G. Florence Scott’s blogs are about, for and of interest to whistleblowers and those who are interested in their issues and support them. GFS became interested in the plight and challenges of whistleblowers due to family and friends experiences within government and in industry in this time of extreme corruption and disorganization. Her blogs provide a source for a variety of types of information and moral support! She hopes that by encouraging others to stand up and do what’s right, and supporting those who already are doing so, she will be facilitating the success of the clean-up effort!
You may reach GFS at gflorencescott2010@gmail.com. No spam please. Someone asked if guest writers could submit articles. The answer is yes. I encourage others to participate, comment, send material. (Often whistleblowers lurk on sites like this, as they are afraid to speak up publicly.) I only ask that it is accurate and truthful. No offensive language, or material which will result in a lawsuit. You know what I mean and where the line is. Yes? The blog owner, me, will be the final decision maker about inclusion of material submitted. Your material may be included with your byline or not; your choice. I can tell you that the readership and number of hits and links grows each month. Thanks for asking!
It is interesting that government has required publicly traded companies to comply with the provisions of Sarbanes Oxley yet they have not embraced these provisions for themselves (government) or government contractors.
My whole life has revolved around receiving and reacting to information provided anonymously or under the protection of confidentiality. I was previously in law enforcement, specifically drug enforcement and gambling enforcement. Without this information we could not do our jobs. The most important provision in encouraging people to share information that few knew was assurances and demonstrated ability to protect that information and protect the identities of those providing the information.
When I left law enforcement and began working in the private sector I found the same conditions to be present. We could not identify all the schemes and misconduct without the help of those who were primarily witnesses who did not want to become involved.
As a result of these experiences I created what became known as “ethicspoint” which is http://www.ethicspoint.com, A confidential way for people to report misconduct anonymously. Today I am no longer involved with the business as I have retired. But the company has continued to perfect these processes beyond anything else in the world today. Of interest, in today’s addition of Time magazine there is an article about the largest problem child in the world today, that being the thought provoking agency known as the SEC. They receive 700,000 reports of fraud, abuse, misconduct, unethical behavior and customer complaints. But as we know they apparently dump them into some file cabinet and do not even begin to sort through them to see if there is anything of value, or even a pattern of behavior. They are overwhelmed not just with the volume of information but also with internal incompetence.
The Time article goes on to say that the SEC is looking for technology to help them process that information. So it sounds like they are going to hire one of their favorite contractors to create a very expensive system. This is not only wasteful it is an incredibly uninformed path to follow. To assist 2,000 corporate clients and process 20,000 reports per month, ethicspoint created a system that does exactly what the SEC “says” it wants. Yet, they are saying that out of one side of their mouth while internally they are saying “slow this down, we dont want to know because if we know we might have to do something.”
Incredibly frustrating, I wish someone would take the lead with the SEC and apply some common sense.
Thank you for your thoughtful and articulate comment, David. Would you mind if I post your comment on the blog in an earea where more people will see it? Thanks, GFS
Good story on npr.
http://www.onthemedia.org/transcripts/2011/04/01/01
Are there other Medicare (cms) or DHHS whistleblowers out there?
Contact the International Association of Whistleblowers. I have several articles about them on my blog for this past two weeks. (September 2011) I think you will find some people with common interests.
GFS
Yes, I blew the whistle on my former employer, a large nursing home corporation (before I was fired) for possible Medicare fraud. I was fired after reporting the fraud to the OIG (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid). 2 1/2 years later I am still unemployed and no one will hire me. Live with my 86 year old mother.
Thank you for keeping whistleblowing in the spotlight.
Thank you Stacy! I’ve tried to gather things of importance for people to read and connect the dots, with links to the originals so they may continue the reading beyond this blog. What many of our citizens are going through now due to what feels like a costly and lonely campaign against fraud and corruption in their workplaces is nearly overwhelming. They need every bit of support we can give them!
That is exactly the same spot I find myself in. Feel free to visit the website savestacy to find out more about my case. What you are doing for others is a wonderful thing. Thank you, and please keep it up!
Hi,
Thank you for providing this information. Keep it up!
