Whisteblowing Causes Depression

When someone comes forward to expose corporate or government wrongdoing, many times they end up dead. And the usual explanation for the death is suicide. What is it about exposing crimes that makes people suicidal?

A Remarkable Achievement

I am finishing the book Winner-Take-All Politics by Jacob Hacker and Paul Pierson, and I came across the following passage on page 291 about Obama's health care bill:

The passage of comprehensive reform in 2010 was a remarkable achievement. And yet, meaningful legislation required enormous concessions to organized interests. Before the process even started, key industry players, from doctors to hospitals to drug companies, saw their main concerns addressed. To mollify these groups, reforms that would have allowed critically needed cost-containment while offering more secure and affordable coverage to the middle class--from the public option to effective bargaining over drug costs--were dropped. We say this not to criticize the Obama administration or its allies. Had these huge compromises not been made, health-care reform would not have passed.

In other words, to pass a health care reform bill the Obama administration had to drop anything that would have reformed health care. Passing a health care reform bill that doesn't reform health care is a remarkable achievement. The Obama administration and congressional Democrats should be very proud.

Misplaced Anger

In the wake of the Tucson shooting, there is a lot of talk in the media about too much angry and violent words. A larger problem is misplaced anger and no outlets for legitimate anger.

Let's take as an example a man who works in the private sector. His job doesn't pay very well with low benefits, and his employer provides no benefits. This man should be angry at his employer for not treating him better. But if he expresses anger at the employer, he'll lose his job. Instead he focuses his anger at other targets, such as unions, government employees, welfare recipients, and immigrants. Or he may take his anger out on his family.

What this man needs is a way to express his anger at the people causing his anger and get the anger out before he goes on a killing spree. But I can't imagine many bosses letting the people they manage scream at them.

Police State Morality

Mass murder and torture are OK. Saying the word "fag" and making videos with raunchy jokes are wrong.

Navy Captain Owen Honors was relieved of his command because he made some raunchy videos 4-5 years ago that made derogatory references to gays and women. Meanwhile torture continues at Bagram, Guantanamo Bay, and secret prisons around the world without anyone being relieved of their command. I'm sure the victims of the US military's crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan will take comfort in Honors' punishment.