ramos is doing is wrong. I have said many times on this blog that Ramos is more dangerous to this county than any murderer he has ever prosecuted.
Neither Postmus or Erwin have been convicted of anything. I do not believe Jim will be convicted of anything either. Bill’s admitted drug issue is a problem that he is dealing with and will for the rest of his life. As to the other charges against him, there is little, if any, evidence. But again, until the trials finally begin, I can see why some are doubtful.
Some of the people mentioned in my original post have committed real, provable crimes such as Michael De la Rosa and Linda Haugen. Others have simply participated in fraud and/or waste such as Dean Arabatzis, Andrew Lamberto, Kari Verjil, and others.
And some are just miserable people who will cost taxpayers a bundle in lawsuits already being filed such a Deanna Thompson.
I will not name sources and never will and don’t care how much criticism I have to take for it. You can say that they are protected as whistleblowers, but they are not. I am living proof of that as of the past three years I have gone without a paycheck of any kind for at least 12 months “because of the blog.” And yes, county attorneys have specifically told my attorney it is “because of the blog.” In 30 years I have not had a single write up on work performance and my WPEs have always been overall “Meets” or “Exceeds.” I have never had anything less.
Guest,
While I have some computer time, two more things. My worker’s comp issue is a result of an EEO complaint filed against Gustavo Cisneros, which was determined to be true and Cisneros was demoted and transferred. He has since been demoted and transferred a second time for similar behavior and a promotion was taken away as well. Cisneros was one of Linda Haugen’s golden boys and she came after me with a vengeance. The blog did not come into existence until about six months after she started retaliating against me, including acts for which she should have been arrested and charged. My point being is that my illnesses started before the blog and the county has no right to use the blog as a means of extortion on the worker’s comp case.
And second,the blogs have evened the playing field. Mike Ramos has a personal vendetta against a number of people and he should not be the only one to be able to get information out. Same for Mark Uffer. Neither is any where near clean or admirable.
The nationwide news conference held by Jerry Brown and Mike Ramos slandered numerous individuals with information that will prove to be false and misleading. Why should prosecutors be allowed to do that and victims not be allowed to respond? As I said, the blogs level the playing field.
The difference is that when the prosecutors say something, and file charges, they have to prove them in court, or the defendant goes free. You don’t have to prove anything, because you can say whatever you want and there is nothing that anyone can do except file a civil suit against you for defamation, but since you admittedly have no money, that doesn’t do much good. And you have to remember, the proof the prosecutors need is beyond a reasonable doubt…don’t think that the AG’s office would have gotten involved unless there was a clear chance of success with the charges against those individuals.
When you can at least prove half of what you say with a lower standard…say clear and convincing evidence, then this blog will truly be worth the time you spend writing it, but as long as you continue to cite unnamed sources and made up accusations, then its a worthless endeavor.
Oh, and talking about wasting taxpayers money…I think you have indicated you have requested numerous Public Records Act requests from the County, and have filed charges directly with Sheriff Hoops. What is that but a waste of taxpayer money unless you have gotten documents that truly prove your accusations, and why can’t you file charges (if they in fact are valid) through normal channels?
Yes, I understand you believe you have been wronged by the County…I admit there are problems there, but to simply continuing to hold a grudge, and waste not only your time, but County employees’ time, and County money is defeating the purpose you say you espouse. Just think about it.
Guest:
I can tell that what is being said herein bothers you. You write with an arrogant tone in attempts to shut others down whom you don’t agree with.
If people here wish to vent by saying you, for example, are a bully in the workplace, so be it. I’m sure you’d still be liked by your peers and even be rewarded for your bad behaviour. Such is the county way.
My hunch is that most of the folks who post here need a job and work very hard at it to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table. My hunch also tells me that the roof over your pretty little head is probably a touch nicer than the rest of us poor bastards, with a luxury german auto or two in the garage or driveway and mail order gourmet meals delivered hot and fresh to your door.
It’s not my responsibility to prove anything to you or anyone else. I’m not going to copy official county documents to the newspaper to risk my skin. I’m just a lowly county employee who in the eyes of higher-ups, is just a dumbass. Don’t think that just because employees don’t talk about something openly to a newspaper or in a blog, that they don’t see or know anything.
