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When fear trumps the truth
The public, rightly, expects the media to serve as a watchdog on the activities of government. The Constitution guarantees there will be no “abridging the freedom of speech or of the press.”
Of course, these rights are not absolute. There are situations where the government might be able to abridge the rights of the press to publish without penalty, and our civil code can provide remedies when the press knowingly publishes slander or libel.
But there is another component that is just as important to the free press as the right to put words to paper — or computer.
That component is obtaining accurate information. But often, fear of retaliation or retribution shuts down those resources, which in turn, prevents the entire truth from emerging.
Several stories we have followed this year, and are still following, have been limited by the existence of fear.
While the possibility of retribution for revealing uncomfortable facts exists everywhere, in small communities such as Dare and Currituck, the issue seems to be magnified.
We are often approached with requests to “look into” issues surrounding town and county governments. But the people with first-hand information refuse to go on the record.
Why? Think of how often a local businessperson may be forced to appear before a town or county body. Attorneys, engineers, architects, restaurant owners and dozens of other people in the business world must often appear before planning boards, boards of commissioners and other groups.
Obviously, some business owners fear decisions made by these bodies could be influenced if they go public with their political concerns. However, without strong witnesses willing to speak freely or turn over documents, many stories languish while the media attempts to verify the information via other means.
For employees of government, the same fear exists. There are several stories we continue to investigate where we have been provided information that not only corroborate stories we have written in the past, the information could “bring down the house” if we could get those individuals on the record.
But few are going to risk their jobs, income and family welfare sticking their political necks out for someone to chop off. My next JMO piece will deal specifically with one such example.
Edmund Burke once said: “The only thing necessary for the triumph (of evil) is for good men to do nothing.”
But good men and women also like to keep their jobs and pay their bills.
I wish more people would be willing to speak out. If so, much of the political shenanigans that pervade Dare County would see the light of day.
Until such time, the ability of the media to serve as a check and balance on the government will, like government itself, continue to grind slowly.
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Joan says:
Well said. Perhaps this is why we hear opinions from a select few… from the retirees or the disenfranchised with not many truly informed facts…they have nothing to lose.
Fear of the Dare County Sheriff working for a legal community in the court system and the attorney “country club” making deals with our Attorney County Manager is plenty to fear for all. Perfect storm of fear and distrust, and if I worked for our government…I would remain silent if my income depended on it.
obxdad says:
At least the Voice is one more check to balance the power of government leaders with the interests of the people. Whether or not you can actually prove the corruption or insider dealings, simply being another set of “eyes” looking out for improper acts should reduce the likelihood of those acts occurring.
bingo!! says:
This article couldn’t be any further from the truth… look at nags head. Selectively punishing a local small business person for creating a job. Or how about the Owner of village realty , we all know who he is. An elected official. He has Alot of vehicles with his advertising on them and yet he is not held to the same standard of punishment as the ad truck is. ??? How is that??? Presidence has already be proven at the supreme court level. I just don’t understand. Sincerely, sad I live on the obx
nags head bob says:
You’ve got to be kidding! There is no corruption in Dare County! lol
charlie says:
The Federalist Papers were written under nom de plumes….Perhaps the Voice could be an outlet for similar writings about local affairs (no pun intended)
comfortablybum says:
Feeling frustrated Russ? Don’t succumb to the urge to publish rumors. You are doing it the right way. I have heard all sorts of rumors about all sorts of people down here, and few of them are true. If a person makes a claim, but doesn’t have evidence or the balls to stand behind it, then it is most likely B.S. If someone is doing something wrong or bad, they will slip up and make a mistake soon enough, and you will be there to report it. And when you report it you will have credibility.
Bill Holt says:
#Russ Lay ~ #Character ~ Part of each ~ Some are characters and some have some. You are right on here ~ Please folks Read! Often times ~ particularly here in a small town environment ~ Just because as you said ~ Good People for and in TRUTH(s) are pushed away from the involvement that our community would benefit from ~ Confirmation or great pieces still hidden! Character is about living and being Truth! #Outer Banks Voice
Perry White says:
I have heard story after story in my years in politics here of intimidation of businesses; from the contractor who dared accept a political post in his precinct, who was threatened with cancellation of contracts; to the restaurant owner who dared to allow political group to use her bar for an election night celebration who had physical threats phoned to her; and even a county part-time custodian who was afraid to register as a Republican for fear of losing her job. Political bullying is slowly abating, but still continues in Dare County and the local municipalities.
beachornot says:
Another good article Russ. I believe one of the greatest contributing factors for complacency within government is the career politician. It doesn’t matter if we speak of local government or federal government, the career politician is artful in fluffing up their own nest. There are endless examples on all levels of this practice taking place. Then, as they acquire more power, they use it to protect their position.
