First suggestion: When calling state workers corrupt, prove it. Without specific examples of corruption or obstruction, the only result of your words will be a decline in employee morale, not helpful in increasing productivity.
Second: If you do happen to call state middle managers corrupt without specific examples, detail how you plan to change the ill behavior. That way workers have clear guidelines about how to improve.
Third: If you don’t have examples of corruption and don’t have a plan to end what you call corruption, consider apologizing. Say you spoke off the cuff, as you sometimes do, and that corruption was too strong a word to use.
It was possible that Gov. Paul LePage spoke quickly at the town-hall style meeting in Newport last week — calling middle management “about as corrupt as you can be” — without realizing the implication of what he was saying. But the following day, on Friday, his office formalized his comments by issuing a letter to state employees.
In the letter, LePage said, “Roadblocks have been put up, hurdles have been thrown in the way, and information has not been passed up to senior management. Those employees want to keep doing the same thing because it was always done that way … In my opinion, it shows that they have been corrupted by the bureaucracy.”
Instead of using generalities, it would be more effective to write about specific ways employees can improve. Should they update their technological skills? Communicate more clearly? Be more creative? Instead, the letter tells state workers to change their attitude and agree with LePage’s policies.
Any government or business can operate more efficiently, and it’s a good goal to want employees to improve. But criticizing people who don’t share your view will only create resentment and cut down on a necessary flow of diverse ideas. For someone who disagrees freely, LePage should understand when others do the same.
If the issue is about more than state employees not aligning themselves with LePage’s stance, and workers are truly not doing their jobs, then changes should be made. But it would be helpful to spell out the problems first and devise a specific way to tackle them.
He says they are corrupt than why is not an investigation going on by at AG the state police an the FBI an charge these people ?? If not then he’s not doing his job an should be inpeached an that puts him just an bad as the people that he says thats are corrupt . What ever happen to the federal employees that used federal credit cards for there own personal use i know it was over a million dollars they spent an no one whining about that how come ?
This is just a continuing example of the comtempt he has for state employees. The letter was even worse than the original statement. He basically told employees it was his way or the highway. Great way to treat your employees. This is why workers at Marden’s celebrated when he left!!!
Agree. The letter was a disgrace.
The only thing he can do to rectify the situation is make a sincere, public apology, taking all the blame upon himself.
Wrong forum, Paul, and very poor choice of words.
Learn from your mistakes, would you please?
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAHAHAHAAAHAHAHAA!!
Now THAT’s Funny!!!
Never happen. Should happen. Proper to happen. Won’t happen.
Unfortunately, I agree, but who knows? Even a cow can learn the direction to the milk room. Maybe he can learn something. Someone down in the Inner Sanctum is undoubtedly reading these posts for him.
I’ll expect nothing, while hoping for an attack of common sense to hit him.
Because the AG’s office and the State Police are staffed by corrupt attorneys and police officers. Just ask the Governor.
Is a lack of integriy a crime?
Is utilizing the state employees union power to further enrich the pockets of a select few really considered a ‘crime’?
certainly not, this is all perfectly legal. Sure, it lacks integrity and moral virtue, but it is still perfectly legal for the management level of state government to negotiate against your best interest in attaining for themselves generous retirement and healthcare benefits that you will personally never hope to attain. Now of course, you will be FORCED to pay for theirs….but you will have none.
now sit back and praise government as it basks in its corrupt glory…
Like LePage, you are making insulting accusations, and giving no examples or specifics, only false generalizations. He should apologize, and so should you.
Examples? Read the editorial again.
I don’t think it’s corruption, but a kind of obfuscation, a kind of feet dragging mentality that civil servents seem to come by with time. They do things in thier own good time, thank you, and thier attitude tends to be “we can’t do that” instead of “let me see what I can do”.
Yep, you need to just accuse them of being corrupt and threaten them. That will get their undivided attention. Probably won’t get good results from that manor of managaement but it will get results.
And you have proof of this?
Yeah….it’s pretty much the entire baby-boomer generation’s “I got my plunder and you don’t touch it” mentality….arghhhhhhh
Gee, let’s demonize another group of people. Typical tea partier.
I have recent proof of broken signed agreemnets by upper level managers…maybe releasing details soon. Stay tuned.
Governor LePage has a habit of making statements and not backing them up with details. This is but another chapter in the LePage school of government and management.
Sounds like he has the same habit as most liberals….somehow I find that hard to believe
That’s because your logic is faulty.