The fact that you keep responding to the blog means someone’s hit a nerve, or several for that matter. ‘Guest’, just keep talkin’ buddy. We know who you are.
Guest, just by you telling us that those who send in information should not be afraid because there are laws that protect whistleblowers and should speak freely.
YOU are an idiot to make such a statement if you work within the County structure. What position do you hold in government?
Accusation without support, ok, then let us know who you are and we will try and meet your needs face to face.
NO doubt you would like a list of names, BUT that is not going to happen, WE are not going to rat out those who speak to us.
See my finger waiving at you, WE ain’t selling no cheese for your pals.
Guest,
You can’t have it both ways. On one hand you say we don’t offer enough proof of our accusations and then you criticize us for getting proof. Much of the proof of what we say is located in public records that are being covered up. How else would you suggest we get it without doing a California Public Records Act request?
For example, we know that Mike Ramos has lied to the public about his relationship with Cheryl Ristow and others. That proof is located in files on the Fifth Floor. We also know that the drunk in public incident really happened. You’re not going to believe it until you hear the tape. So we are trying to get the tape.
We know that Mark Uffer stole tens of thousands of dollars in property and we are trying to get the list. In the meantime we have already filed the PIU complaint. What would you like us to do about it? Nothing. Sorry. But that isn’t happening.
Now, as to your first point, Brown and Ramos have slandered individuals that have been charged with nothing. Jeff Burum, for example, will forever be known as the guy who buys prostitutes for government officials. Why? Because of Adam Aleman’s lies and Ramos’ and Brown’s reckless accusations with no proof. Sure Jeff can sue. But that will take years. How much damage do you think has been done to his business. You don’t think he has the right to fight back?
Jim Erwin has not been convicted of a thing but you feel he is “unethical.” So what hardcore proof do you have? If you have any, Mikey would like to talk to you. You have hearsay. In other words his reputation has been damaged. He has the right to fight back. Dropped charges or a not-guilty plea will never erase the damage to his reputation he has suffered.
You say the same about Bill Postmus. Yet he has not been found guilty of anything. And the State Board of Equalization has found no wrongdoing in his operations. Again, show us the proof that he is “unethical.” Believe me when I say Mikey would love you forever for it.
As to the Sheriff comment, I’m not even sure what you are talking about. I will say this. It was Mark Uffer who felt the need to involve Rod Hoops in my life. I get special treatment from the Sheriff’s Office. Trust me, I don’t enjoy being pulled for drunk driving about once a week, especially since I have only had five drinks in my entire life, the last of which was in 1993. And, before you say it, I have had no medication whatsoever since February because I have no insurance. Nor do I enjoy all their “drive bys.” I live in a desolate area, so I’m not imagining it. If they can find an excuse to harass me, they do.
I think I’ve responded to everything. Round four?
Another thing I think is funny about this blog is that when someone comes on here and disagrees with you, you start to attack. I respect the administator that she has allowed me to post freely. I can assure you that I don’t work for the County, I have had to work hard in my life as a single parent, holding down two, sometimes three jobs at a time, and I don’t drive a German auto. I want what every American wants, a safe, secure community in which to raise my family. I also respect all of your Constitutional freedoms including freedom of speech and freedom of the press, but defamation, is not a protected form of speech. If you can’t support your accusations, don’t make them. If you can, I’ll jump on your bandwagon and support your efforts, but at this point, I think you’ve just got an “agenda” that you want to push, sponsored by power brokers behind the scenes, supplying you with tidbits of information that they would have your believe, and you are eating that “cheese” that you “ain’t selling.”
I will continue to voice my disagreement on here until I see concrete proof of the accusations that have been raised, and I would also like to know the sources of funding for this blog, which so many of you have demanded from the County and other individuals on here. I wouldn’t be too surprised if some of it is coming from those individuals accused by the DA and AG…including Postmus and Erwin. I think is something that everyone in the County would like to know.
