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HomeVA Whistleblower Abuse: The Story of Paula Pedene
Posted by Larry Doyle on August 5th, 2014 9:26 AM |
I have real contempt for those in positions of power who engage in abusive treatment of those within their ranks trying to do the right thing.
There are countless reasons why our nation is literally and figuratively “broke.” One of the reasons, though, is that the waste, fraud, and abuse within so many government agencies is tolerated — at taxpayer expense — for the benefit of those engaged in wasteful if not corruptible practices.
While we hear the hue and cry of many political fakers who would claim to do the right thing by whistleblowers, the professional abuse of countless of our fellow citizens persists. Let’s navigate and read of the experience of Paula Pedene, a woman who tried to do the right thing at the VA.
The Washington Post provides a chilling expose: (more…)
Daniel Ellsberg and Edward Snowden: A Conversation Video
Posted by Larry Doyle on August 1st, 2014 10:24 AM |
“When government fears the people, there is liberty. When people fear the government, there is tyranny.”
Daniel Ellsberg and Edward Snowden are certainly two of the highest profile whistleblowers in our nation’s history. Some might think of these men as traitors. Others would categorize them as national heroes and the ultimate patriots. I am in the camp that when it comes to topics of freedom, liberty, constitutional rights, abuse of power, and corruption, I believe we owe it to ourselves to become as well informed as we possibly can.
Ellsberg and Snowden were recently jointly interviewed. The talk runs a little over an hour. Given the topics covered, I would think it should air in prime time for purposes of generating a national review. Regrettably those ensconced in power and those controlling the airwaves have little interest in that.
With no interest in blindly following those who have been shown to lie, obfuscate, manipulate, and otherwise obstruct the truth, I welcome sharing the intimate conversation between these two whistleblowers that to this point has only been viewed by a few thousand people.
I hope those viewing this conversation will feel compelled to share it with others.
What do you think?
Larry Doyle
Please order a hard copy or Kindle version of my book, In Bed with Wall Street: The Conspiracy Crippling Our Global Economy.
For those reading this via syndicated outlet or by e-mail or another delivery, please visit the blog to view this video clip and to comment on this piece of ‘sense on cents.’
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Whistleblower Appreciation Day: My Top 5
Posted by Larry Doyle on July 31st, 2014 9:40 AM |
Not a day goes by in which the citizens of our nation are not forced to continue to wade through a financial-political-regulatory cesspool of real cronyism and corruption.
The stench from this menage-a-trois is overpowering. Transparency is the only real disinfectant.
Who provides that transparency? Whistleblowers.
We owe immeasurable thanks to our fellow brethren who have taken immeasurable personal and professional risks to expose real waste, fraud, and abuse emanating from that cesspool. In honor of these true patriots a resolution was passed earlier this week designating July 30, 2014 as National Whistleblower Appreciation Day.
Let’s navigate. (more…)
SEC Whistleblower Program: Risks vs Rewards
Posted by Larry Doyle on July 22nd, 2014 7:50 AM |
If you became aware of unethical and likely illegal practices at your company, would you consider ‘blowing the whistle?’ This question is a daunting proposition filled with very real risks that should be measured against potential rewards.
Given the risks and unpleasant real life experiences of many whistleblowers on Wall Street, I firmly believe and recommended in my book that Congress should establish a privately staffed Office of Whistleblower Protection. Some may think that is overreach. I don’t. Others in much greater proximity to the ‘whistles’ would seem to share my view that blowing the whistle is a high risk proposition deserving of increased protection.
Let’s navigate. (more…)
Uncle Sam Wants Names of VA Whistleblowers; POGO Protects Identities
Posted by Larry Doyle on June 16th, 2014 9:05 AM |
You do not need to read my blog to know the Veterans Administration has some serious issues that have impacted the health and well being of countless veterans. These issues are not new developments.
Very simply, the failures within the VA are due to a government that is badly mismanaged and often engaged in practices that are fraudulent, if not totally corrupt.
The VA has not only failed countless numbers of veterans but, in adding insult to injury, it has punished those internally who have tried to do the right thing. How so?
