Spent most of my career inside the federal agency that spawned PEER. I actually believed substantive change could come from inside. But if my experience and the experience of every employee I ever knew is any indication, the “change from inside” theory is one of those noble ideas that, while meaningful and useful (for those willing to shoulder all the personal negative consequences), ultimately is an institutional impossibility. (See the myths of Prometheus and Sisiphus.) Our current agencies--including all environmental agencies--cannot escape from the metastasized cancer of public/private Empire. OTH, I have nothing but the deepest respect for those kindred spirits who have tried and are still trying to make vital change from inside, and I honor both their victories and defeats. What is highest in me bows to what is highest in you.
I share your frustrations about the effectiveness of inside game, but that never was how I conceived of positive change. The agencies are captured, there is no leadership, and the large majority of the professionals are either careerists, dead wood, or burnt out. Given these dynamics, the whistleblower becomes even more important and necessary for public education, environmental organization credibility, and media coverage to force accountability of the deeply corrupt and rigged regulatory game.
I never “met” DeBonis. He was an outsider by the time of my awakening. And I don’t want to discuss too much here, but as I’m sure you’re aware, the number of formal/public whistleblowers is small compared to the number of stealth whistleblowers within the ranks. At least that is my experience. And those stealth operators have very active backchannel communications with outsiders. High Country News, for example, relied on many insider sources. Nuff said.
Also, I couldn’t agree more about the value of those who go public in environmental agencies. (I am more cautious about my evaluation of whistleblowers from national security agencies.) To paraphrase the New Testament, there is no higher love than to lay down your career for the good of others. But, to paraphrase a common saying, there are many ways to bathe a cat.
I agree, but know nothing about national security issues
https://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Bill_Wolfe
Spent most of my career inside the federal agency that spawned PEER. I actually believed substantive change could come from inside. But if my experience and the experience of every employee I ever knew is any indication, the “change from inside” theory is one of those noble ideas that, while meaningful and useful (for those willing to shoulder all the personal negative consequences), ultimately is an institutional impossibility. (See the myths of Prometheus and Sisiphus.) Our current agencies--including all environmental agencies--cannot escape from the metastasized cancer of public/private Empire. OTH, I have nothing but the deepest respect for those kindred spirits who have tried and are still trying to make vital change from inside, and I honor both their victories and defeats. What is highest in me bows to what is highest in you.
USFS - Jeff DeBonis friend?
I share your frustrations about the effectiveness of inside game, but that never was how I conceived of positive change. The agencies are captured, there is no leadership, and the large majority of the professionals are either careerists, dead wood, or burnt out. Given these dynamics, the whistleblower becomes even more important and necessary for public education, environmental organization credibility, and media coverage to force accountability of the deeply corrupt and rigged regulatory game.
I never “met” DeBonis. He was an outsider by the time of my awakening. And I don’t want to discuss too much here, but as I’m sure you’re aware, the number of formal/public whistleblowers is small compared to the number of stealth whistleblowers within the ranks. At least that is my experience. And those stealth operators have very active backchannel communications with outsiders. High Country News, for example, relied on many insider sources. Nuff said.
Also, I couldn’t agree more about the value of those who go public in environmental agencies. (I am more cautious about my evaluation of whistleblowers from national security agencies.) To paraphrase the New Testament, there is no higher love than to lay down your career for the good of others. But, to paraphrase a common saying, there are many ways to bathe a cat.
Agree - the stealth whistleblowers are what PEER calls "anonymous activists". PEER model also strongly discourages career sacrifice.