Guest,
Funding for the blog has always come out of my own pocket except for this past month. Quite a few people donated to keep me going personally and out of that I used $14.99 to pay for the blog. However, to my knowledge none of the figures involved in the corruption scandal, named or unnamed, contributed. I say “to my knowledge” because there was about $100 in anonymous contributions.
For the record, things are changing for me financially and it is my intent to pay back all donations as I can.
Guest:
If you don’t work for the county, then what’s your beef here? That you are a taxpayer? So are we (county employees). That you are a single parent? So are many county employees. You are not entitled nor more special than anyone else here. You don’t have a corner market on honesty and integrity either.
It would appear that you have an issue with control and sound as though you are a shill for someone. Folks here have just as much right to speak their minds as you do.
By your continuing to post herein, you do provide some entertainment value, if nothing else.
Guest:
Ah, finally, home from another hard day’s work. I’ve just been sitting here with an ice cold brew, my bitch Bijoux (my Belgian Malinois) by my side, relaxing with IEPolitics. It’s both informative and entertaining as you know. Well, I’ve had some time to think about what we’ve said to each other over the past day or so, and I’m asking you to please forgive me.
You are growing on me ‘Guest’. In fact, you sound really hot on a blog. But, you’ve probably been told that before. How about you and I meet up for a cup of coffee, on me of course to demonstrate my good will and sincerity. Maybe after a couple of venti caramel latte frappaccinos, we could go back to my place, I’ll turn the lights down low, put on some smoothe jazz, you could slip into something more comfortable, etc., or I can slip into something more comfortable. Don’t worry, I respect you. I don’t expect you to put-out on the first date just because I bought you a couple of cups of coffee.
I’m concerned because you seem kind of tense, yet very hot in your posts here at the blog. I just want you to relax and have a good time, while I give you a nice, good, long massage. After just one of my massages, you’ll be sore for days.
How about it? Let’s meet at Starbucks tonight between 6.30 and 7.00 pm. I’m 6’4″, 250 lbs., brown hair, blue eyes. I’ve been told I look like the Brawny lumberjack. I’ll have on Levi’s, a wife-beater and Doc Martens. I drive a dark grey Dodge Ram p/u diesel. What do you say?
See you then doll.
B.
PS: I have a great looking ass; you should see it.
Beaufort,
I am worried about you. I think instead of going home and reading the iepolitics blog, maybe you should get out a little more. Maybe if you spent time away from the computer, you might get some real news, and stay informed as to what is really going on in the world around you.
I would say if you want to continue to post, stay on topic.
I will continue to comment on here, because, as a concerned citizen of this County, I want alternative viewpoints expressed, and not just those on this blog, which would seem to….as you say, have an “agenda.”
Guest:
I guess that would mean “No”? Well, don’t worry about me sweetheart. You are the one that really needs to relax. I’m only concerned about your pretty little head. Mwah!
B.
Wow…claims of sexual harassment against the County flourish in here, but I guess regular posters to this blog can get away with it anytime.
I think it is safe to assume from your posts Beaufort that I am more educated than you, have more confidence in myself, and actually care about what happens in this County, and am not on this blog to pick someone up….like you seem to be. Your juevenile attempts at humor/harassment simply further demonstrate to the readers the general lack of information of most of the posters on here.
Instead of being led around by the nose by the admin and her benefactors/cronnies, why don’t you actually look into all the accusations being made on both sides, and come to your own conclusions.
Guess:
Don’t assume anything cupcake.
Beaufort, I hope it’s that “ice cold brew” that’s talking and not your sober brain, but I have never read a more asinine post on this blog. You are the one who is overly sensitive here, not “Guest.” I, too, have noticed that whenever someone disagrees with you and certain other bloggers, you and the others go in attack mode, accusing them of being stupid, ignorant, or a dolt, resorting to calling them a troll or a plant, and even claiming they have an agenda. “Guest” stated her opinion without being disrespectful. You, however, were condescending and crude. I applaud her for reminding you to keep on topic.
