As a public servant in state government, I had the opportunity to blow the whistle on what may be among the biggest internal fraud to happen within my state. I saw something that was wrong and a disgrace to hundreds of taxpayers, small business owners and contractors, and I began to expose it. I am still pointing my finger at this crime and calling attention to it until it is dealt with. The State Auditor's office is slowly evaluating the situation, and those who I have directly confronted on the matter are still not responding to me. So, here I am, anonymous (or not so anonymous depending on how you stumbled across this article) and shouting this major indiscretion and violation of taxpayer trust from the rooftops until someone high up does something about it.
Why do I care? The same reason you should. When a public agency has the duty of enforcing particular laws-and enforcing to the point of filing liens against people's houses and driving them out of business, it has an equal duty to enforce those same laws within. If said agency turns a blind eye within, but continues to seek out “fraud” within the state, it is not only being hypocritical but criminal.
What the big political giants don't want you to know is that one voice-like me-does in fact have the power to make change. One voice can represent a hundred.
Who am I? I'm a voice representing not only my colleagues, but my customers-the taxpayers and business people in my state. I'm also a former tax collector and lead auditor who did investigative work-whose primary duty was to determine employer-employee relationships in situations just like this. I know the law front and back by heart on this issue.
I am now working in a different capacity where I daily witness this same department treating its contractors as workers. Not only is there way too much direction & control, but if it was the Department looking at itself as it does businesses in our state, there would be hefty fines backdated three years. It is not just a matter of benefits not being given to these contractors; it's a matter of the law, principal and basic right and wrong.
For this reason, I am raising a banner of truth and voicing that THIS IS NOT OK. They can try to threaten and intimidate me all they want, but the bottom line is that when it comes to the end of the day, I know where I stand and at least I can sleep at night.
In past articles I have shared some of my democratic sympathies (though I've often voted Republican). Those federal and state funded programs are worthless to us if they are not run ethically. When federal and state employees fear losing their jobs over their integrity by turning blind eyes to things like this, then what type of government to we really have? How close are we to Communism folks?
I don't know what will happen in the near future. I will probably either get fired or promoted for this. No one is taking me seriously so I am going to keep upping things a notch until something is seriously done to address this crime.
I want to challenge everyone reading this to come out of your hiding and cowardice. If you see something wrong, stand up and say something. Our society is only as honest and righteous as we make it be. If we are too afraid of consequences, and shrink back in fear, then we are accomplices to the crimes happening before us.
If you see something that is wrong and hurting others, then you have an obligation to stand up and say something. It's time for people to stop being sellouts and cowards. It's time for change. It's time to fight back-and reclaim control of our country and what we want it to stand for.
In my situation, I am very aware of what I am up against. I also have my union ready to defend me against retaliation, and I'm also not above throwing in the towel and taking this to the press. I am going to try to allow the right processes to do their jobs, but I also am not standing off to the sidelines quietly.
To all the sellouts out there, those who used to care about change and making a difference in this world, I challenge you to really stop and think. What is going to happen when it's you? When someone is oppressing you and others see it but say nothing? You may already be in a situation where you have the opportunity to lift that oppression off someone else, but you're too afraid.
Push back that fear. Push back the thoughts of harm that might come your way. Sure, it may look like they have a loaded weapon, but more often than not, they are just bluffing. It's really just a toy gun. It's really just a rumor mill. And ultimately, if your voice truly is representing others, you might be surprised to find out how many friends in the outfield you really have…
I'm not advocating stirring the pot over minor interpersonal issues. I am, however, advocating for justice in areas where there is obvious fraud happening. If you see someone steal, you know to report it. How much more so if you see the government or corporate head stealing from the people it's set up to serve?
Take your place among us. I'm not afraid to tell others what I see and how wrong it is. Lurkers reading this go ahead and send the message back to Big Brother that I haven't even begun to shake things up. Until I see our Department treating contractors as contractors and workers as workers, and keeping in step with the very laws it enforces, I will not be silenced.
And neither should any of you. They are only small yapping dogs. And truly, they are the ones who fear you. Your voice is powerful. Don't be afraid to raise it. It only takes one, then two, and suddenly, there are streets full of people outraged over injustices like this.
So, how silent are you? What is your price for turning a blind eye? Do you want to see the evil in the world pushed back? Are you pushing or being pushed? Will you take a stand with me?
Re Communism: I fear (and please don't be offended, it's not my intent), that you've listened to the propaganda and come to equate Communism with Nazi Germany. Stalin does not represent Communism; he was a war leader who should have stepped aside as soon as his job was done. The hell that followed was in line with every other country that retained a war-leader in time of peace. I realise this is an unpopular view in the US, but if more people actually read Marx rather than taking the knee-jerk response, the 'failed experiment' might actually have a chance to prove itself.