So much information has come to light in the past month or two, that the full scope of corruption regarding Alaska agriculture is overwhelming. In trying to sort out the anecdotes, the stories, the rumors, the myriad ties and connections, the deals and dealing...and the truth behind them, one thing is painfully certain:
It is a clear indictment of the state of Alaska agriculture, that this blog author has been asked no less than *six* times, whether or not sources would be revealed under subpoena.
Yes, that is correct. Read the above sentence again.
Now think about it, really think about it. What does that tell you about current conditions within the ag community?
That exposing the depth and breadth of corruption is so threatening, so perilous, that this this question is even considered-never mind asked! That folks are so frightened of the power wielded by the CBC of Alaska Ag (or Palmer mafia, if you prefer) that they dare not speak. Our state is so small, our resources so tiny, that a single individual can easily make or break another farmer and even worse: Other state employee(s) who dared to speak truth to power in an attempt to shed light on the ongoing corruption, lawbreaking, and ethics violations at the Division of Agriculture. And break they will, out of spite, or greed, or a combination of the two.
What community are we fostering, promoting, when even asking questions of our state employees requires a formal, FOIA request? Remember, these people work for you.
This is not a newspaper, with well recognized civil and legal protections under the law (that pesky Constitution and Bill of Rights) but has the protection of Article 1: Freedom of Speech. As has been stated here a number of times, all attempts are made to verify what is uploaded. When speculation is necessary, that too, is so clearly stated that any reasonable person understands the context. Corrections are made when a reader dares to make contact-which is seldom, indeed.
To the CBC of Alaska Ag (and we do know you read here) the response here is this:
Shame on you for being so petty, so vicious, so snidely smug in your determination to ruin others in the community. The only difference between what you do, and the thugs behind bars, is the intimidation you employ to quash everyone else, and criminal acts. You might hide behind a title in state government, or act in the capacity of volunteering, but the effect remains the same in the end. You pick and choose winners and losers, as if gifted the discernment of God.
The day that your victims figure out how you have violated their civil rights, is a day of reckoning.
1 comment:
So true, and such a sad comment about the inner workings of our state government. The rampant corruption at the Division of Agriculture (and elsewhere) has been going on unchecked for decades, because they have never had any real oversight. These stories are the kind of jaw-dropping stuff that gives other hardworking and ethical government servants a bad name.
But not everyone is afraid to speak out. The fetid quagmire of mismanagement, deception, score-settling, and plundering of public funds that has been ongoing at the Palmer Ag office will see the light of day one day soon. The director and his affiliates, who make a point of bragging about how they have the Governor in their back pocket (and their campaign fund list), will soon be brought to task, if there is any justice in the world. The malfeasance is far-reaching, and the airing of it all is very long overdue. I urge fellow ag producers, state employees, and others who are afraid to speak out to do so now. Division of Agriculture's management can continue to stifle, discredit, and threaten ag producers, state employees and others for only so long, and only when they are not a united front. We need power in numbers now.
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