Beaufort, you don’t seem to understand why “Guest” might have a beef with this blog if she doesn’t work for the County. Why can’t she? If you truly believe something is wrong, whether it affects you or not, should you turn away and do or say nothing? Like you said, she has just as much right to speak her mind as you do. You accuse her of being arrogant and thinking she is special. Nowhere in her posts does she give that impression. It is YOU who states, “don’t assume you understand everyone here.” After making that comment, you pretend to know that “Guest” leads a privileged life. She only mentions she is a single parent and has held down two or three jobs at a time because you made her defend herself. Then you mock her for it (there are plenty of single parents working for the County, after all). Guest, like you, I am a single parent, and have held two to three jobs at a time in both the private and public sector for many years. I know how hard it is – how every day is the same and sleep is your best friend.
Beaufort, you also imply that simply being a taxpayer doesn’t give one the right to have a beef with the statements made on this blog… after all, County workers are taxpayers too. A taxpayer in the private sector is different than a taxpayer who happens to work for the County. We get higher returns on our tax dollars in the form of good pay (I know some County workers will disagree with me), excellent health care benefits, and, in my opinion, an excellent pension to boot. Why shouldn’t we mind paying County taxes? We reap the benefits in the end. Don’t you think it’s a little disingenuous to equate a taxpayer from the private sector with one from the County? That’s why my beef is with County employees who insist on getting their COLAs this year when everyone seems to have sacrificed something in this recession but the San Bernardino County worker.
Guest, I believe Sharon vets her information quite well and that most, if not all, of what she submits is likely true. In fact, she has mentioned holding information from the blog until she could verify it. There is corruption in every workplace. Without giving any specifics from this blog to my boyfriend, I did happen to tell him that quite a bit of negative press is given to the Sheriff’s Department. He’s retired from law enforcement, City and State police, so I thought that might be interesting to him. He told me, “Stuff has been going on for years.” Again, without telling him anything from the blog, he mentioned a cop who got in an accident driving to Lake Havasu in a patrol car. He was given a slap on the wrist and told not to do it again. Next time he took the helicopter. This all happened over 20 years ago, so you can see nothing changes. There are many with power – in government and in law – who will continue to use it to their advantage and, sorry to say, get away with it. Many times, it’s someone with an axe to grind who brings these things to light.
Get Real:
Wow; you have a lot of anger. Well, let’s see, where shall I begin? I was born prematurely (and did suffer some brain damage as a result). I was a scrawny kid who was sickly. My father was a good man; a world war II vet and yet I grew up without my dad. I was raised by a hard-working single mom. I graduated high school early, joined the military, and went to school at night. I’ve been self-employed, worked both private and public sector jobs. I’ve never had to take public assistance and thank God I have my family, a roof over our heads and some food in the fridge. My mother is elderly and retired now so I keep an eye on her. Must I continue to justify my existence and worth as a human being in order to express opinion(s) here on a blog? No, I don’t think I’m special, but I’m probably like you and others here who are interested in what goes on with the county and our community where we’ve lived and invested so much of our time, that’s all.
I don’t know what to say, I’m quite distraught now, please excuse me while wander off to shoot myself.
Scrolling up many comments, “whistle blower” protection is a good term. If someone is coming at you with a knife, blow your whistle and maybe someone will come to protect you before you are destroyed.
In real life, the people who succeed in fighting corruption arrange cover through officialdom, firmly-rooted friends, or the media. This blog is such a medium.
In a fictional depiction, Three Days of the Condor, CIA anylist Robert Redford is finally found by his handler standing in front of The New York Times. Rdford has just given his story to the newspaper to make it harder for the CIA to “off” him to cover up the internal crime that the CIA had thwarted.
Even then, the handler asks, “How do you know they will print it?”
Sorry, Guest. Political corruption cases are not simple things. They always start from rumors, proceed to a guilty party who is turned, and then to a hornet’s nest of lies and power plays. Don’t blame the messenger, the fault for the ugliness is with the people who acted corruptly in the first place.
Beaufort, you may think I have a lot of anger toward you, but I don’t, nor do I have
any anger toward anyone else on this blog, even when they disagree with me. I firmly believe everyone has a right to express their opinion. My favorite section of the newspaper is the editorial/opinion page. In my post, where did I state you had no right to express your opinion? I merely gave you mine. If you were to re-read your post, you will see that you actually gave no opinion about anything except the state of your ass, which you said was great-looking. Opinion or fact?
