Whistleblowers - Heros Or Villains?

[Revoltingest]

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/27/b...ases-media-equation.html?_r=3&ref=todayspaper

From the article.....
The Espionage Act, enacted back in 1917 to punish those who gave aid to our enemies, was used three times in all the prior
administrations to bring cases against government officials accused of providing classified information to the media.
It has been used six times since the current president took office.

Let's not see it as a problem with Obama, but rather with all of government in these times of escalating security theater.
I favor letting whistle blowers off the hook if their actions serve a greater good.

 

[Engyo]

'Hallwalkers': The Ghosts Of The State Department : NPR

I heard this one this morning.

 

[Caladan]

I view it in light of this section from the article:

“I have been following all of these case, and it’s not like they are instances of government employees leaking the location of secret nuclear sites,” Mr. Tapper said. “These are classic whistle-blower cases that dealt with questionable behavior by government officials or its agents acting in the name of protecting America.”

many journalists or employees in sensitive positions are reporting violations and questionable acts by our governments. there is no question that some whistle blowers feel completely justified in what they are doing, and they should. because they are not looking for a story, they know they are facing trouble by posting revealing information, but they feel obligated to.

 

[Revoltingest]

'Hallwalkers': The Ghosts Of The State Department : NPR
I heard this one this morning.

Interesting....it reminds me of the show "The Walking Dead".

 

[dust1n]

Dumb, dumb... vague language in laws: results in **** like this, even if it 70 years later.

Whistleblowers should not only be revered, but rewarded, and not just public whistleblowers, but corporate whistleblowers as well.

 

[Apex]

Dumb, dumb... vague language in laws: results in **** like this, even if it 70 years later.

Whistleblowers should not only be revered, but rewarded, and not just public whistleblowers, but corporate whistleblowers as well.

That should depend on what they are blowing the whistle on. If its an illegal activity, sure, they should not be punished. But if they are leaking perfectly legal classified information then they are, and should be, prosecuted.

 

[dust1n]

That should depend on what they are blowing the whistle on. If its an illegal activity, sure, they should not be punished. But if they are leaking perfectly legal classified information then they are, and should be, prosecuted.

Sure, and some things shouldn't be in the newspaper. But if you are just reporting sensitive political topics, like waterboarding, I'm not sure that would qualify as one of those things. The Espionage Act doesn't seem to make exceptions for whistleblowers anyways.

(a) Whoever knowingly and willfully communicates, furnishes, transmits, or otherwise makes available to an unauthorized person, or publishes, or uses in any manner prejudicial to the safety or interest of the United States or for the benefit of any foreign government to the detriment of the United States any classified information—