Open Letter to Rep. Chad Campbell, Arizona Legislator

An Open Letter to State Representative Chad Campbell

Challenges and Corruptible Behaviors

It has been demonstrated repeatedly in a most stealth like manner a trend that is seemingly innocent to most people is becoming a reality that difficulties in government are now being disguised as challenges. At the same time, there appears to be another seemingly not so innocently trend to covert power into corruptible behaviors undetected and often misunderstood in the name of public safety and sound government functions. 

 

Using the smoke and mirror concept of deceptive behaviors and not revealing evil motives, the messages from government officials have evaporated into downplaying issues that may create difficulties and obstacles for sound government and public safety which is contrary to the perception delivered thus eliminating any concerns or safety issues along the way, basically with this type of delivery, the public is essentially told to stop asking questions and deal with the reality that you are being kept safe and that there are no concerns others than funding to keep the mission on track.

 

This approach has created the ideas that more power can be established through control of the media and lead to corruptible practices for power is very difficult to handle. Hence the danger lies in the fact that power can corrupt a person or agency and absolute power corrupts absolutely.  First off I must admit that not every agency leader is greedy and with that desire corruption will follow. I know there are many professionals that are not corrupt and able to resist greed as they handle the power given by authority or position with professional integrity and demeanor. However, power provides opportunities for corruption. Although most are strong enough to resist the temptation many others are not strong willed enough to resist and control themselves in such situations.

 

Nevertheless, it must be clearly understood that power does not force an individual to become corrupt. That decision is solely based on the individual’s moral compass and prerogative to abuse or misuse their position or influence for selfish gains or positive advantages.  Thus power to corruptible behaviors is an individual choice. Remember that power is neither good nor bad. It depends how it used in the workplace and whether or not there are ethical expectations attached to such an appointment or situation. However, the wielder of power will always show their true colors when put in that position.

 

Thereby we address the constant “challenges” government experiences as it fails to provide transparency and accountability for its own role in public safety and sound fiscal spending. Under a corrupt system, there will always be deliberate incomplete disclosures or regulatory gridlock in identifying a crisis or disaster. Those in power will ignore safety practices in favor or cutting corners and such short cuts will eventually bring a disaster that is normally off the grid and draws attention by the media as it amounts to non-compliance of their own regulation and practices. It is only then such a failure is addressed and discussed in the public eye.

 

One of the first red flags of such behavior is the challenge to cover up or avoid disclosure of irresponsible management styles and inattentive attitudes to mistakes and injuries to staff or the public.

 

1.      A red flag could be present when the agency officials fail to return media or public official calls for explanations for a summary report how this mistake could have occurred and how it is being handled.

2.      Repeatedly issuing press releases that off little comment or substance regarding information is one method of keeping the media at bay.

3.      The release of a general statement expressing loss or sorrow is another avenue but offers little in any further comment on the incident.

 

Some agencies are reluctant to report internal failures. If they do they find a scapegoat for their failures and focus on disciplinary or corrective action in the manner suggesting pointing the finger at persons rather than systems. One such example is the manner a cover up is conducted if the situation or crisis incurs loss of life and a preliminary review has indicated a failure of their own monitoring system or behaviors condoned well above the threshold of tolerance and political approvals.

Until such failure to report situations are cured and eliminated there will always be a need to focus on external regulation of such agency conduct as their self-reporting systems are flawed and compromised by political inferences rather than seeking the truth. Government agencies are responsible for self-reporting dangerous situations or deficiencies in their operations thus there is no excuse for not reporting them. However, under the challenges of disguising difficulties and problematic conduct there are strenuous steps taken to keep harmful information from falling into the media's hands.

It is recommended that an external oversight community-based committee be established to focus specifically on enhancing security practices, medical and mental health services, and other high risk / safety programs within to follow up and investigate all reports of security breaches, failures and delays of medical and mental health services and associated fundamental ancillary services as provide by constitutional conditions of confinement regulations and standards of care.