The subject that most compels me to write on this blog is the COLAs. By being willing to forego them, I am definitely in the minority here. Many have written posts stating “Down with chicken man” or “We want our raise,” etc. Those bloggers got to voice their opinion and they were pretty vocal about it. However, on a previous thread, when I responded to theirs and stated mine, you put me down somewhat, telling me they had a right to their opinion. I never said they didn’t. Obviously, if I disagree with their opinion, it’s going to sound like criticism from me. Still, I never said mine is the only opinion and that everyone else must shut-up. I like a healthy debate. Some people don’t… my sister, for example. Since we are all getting to know our personal lives so well on this blog, I’ll tell you about a recent fight I had with my sister. It’s the only time in my life that I have hung up on someone. We were debating politics and the economy, etc. I love my sister, but she is an ACLU/Pelosi-loving liberal who voted for Ralph Nader, I recently found out. I am just the opposite. You cannot debate her. She gets really mad and then talks over you, stating repeatedly, “I don’t want to talk about it, I don’t want to talk about it,” over and over, until you give up. A coworker came up to me the other day and made some snide remark about the tea partiers, forgetting for a moment on which side I was on. I told her to be careful what she said (joking) because I was on their side. She then proudly informed me that Obama hadn’t raised anyone’s taxes this year. I was about to question her about next year, but I could tell she didn’t want to debate that issue as soon as I said the word “but,” so I dropped it and said “we’ll just agree to disagree and stay friends.” You see, some people won’t listen to or read anything they disagree with. There are some bloggers like that. Again, I like to debate. Do I think you are overly sensitive about this issue? Yes. But at least you know there are no hard feelings on my part.
And now some comments about the rest of your recent post…
Beaufort, I think I have a fairly good understanding of who you are and I respect you. A lot of your life seems to mirror mine, so I know how hard you’ve worked to keep what’s yours. My mother divorced my father in the 1960s. That was a time when couples stayed together “for the kids” and propriety and it was somewhat scandalous to be divorced. In elementary school, I believe I was the only kid in my class who didn’t have a father in the picture. My mother thought it better for me to believe my father was away on business in Europe all those years – which he was – so she lied to me and never told me they were divorced. Still, I was very uncomfortable in school when others questioned me about my father. He never paid a penny of child support, but my grandparents helped my mother out. We lived in an apartment and my mother made our clothes. My mother knew the value of books, however, and both my sister and I were “A” students. Finally, when I was 13 years old, someone questioned my father’s existence again and my mother told me the truth about their divorce. My mother had good reason to divorce my father. Nevertheless, I was devastated at the lie. My younger sister was delighted, as she hated my father, what little she remembered of him (the first 3-4 years of our lives). I was totally in denial because I wanted a father figure in my life. My mother, like yours, worked hard for my sister and me and sacrificed for us. She looked out for me again when I got divorced. I went to night school, having dropped out of college, like a fool, and have had to work two jobs ever since. Now, like you, I look out for my 78-year-old mother. Her only income is a small Social Security check, so she gets a large chunk of the income from my second job. I am happy to give it to her. Family sticks together, in my opinion. My boyfriend of 16 years (a retired police officer) grew up without ever knowing his father as well, as he was killed in WWII when his mother was pregnant with him. His mother worked hard at two jobs raising four kids by herself. He started working at 14 to help support the family.
Beaufort, there are many people out there like you, me, and my boyfriend who have worked hard all their lives. Only we know the sacrifices we have made to be self-reliant, help our families, and give to others less fortunate of our own free will. It’s what makes the current political situation, locally and nationally, and the handouts of our hard earned money so frustrating.
In closing, please forgive me if I sounded harsh to you. Picturing you with beer in hand reminded me of my ex-husband, who ruined our marriage with his drinking (two DUIs in one year and he still couldn’t give it up) and, although your comments were directed solely at “Guest,” the tone in which you gave them was offensive to me and to many other women, I’m sure. You have to be on the receiving end to understand this.
No hard feelings on your end, I hope…
Thanks, I appreciate that. No hard feelings.