President's Column - MCBUSHISM 2006

Americans haven’t this afraid to speak out since the 1950s when the “Red Scare” was in vogue and McCarthyism ran amok. For those of you not around in those dark days, Senator Joe McCarthy from Wisconsin and others of his ilk, saw communists and fellow travelers behind every bush and around every corner. Politicians, intellectuals, movie stars, members of the military and a lot of federal employees were under constant scrutiny for their activities and private conversations. Any who dared question either the motive or method became an immediate suspect. It was an era of looking over your shoulder, whispering in small groups and being careful with whom you were seen. Friends, neighbors and co-workers were encouraged to report any suspicious conversations or actions. Those who were questioned named others and just being questioned was equivalent to being guilty. The infamous Black List was created and woe to anyone who made that list. Careers and lives were ruined without evidence or trial .

And in the words of the Immortal Bard, Yogi Berra, “It’s déjà vu over again.” There is that same atmosphere of name calling and questioning of loyalty and patriotism in the post September 11 times. The Bush Administration tends to operate in secrecy and is quick to harangue or challenge anyone who questions either their motives or policies. To question is to be critical, to be critical is to be disloyal and being disloyal is tantamount to being unpatriotic. A good American, patriotic and true to flag and country must just buy off on how the war of terrorism is conducted, no matter how it destroys the freedoms that we are trying to protect.; must agree that the “black market operations” that cause high profits and excessive waste are good for the country; and must agree that to criticize provides “aid and comfort” to the terrorists.

This atmosphere of silence and blind obedience is seeping into the federal government. Agencies are warning employees not to be critical of how the agency is conducting business and to maintain the image of the federal government. There is a fear among federal employees that any criticism, which might just be the normal “water cooler bitching,” could result in the loss of the job and depending on the type of criticism even a worse fate. The Supreme Court has recently ruled that Whistle Blowers have no First Amendment Rights.

Federal employees complaining about their job is the American way, time tested and true. I am sure that the first employees in the George Washington Administration complained about not having enough quill pens and ink and too much work. Feds have always groused about the working conditions, bad bosses and the political appointees who came in with an agenda but little knowledge of how the work should be accomplished. It seems silly and counterproductive to be worrying about how the agency is perceived instead of what is accomplished, but these
days , the Bush appointees seem to be more interested in maintaining discipline than accomplishing the mission.

I keep expecting to see the old Second World War Posters, “LOOSE LIPS SINK SHIPS” etc. and I wonder when we will be asked to sign the “Loyalty Test“ forms swearing that we are good Americans and loyal federal workers. Maybe an award system will be developed for reporting disloyal co-workers, which could be more lucrative than the awards system in place now for doing the work. The American public has been asked to turn in any one they suspect of being a Terrorist or fellow traveler and what’s good for Middle American is good for all of us.

Maybe this type of Americanism comes around every 50 years or so, just to make us appreciate the freedoms we enjoy and to be sorely tested to fight for them. Now seems the time to speak out and up, to say that we want to keep our freedoms. American citizens, federal employees included need to live free under a strong viable strong constitution. To give up liberties for a little safety renders us undeserving of both. As Edward Abbey once said, “A PATRIOT MUST BE READY TO PROTECT HIS COUNTRY AGAINST HIS GOVERNMENT”