Specific examples would indeed be welcome, if they exist; and if they do exist, quite a few of the usual “LePage the Unspeakable” crowd will be embarrassed and have to shriek even louder.
LePage’s use of “corrupt,” incidentally, is precise: “6. to destroy the integrity of; cause to be dishonest, disloyal, etc.” fits “Roadblocks have been put up, hurdles have been thrown in the way, and information has not been passed up to senior management” exactly. He may be wrong, but he isn’t illiterate.
Oh yes. Yes he is. Because I am sure that definition #6 never occurred to him.
You left out the rest of the definition: to destroy the integrity of; cause to be dishonest, disloyal, etc., especially by bribery. (dictionary.com). Omission is just as dishonest as commission.
By issuing a blanket condemnation of all middle managers in Maine State Government by saying they are “about as corrupt as you can be” Paul Richard LePage has opened the flood gates for investigations. Federal funds are expended by practically every agency of Maine State Government and if those funds are being expended by corrupt people then we have a right to know how they are being expended and who the corrupt people are that are acting in a corrupt manner. As a citizen I do not want my hard earned tax dollars being used in a corrupt manner and therefore I ask all Citizens of The State of Maine to join me in demanding that The US Department of Justice, All of the Inspectors General in the various federal agencies who send money to Maine and the Maine Attorney General immediately launch investigations into the accusations made recently by Paul Richard LePage. When all of this corruption is found I further demand that those guilty be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
And if the allegations are proved false? Then should the Governor be prosecuted?
I would like it better if he just got on a plane to Florida and stayed there. His brand of hate has no place in The State of Maine.
An sued to by the people that work for the state
Only a very few state employees have access to any money the state takes in. So how is middle management and union workers using tax dollars in a corrupt way. Don’t bring up Violette because he was appointed and a dishonest individual.
Gee gosh dadoje I really don’t know how State employees are being corrupt but from what Lame Duckie Paul LePage says they are all corrupt.
Let’s start by checking employee’s computers to see if their posting on the comment section’s in all the news paper. Sure is a lot of inside the loop talk going on in this forums.
For Tea Party Paul corruption comes from ANYONE who doesn’t support his unique way of thinking (Or should I say, passing on corporate propaganda). That’s why the only people he really trust to work for him come from within his own family. Guess for Paul that would mean MOST MAINERS are corrupted because most of us are sick of listening to him and can’t wait to see him go or at least be made powerless next November.
Corruption: impairment of integrity, virtue, or moral principle
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/corruption
What part of the definition do you not understand? Management level state workers who are beholdent to their union masters…their greedy endeavor to horde as much personal plunder from the state treasury….all in the form of generous pensions and health-care benefits for the well-protected few…. this basically defines a lack of integrity and virtue in a public service position.
How does hiring one’s own unqualified daughter to a highly-paid position working directly for you, and one’s own brother-in-law to a highly-paid (albeit soon to be eliminated, thus unnecessary) ) position in your administration fit within your Merriam-Webster definition of “corrupt”?
Sweet Jaysus! What a Dolt thou art.
ah yes, rebut one form of corruption with another?….LMAO
did I say the Guv’s actions regarding his hiring of family within his administration are not corrupt? nope
did I mention the corruption of state workers that is BLATANTLY apparant? yep
do you actually have a response, or are you just going to keep changing the subject because your argument is broken, like a typical liberal?
Let’s see: You offer a dictionary definition of “corrupt.” I ask you whether the governor’s conduct in office does or does not fit that definition. You counter that I am “changing the subject because [my] argument is broken, like a typical liberal.”
Did I say “dolt”? That was way too kind. Let’s try a 7-letter word that starts with “A.”
Let’s try a 7-letter word that starts with “A.”
Addict?
Anemic?
Angler?
Apache?
Astray?
Asleep?
I’m
Ataloss.
Glad to hear you admit it.
Proof that it’s blantantly apparent that state workers are corrupt. Followers that believe every statement Lepage makes without any proof don’t have to think or have proof. Everything the leader says is a fact.
All those “generous pensions and health-care benefits” are defined in contracts negotiated and signed by several elected representatives of the state government. In other words, what you define as “a lack of integrity and virtue in a public service position” was agreed to by your elected representative, on your behalf, and in your name. The only lack of integrity and virtue involved must then, by default, be assigned to you (and, unfortunately, to me) for allowing political morons to negotiate generous contracts for us. Can’t blame a public employee for accepting what is freely given to him or her, by us.
