I would seem that the smartest thing for a whistle blower to do would be to leak to salon.com with doccumentation, annonymously.

In the late Eighties I found myself working in a large international union that had strong Mafia ties. When I learned about this I knew I had a choice: get out or stay and do something about it. Seeing how the union officers were looting

the member's dues (members who were on the lowest rung of the

working class)I was infuriated and recognized that no one else

had ever done anything about it (even the Dept of labor or the

union's accounting firm who were in bed with the union)and things were unlikely to change unless I did something. I knew it was totally unrealistic and quite dangerous but I felt compelled, even obligated to try.

I connected with government agents and fed them information

until I was discovered at which time I had to leave the union

for safety's sake. I continued to work on the issue and testified before a congressional sub-committee. The government

went into the union and based on information I provided them

were able to remove the leadership and real reform took place.

Personally I went through considerable psychological stress and

lost an excellent salary and pension (probably a million dollars all told) but I have no regrets. Doing the right thing, blowing the whistle on corruption and making a difference has been truly priceless.

It is important to consider all downsides of being a whistle lower and to realize that expecting people to respond the way they should won't happen many times. It is important to

consider your own personal financial situation and ability to

take stress and finally it is important to get a lot of support.

Its a tough call but despite the obstacles it can be a deeply rewarding experience. If you can, blow the whistle on wrong-doing, blow it loud and clear.

Good article. Clean government reporting! Boy scouts and Girl scouts rule!

Yesterday, Salon ran an article about some former female agents wanting to improve our own KGB, the CIA. Today it is to give whistleblowers actual protection. These are great articles, and they expose the real hash our government is in, in area after area after area.

However, I guess naivete is the standard operting procedure related to our government. I say this because I don't see any of this actually happening. The subtext to the articles is that we can, with a little 'light' and effort, change the basic nature of this government.

I don't think so. If the Congress passes real whistleblower protection, the bureaucrats will find a way around it. Like the politicians, private corporations fire every whistleblower they can get their hands on. It is the nature of the beast across the board, and will only change when regular people have real power in the government and economy.

This is the sort of thing that Salon ought to be doing more of. Please, cut back on the blogification, and focus more on writing the news stories that we won't see in other publications. There are enough blogs that I don't see the point in paying to read another, but work like this is something that will keep me coming back.

The OIG is an independent entity within -[ white collar criminals ]- the Department of Justice, that reports to both the Attorney General and Congress on issues that affect the Department's personnel or operations.

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Office of Inspector General allowing and conceal Federal Hospital Insurance Fraud ( Dumping ) resulting in death of Elderly Hospitalized Federal Beneficiaries in Region V HCFA/CMS

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Section 1001 of the USA Patriot Act, signed into law by the President on October 26, 2001, directs the [ OIG ] Inspector General to review information and receive [ criminal ] complaints alleging abuses [ CRIMES T18CFR1518Crime ] of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties by Department of Justice employees.

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T18CFR371 Selective Law Enforcement

http://hometown.aol.com/kstbylite1/myhomepage/business.html

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The Region V HCFA [ Chicago ] Office had a record high 940 new MSP cases filed in 1998. Contributing to this were PARTNERSHIP Arrangements with [ T18CFR371Crime Federal HMO 'illegal agreement' T42CFR417 Hospital Insurance Fraud: Dumping ] Contractors and U.S. Attorneys in Michigan and Ohio .....Public Fraud

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Subj: RE: abuse of civil rights by justice employees

Date: 12/13/2002 8:54:30 AM Eastern Standard Time

From: Inspector.General@usdoj.gov (General, Inspector)

To: Kstbylite1@aol.com ('Kstbylite1@aol.com')

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Dear Ms. Kimball:

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The purpose of this letter is to acknowledge receipt of your Internet submission dated October 31, 2002. The matters that you raised have been reviewed by the staff of the Investigations Division, Office of the Inspector General.

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The primary investigative responsibilities of this office are:

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· Allegations of criminal, as well as non-criminal, misconduct committed by U.S. Department of Justice Employees ( Law Enforcement Officials ) and Contractors ( Federal HMO Hospital Insurance Service Contract Providers ); and

· Waste and abuse by high ranking Department officials ( OIG, FBI and U.S. Attorneys ), or that affects major ( Federal Hospital Insurance ) programs and operations.

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This Office does not have jurisdiction in the matter [ Federal HMO Hospital Insurance Fraud ] you described.

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Section 1001 of the USA Patriot Act, signed into law by President Bush on October 26, 2001

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OPM FEHBP - TITLE 5 [CITE: 5CFR185.104] PROGRAM FRAUD Sec. 185.104 Investigation. (d) Nothing in this section modifies any Responsibility of an Investigating Official ( OIG, FBI ) to Report Violations of Criminal Law [ Anti-dumping & Anti-Kickback Violation Against Retired 'Entitled' Federal Beneficiaries CITE: 5CFR890.105 ] to the U.S.Attorney General.

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Therefore, your complaint has been forwarded to: OIG Misprison of felony T18CFR24CRIME.

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Office of Personnel Management

Office of the Inspector General

1900 E Street NW

Washington, D.C. 20415

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Office of Inspector General - Misprison of a felony - T42CFR417 Adverse Determination: Anti-dumping violation: DHHS OIG 'grievance service' Hospital Insurance Fraud

Office of Personnel Management - CITE: 5CFR890.105 criminal denial of Covered Claims

Joseph Frech investigator - illegal agreement with U.S. Attorney General & DHHS OIG Volentary Disclousure / Self-Audit / misprison of a felony - Program

dtd: 9 may 2002

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" The matters discribed [ Anti-dumping and Anti-kickback Violations - Hospital Insurance Fraud resulting in Death of Retired FEHBP T42CFR417 adverse determination: denial of medically necessary services: T42CFR409.33 Hospital Extended Care Services ] in your letter are not within the jurisdiction of this office. The OIG had also received information regarding your case in September 2000. At that time we determined that the [ OPM FEHBP ] Health Benefits Contracts Division has sole jurisdiction over [ SELF-Audit ] your ( criminal ) complaint. The decision made by the contracts division is final and The OIG will NOT Investigate. " [ OIG Public Fraud T18CFR371Crime: OPM FEHBP Contracting Divisions assisting, allowing & concealing T5CFR890.105 felony federal health care offences against Retired FEHBP T18CFR286Crime ].

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I hope this answers any questions regarding this [ Criminal OIG Fraud T18CFR24CRIME ] matter.

Sincerely,

The Office of the Inspector General

Department of Justice

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Sincerely,

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All ENTITLED Federal Employee Health Beneficiaries & the General Public who are being criminally denied DHHS T42CFR417 Existing Federal HMO Health Insurance Coverage, illegally billed for HMO denied covered claims and forced into HCFA State HMO Mediciaid Programs for the POOR. Title18CFR1001Crime