I have long been a proponent of term limitation ever since I lived in California in the 70′s. While it hasn’t exactly proven to be the answer in California, now with the gridlock in government we face on every level, we stand to lose nothing. Then, at least, we would not have politicians for sale since no one politician would gain that decisive amount of power.
People argue that we can’t do this because the politicians will not pass any form of term limitation. I say we’ve had the power all along. Vote someone into office who wants to perform a public service for one term. Let them do their best and then vote someone else into office to take their place. If a particular person is highly qualified as a politician, let them continue to run for higher and higher office. The cream will rise to the surface. Political bullying is present across the board in some form only because we continue to allow these people to gain personal power. Power corrupts!
Steve says:
If there is a blatant misuse of government power that is criminal and hurtful to the public trust, then the news media outlets have an obligation to inform the public. In turn, the news media has an obligation to protect the source of that information through the manner of their reporting. Any illegal misuse of power no matter how it comes to light can stand on its own merit.
The fear creeps in when people are trying to use the media to push a conversation to serve their interests with little risk to themselves and attempting to shift the onus to the news organization to portray their content as objective news when the information is actually more commentary. I am not saying it is not a worthy conversation to have, but is a news outlet really the place to have that conversation? Being immoral is not a crime. Making shady deals or giving preferential treatment to others within the law is not a crime. Lobbying elected officials to your cause is not a crime. But this is commentary and should be reported as such in that context. You state it in your masthead… “Your homepage for News, Opinion, conversation and debate” You are covering all the bases here. And news organizations these days must extend themselves into opinion and commentary to stay competitive and topical. That is where it becomes difficult for editors. You must be objective and respected enough to where people know to trust you to protect sources of controversial content, but also allow for vigorous debate and commentary by people savvy enough to skew that content to meet their own political needs. What a wonderful and complicated world we live in.
Givemeabreak says:
What local government doesn’t have some form of corruption? That whole janitor thing being scared to register is ridiculous. I work for the county and I am a registered republican. We have enough politics to deal with. You think we really care or have the time to talk personal political views with our coworkers. Give me a break. And for those people who will say I’m a county employee posting on county time, guess what it’s called flexible scheduling…And yes, I would never give a reporter a story if it meant I could possibly lose my job. There aren’t enough here.
Stan Clough says:
I spent 12 years in a management position with NCDOT Ferry Division at the North Carolina Shipyard in Manns Harbor 1987 to 1999. I was not afraid to do the right thing.I was very experienced for my position, but when a Democrat was elected governorin 1992, I was harrassed and expected to pay the Dare County Democratic Party to keep my job. I put up with it for several years. I finally quit , it was not worth the stress and harrassment.
I always tried to buy everything in North Carolina and be responsible in spending state money. I was treated as a problem for not going along with the political whims. It is a shame that our State Government is operated in this manner. We need change and hope it will happen.
Our state spends millions of dollars having ferrys built in other states when we could build them right here. Current management does not have a clue how. What a shame.
One of the last things I did there was cut a 160’0 ferry in half and add to it. I was responsible for installing the engines in the Elizabeth II.
Local politics is bad for our state and county, not sure what to do about it, or that the voice will print this.
I am not afraid. I love my country and my county.
the engines
Stan Clough says:
all this reminds me of a favorite quote. It is engraved on the inside of the Jeffersom Memorial in DC around the upper inside. ” I have sworn upon the alter of God eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man”
I go to DC and look at that every chance I get. Teach my kids, or show then.
mary says:
You don’t have to be a county employee to expect retaliation. Just raise your hand and complain, even rightfully, to your local government. Expect the full force of harassment from your tax dollar paid servants, maybe some of the same that won’t talk. Maybe not talking is not out of fear but out of the sorry system of corruption and nepotism that is local government.
Steve says:
All these issues are not restricted to local governement. Big Business have the same issues. People do what is right for them. It may be good for some people to build a ferry locally, but to the money watchers, I am sure they would disagree. It is all a game. And those who play it best always win.
Freddie says:
As a state employee with a certain hated agency, some of us have gone to the press and told “that’s not in our area”. Proof of illegal going ons. And still nothing or very little. Believe me, some of us are going to others as well as authorities, next will be the legal system. Some of us need our jobs, but some of us are fed up also!
Stan Clough says:
In answer to Steve, It is a game, but ferrys can not be built by people that know nothing about building ferrys. Money watchers would watch the money being saved and put in the pockets of local voters who know how to build ferrys. We are here. I served an apprenticeship as a Shipwright at Newport News Shipbuilding as a Shipwright. The cost to build the vessels here would be no more, it would just require that people that KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING be in charge of the projects. That does not aligh with the local political game of giving your friends and political cohorts jobs that they do not know how to do !