Employee opinions

PAUL FEDER 415-744-2010 (FEDER.PAUL@epamail.epa.gov)
Fri, 25 Feb 1994 13:11:00 -0500 (EST)

Dear Director,
I am a U.S. EPA employee deeply concerned with issues of
government ethics and environmental degradation. In my
experience, one of the major barriers that government faces in
addressing environmental issues are employees who are unable or
unwilling to think on their own. Many employee are so programmed
to think and act consistently with agency policy, that they
cannot effectively address the many issues which require complex
problem-solving. Good government requires thoughtful government
employees who are willing to challenge inconsistent government
actions. No wonder then, why a government of thoughtless, job-
performing individauls creates agencies that are often inept,
poor servers of the public trust.

For this reason I am really shocked by your treatment of
Lara Wiggert. Lara stimulated important -albeit heated- dialogue
about the role of science in public policy. She provided the
public and agency personnel with information in a manner
consistent with the NAL's mandate. At the same time her views -
to some extent- certainly colored her action and made her seem
"outspoken." However, there is an important question of degree
and perception that must be considered. When USDA employees are
similarly "outspoken" in support of the dominant, top-down
techno-cratic approach to agriculture their personal views/bias
are over-looked.

I hope you can join me -express yourself- and help usher in
a new era of publicly mandated, government change in which
employee debate and thoughtful engagement will play an
indispensable role.

Sincerely,
Paul A. Feder

Note: The opinions expressed herein represent the view of one in
a growing body of conscious, government employees.