Beholden to union masters? They should be beholden to the governor instead? A governor who insults and belittles them at any opportunity, who tries to cram his haterd and anger down everyone’s throats? State workers do NOT work for the governor. They work for the people of Maine. I hope they act in accordance with their values, even if that means working in opposition to the governor.
“They work for the people of Maine.” Except when it snows.
The editorial had it right — if you are going to accuse someone of corruption 1) Have some actual examples of corruption. Don’t just throw insults around without giving specifics; 2) Even if you have no specific examples of corruption, at least explain how you plan to fix the problem, and give workers guidelines on how to improve; 3) If you don’t have any examples of corruption, and don’t have a plan to end it, at least have the brains to apologize. LePage fails on all three points.
My Merriam Webster Collegiate Dictionary, 10th edition, by the way, says corrupt means: “a. Morally degenerate and perverted: Depraved. b. characterized by improper conduct such as bribery or the selling of favors.”
So is LePage claiming that our state workers are morally degenerate perverts, or does he mean that they are taking bribes? Where are his examples? Where is his remedy? Better still, when will he apologize?
I think LePage has indicated how he wants the state employees to improve. He said he wants them to stop saying they can’t do things, and start looking at issues in terms of how can I do this. When a new boss comes in, it is the employees’ job to meet the needs and requirements of the new boss, not to hold on to the old boss’ ways. As for specific examples, well–that would be a confidential employee related issue. I don’t think the governor should be giving specific examples out to the public.
wandini, you could probably do the job better than LePage — your comments above are rational and reasonable.
But that’s not what LePage said. He accused our state employees of the highest level of corruption (“about as corrupt as you can get” I think was the phrase he used) but he offered no examples of that corruption nor any remedy. He should offer evidence that the state employees are morally degenerate perverts, or taking bribes or selling favors, or else he should apologize.
—–
So, fighting to be appropriately compensated for your work = “hording plunder?” Many of these people do a job that is a necessarily to keep our State functioning. Yet without their retirement and benefit packages their compensation would be much less than their similarly qualified counterparts in the privet sector. Do we really want to pay so little that we are scraping the bottom of the barrel for the people who work for our state?
“When calling state workers corrupt, prove it. ”
Already done that – the MTA, MSHA, and MGEA. Keep sticking your heads in the sand and telling others to do the same, Democrats. It might help you get back into the drivers seat where you can continue to wage your War on Maine.
These are not the people he was talking about – he was talking about the people that keep things moving so you can go about your merry way!
Basic Repub response – attack and blame, next day – lie again, it worked for Bush/Ch eney – remember 3767 American Soldiers killed from Repub lies, 46812 American Soldiers wounded and still recovering. Basic response as usual. Sad time Maine people when we have to listen to daily rants and lies. respectively submitted:)
One can only imagine how he managed a top of the line, high value store like Mardens. LOL! Buyers remorse anyone?
He’s Governor, who are you?
A citizen – one of many that public servant LaPage works for. Who are you ?
He still puts his pants on the same way the rest of us do….one leg at a time!
Unless he’s been drinking then he tries to put them on over his head.
Simple answer – I am sad LePage is Governor, the “Worst” Governor ever elected in the history of Maine.
With all his “fighting” and all his mouth, what has LePage and crew done that makes a positive change on anyones’ bank account?
AL ARMENDARIZ for President! Get him on-board, Paul.
Anyone who thinks there are not a fair number of employees in middle levels of Maine state government who are not worth anywhere near what they cost—is living in a dream world, &/or has never had any experience with government—on either side of the desk or counter.
And with the recent turnover from Dem to Repub, I would not be the least bit surprised if some middle management were carefully obstructing what the new administration wants to do.
Would you care to offer any proof to back up your accusation?
“I would not be the least bit surprised if some middle management were carefully obstructing what the new administration wants to do.”
That’s for sure. One of the immutable laws of nature is that it’s a bureaucracy’s duty to grow. “You can have my clipboard when you pry it from my cold, dead hands.”
Every decent person in the state should be obstructing every move this governor makes, conserving the rights and freedoms we have struggled to gain over the years.
Putting your relatives on the state payroll is corruption. Lead by example: get them off the payroll.
LePAge is simple minded. He is part of a knee jerk reaction that is popular right now. The get the public workers movement will subside once the economy recovers and high school grads are making as much or more than police officers and teachers, as in the past.