Whistleblowers who have brought attention to the fraud and corruption within the VA have not been embraced but rather ignored, intimidated, and often fired. As we well know, mismanagement, fraud, and corruption much prefer the cover of darkness than the light of transparency. (more…)
Lessons from a Wall Street Whistleblower
Posted by Larry Doyle on June 2nd, 2014 8:51 AM |
Those occupying positions of financial and political leadership typically like to promote themselves as possessing real courage and bold vision. Yet, when it comes to defending people who display those very virtues, our supposed leaders often look very much like cowards.
I am reminded of this very reality in reading of the travails of selected whistleblowers on Wall Street. Let’s navigate to a commentary in this weekend’s Financial Times, highlighting lessons shared by Peter Sivere, a former compliance officer at JP Morgan whose confidence was violated by an SEC attorney named George Demos and subsequently his career derailed while trying to do the right thing.
I hold Sivere in the highest regard for trying to do his job in sharing information of illegal practices at JP Morgan. He deserved to be treated as a true hero. Cowards are unfamiliar with the virtues Sivere displayed.
Sivere shared the following chilling perspectives and lessons on his experience: (more…)
Eric Ben-Artzi: Another Whistleblower Who Was Fired
Posted by Larry Doyle on January 29th, 2014 8:52 AM |
Recently Deutsche Bank surprised the markets by pre-releasing its earnings with a surprise loss of 1.5 billion Euros.
Do you think that the bank may have been previously mismarking positions or, in layman’s terms, ‘cooking the books’ and is just now playing catch up given that the stock price of the bank has rebounded? Does that sound like a practice that some might define as ‘pump and dump’? You think?
What happened to the individual who brought attention and exposure to Deutsche Bank’s financial chicanery? Let’s meet another whistleblower who received a pink slip, in this case Eric Ben-Artzi, who spoke recently at Auburn University. (more…)
$14 Million Whistleblower Award w/o Details
Posted by Larry Doyle on October 2nd, 2013 7:23 AM |
What state mottoes do you like most?
I am personally partial to New Hampshire’s “Live Free or Die” but in light of the opacity displayed across Wall Street and Washington over the last 4 to 5 years, I have a growing appreciation for Missouri as the “Show Me” state:
A name attributed to Representative Willard Van Diver. It connotes a certain self-deprecating stubbornness and devotion to simple common sense.
How about that? Common sense? What a novel concept in light of recent events in our nation and certainly applicable for my blog.
But I think about Missouri this morning given breaking news out of the SEC regarding its first meaningful whistleblower award in perhaps the last 25 years and its largest award ever. Isn’t this the type of thing to highlight and promote? (more…)
Richard Bowen: The Corruption Extends to the Highest Levels of Government
Posted by Larry Doyle on September 23rd, 2013 10:02 AM |
I thank the many devoted readers of Sense on Cents who made sure I was aware of a riveting, must-read article in yesterday’s New York Times written by Bill Cohan, a Wall Street-Washington critic without peer.
Cohan writes of the travails of Richard Bowen, former whistleblower at Citigroup, who ran headlong into the fortress manned by Robert Rubin and friends. Bowen was a Citi employee who blew the whistle regarding the preponderance of defective mortgages running through the Citi pipeline.
He brought the knowledge of this activity to the highest perch within the bank including the attention of Robert Rubin. How was he treated? With what most would define as ‘the silent treatment.’ Once silenced, he was then subsequently shown the door.
While Bowen was pushed out of Citigroup back in 2009, he has not been silenced since then. (more…)
International Whistleblowers
Posted by Larry Doyle on July 19th, 2013 11:02 AM |
I love when my blog attracts comments from people who share riveting insights and perspectives of real world experiences that can help others who might navigate to these parts.
Not that all — or at least most — of the comments left here are not valuable but some truly stand out.
One left here just yesterday in reaction to my recent commentary, Wall Street: Culture of Silence, confirmed much of what I believe and also highlighted an organization that might be of very real service to those who have information of improprieties but do not know where to turn or what to do. (more…)