David
agcwhistleblower.wordpress.com
Thanks, David. It appears you are under fire also. Retribution against federal employees seems to be a favorite pasttime lately. I will look over your entire site later. I am answering emails right now after being away from home or a week. I expect I’ll understand what you did that upset these people so much while reading your site. Have you complained any place official? Gone up and over your agency? If so, where and what happened?
May the force be with you!
GFS
Hi GFS. The legal system failed so I went to the court of public opinion. The tide seems to have shifted tonight: http://agcwhistleblower.wordpress.com/2010/09/08/progress/
By way of explanation, DOT oversees the FAA, and David Grizzle is the FAA’s top lawyer. And the DOT’s top lawyer, Bob Rivkin, is David Grizzle’s boss, of sorts.
Stay tuned!
Sometimes, people claim to be whistleblowers when they are not – your friend Sparky has been taken in by one of those, Douglas Lind Rokke – I blew the whistle on Navy contract fraud in 1992 – and again in 1999 – and on city contract fraud shortly after being hired in 2001 (that was the scariest – when the reporter called me on my birthday, I expected to get fired by nightfall – more of that some other time – meanwhile I want to convince Sparky that Rokke is not genuine and that she has a lot of false information about depleted uranium on her site. Thanks.
Roger Helbig
I don’t know the specifics of the situation you are referring to. If you wish to explain your situation, I will post what you have to say. I ask that it be honest and accurate. There is so much corruption and dishonesty in certain sectors, which has grown greatly over the past decade, it is hard for anyone to figure out truth from lies. You can help by being very candid and honest and giving specific information that is helpful in letting investigators do investigations which will document the truth and bring about prosecution of those committing crimes against the government and the American Taxpayers. GFS
The American government is the worst human rights violator in the world: The Real America. 2therealamerica.blogspot.com
Why are whistleblowers vaunted as some sorts of heroes? Isn’t this a reflection of the sad state of affairs when ordinary people of good conscience are celebrated?
Why does it bother people when some who claim to be whistleblowers turn out to be frauds? Why is blow the whistle turned into a scarce commodity, when the ones who blow the whistle act in a altruistic and unmaterialistic way?
Put another way: a whistleblower who seeks to protect his own status in the w.b. community is displaying behavior antithetical to his professed principles. Fair?
GFS, The object was to get you to e-mail me and discuss – why not do that – DUStory-owner@yahoogroups.com – I would e-mail you if I could find your e-mail address. Same with David – his posted gmail address did not work. Roger
I believed my email contact for this blog was in my public profile. I’m checking on that to be sure it is. GFS
Wow! This blog looks just like my old one! It’s on a entirely different topic but it has pretty much the same page layout and design. Superb choice of colors!
LOL Thanks, Zilvinas. Glad you approve. GFS
Thanks for your site and all those working on “outing” offenders in private sector and government. What upsets me this evening is learning the agency that supports my part-time minimum-wage job took a huge cut as a part of the budget deal earlier this month, so I won’t have a job soon. Meanwhile, I know just how many hundreds of millions or billions are going to contractors with no oversight. It’s been said more eloquently by others ad infinitum, but it really seems all the sacrifice is being made at the bottom in this “deficit” razzle-dazzle (and nothing is ever mentioned about the trade deficit as a part of the government deficit) – and I am going to be personally forced into that sacrifice, while watching so many others bear nothing.
I absolutely love your blog and find nearly all of your post’s to be exactly what I’m looking for. Would you offer guest writers to write content in your case? I wouldn’t mind producing a post or elaborating on a lot of the subjects you write concerning here. Again, awesome weblog!
Yes, Deon. See updated “About.” Thank you for asking. I would like to see wider participation of the readers, whistleblowers and their supporters or others with information to share. Go for it!
Hi Ms. Scott,
I’m seeking whistleblowers or insiders who can speak to me about NRCS — spurred on by North Dakota’s Tony Valvo case I’m trying to find out more. If you have any tips for me or can put me in touch with anyone, that would be great.
Thanks,
Stephanie
I can release the names of at least 4 criminals that tried to steal 27 million dollars from us. In one county i.e., Pembina ND. Email me and I’ll send you the list with processed FOIA’s
V/R
–rav–
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