Let me get this straight, there are people here who believe government and union hacks are not inherently corrupt?
Not worthy of a reply.
Yes there is Adolph Hitler:
We must close union offices, confiscate their money and put their leaders in prison. We must reduce workers’ salaries and take away their right to strike. – Adolph Hitler, May 2, 1933
Sounds like a ALEC / MHPC labor relations manual on contract negotiations !
The Governor’s initial statement was clearly a misstatement. Middle-level managers in Augusta agencies are clearly not corrupt as a group in any criminal sense. The Governor’s clarification has a different force however, that many middle-level managers “have been corrupted by the bureaucracy.” In other words, by acting in a bureaucracy their work has been corrupted by the kinds of process in which bureaucracies often engage to thwart policy changes they oppose. It would be surprising if that kind of “corruption” did not exist in Augusta since it exists in most bureaucracies. For someone like the Governor who wants to change the status quo, it MUST be frustrating and presumably he was expressing that frustration. His clarification made it clear that he was describing a systemic “corruption.” Is he wrong?
Mr. Brinkley, If for some reason I do not happen to like something that one or maybe several members of the University of Maine faculty have done then it is okay with you for me to issue a blanket statement calling all of the members of the University faculty crooks or corrupt?
Lepage told the truth. And the truth hurts.
liar lepage never tells the truth– when a national business magazine like forbes calls the governor a liar, you have to believe them
I don’t doubt there is corruption at the State House – after all, our whole culture has become more corrupt. Just look at Washington if you have any doubts. But it isn’t just politicians. I know of city union workers (garbage collection, parks department) in my county who work approximately 2 hours per day & then either sit around the city garage doing nothing or they actually go home. And the union would stick up for them if they were reprimanded for this behavior. But I do agree that the governor should give specific examples.
The Governor’s letter exposes the Governor’s paranoia. He basically wrote, “You all are against me”. Can’t we question this Governors capacity to govern?
There really does seem to be a sense of entitlement in the administration. From the beginning, they’ve treated the state employees and staffers as obstacles to be driven over instead of people who could help them accomplish their goals. I suspect that what the governor is complaining about is state employees who are either trying to keep him from embarrassing himself, or staffers who are trying to keep him from breaking the law.
I don’t usually find politics entertaining, but sometimes a few of you can pull it off.
To start with, I did not vote for LePage, and will not so in the future unless he’s running for Inspector of Outhouses, or some similar office. However, in the interest of fairness, it would have been fair for the BDN to give LePage his due in the corruption-busting business-specifically, it was on his watch that someone finally had the courage to go after Paul Violette, who appears to have been an honest-to-god hybrid of crook and political insider.
LePudge had little or nothing to do with Violette’s investigation and subsequent prosecution. He was investigated by a combined legislature probe though the Government Oversight Committee. Courage? LePudge? Pleeeeeeeze!
Java,
I think you are correct in saying that LePage didn’t have much to do directly with bringing down Prince Paul of the (turn)Pike. I’m curious if you think that the change in leadership in the State House had anything to do with it. As I understand it, the Violette family is/was a power in Aroostook County politics, mainly connected to the Democratic Party.
#####
Paulie is the kind of guy who would punch you, and then say he was ” sorry you walked into his fist “.
I know a lot of state workers in the field of mental health. I see them work very hard through extremely stressful and precarious times, continuing to help the people they serve – people who for a great many reasons need extra help in navigating life – and I wish to say thank you to them.
Mr. LePage does a great disservice in his blanket, uncaring, poor leadership style to all of them. If there is a problem, then show leadership and deal with it. These nasty, no factual statements only cause harm to all who work for and love the State of Maine.
I’ve been here 25 years and I have never had a negative situation with any State worker. People who are labeling them as ‘bad’ should come up with specifics or really, just stop the insinuations which are so damaging.
Surely for someone who has been an influential employer for so many Maine companies, he should know exactly how to properly treat employees and motivate them to achieve their best.
Oh, wait…
My suggestion is to ask the people that worked at Mardens how they felt abut working for LePage. The people I have talked with and went to school with told me he was hated. He had not respect for the people that worked there. Ask them.
Those aren’t the only people he has no respect for. He has no respect for the people from which he came. He has no respect for the people and institutions that provided him with the security and education he needed to move out of poverty and homelessness. He has no respect for the average Mainer.