Whistleblowers and Democracy | Tom Mueller | TEDxSpokane

Tom Mueller is a freelance author whose work has appeared in the New Yorker, Atlantic, NY Times and elsewhere, on topics ranging from computer chess programming to the evolution of whales to the international conspiracy of olive oil fraudsters. His talk explores the social, legal, and psychological effects of whistleblowing. The rise of the whistleblower is a reaction to growing corruption in the US over the last 50 years, driven by the normalization of fraud; the unhealthy melding of public and private spheres; the 2008 financial crisis; and post-9/11 wars. The whistleblower’s newfound legal and moral authority shows that America’s moral compass has wavered - can we only trust this handful of freelance truth-tellers? - but also points the way to a healthier nation. I am a freelance author whose work has appeared in the New Yorker, Atlantic, NY Times and elsewhere, on topics ranging from computer chess programming to the evolution of whales to the international conspiracy of olive oil fraudsters. My new book explores the social, legal, and psychological history of whistleblowing. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

[@truthmatters4850]

Whistle blowers are needed...Truth is hard to swollow..

[@oliviagatesfe2634]

William scanlon what about if its used to unduely harm?

[@truthmatters4850]

@@oliviagatesfe2634 unduley harn ? If people stopped playing other people for gain im sure there would be no need for whistle blowers....some people have to grow up and be honest...

[@LightWays]

yes! true💯

[@marjonrodrigo54]

"Whistleblowing is a critical act of a healthy democracy" ..... Music to my ears 😎😎😍😍

[@RobynGermaine]

Your book in this topic was exceptional!

[@KKing55]

I Thank God for Our Whistle Blowers~!!! I was told to falsify document. I declined and was told "you will change these numbers." I said No I will Not, you have my two weeks notice. I lost my job, my insurance with a disabled child. Later I found he was fired~! Truth and Justice and Loyalty are Super Important to me. Loyalty to my God and what He calls me to do~! We have a Higher Authority than our Boss~!!!

[@karenc.9298]

I know what this is. I am this. Thank-you for your talk.

[@lequadone]

Karen Church I’m a whistle blower to 💪🏼

[@texastriguy]

Tom has missed a rather serious issue here that we should be more aggressive about than whistleblowers - and that is of the corruption and/or incompetence of our regulatory bodies. Yes the Boeing whistleblowers went to the FAA, and nothing happened. Why aren't people like Tom saying how we should be outraged at the FAA? Why are heads not rolling and charges being made against those in power in our govt that let us down? Yes whistleblowers should be protected, but THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE TO blow the whistle to begin with! Any issue like the MCAS fiasco is a fault and failure with our safety regulators first and foremost. Everything after that we citizens should look at as a backup plan. But when you Plan A fails you, you need to get rid of it. If that means overhauling the FAA, that's the FIRST THING we should be doing. And ditto for every other failure of any other safety regulator. Whether corruption on incompetence, both should be dealt with in the strongest way. So far, the response has been disappointing in the highest degree.

[@Diego-ys9tv]

This is so true! Great point

[@tommueller8533]

I agree that whistleblowers are a last resort, and that regulators, prosecutors, investigative journalists and others should be doing the work that they end up doing. That we are so dependent on whistleblowers to call out public and private wrongdoing is a bad sign for our society and democracy. I suggest this in my talk, though i could have been clearer. 17 minutes is a pretty small space to pack every key point about whistleblowing and democracy!

[@texastriguy]

@@tommueller8533 Thank you Tom. You did cover that in your talk and it wasnt lost on me. My perspective was more general in that the public, news orgs, and other groups don't show nearly enough outrage of govt failure as the main and primary focus of a failure such as this. All good and the talk was on point. I was merely adding to and not contradicting your views.

[@LightWays]

Yes, we need whistleblowers and free flowing information. Just make sure to view the story from opposing news source so you don't get a biased narrative.

[@ShawnXu]

Great speech. This makes me think about the new coronavirus now. Whistleblowers are heros just like Jiang Yanyong in SARS period.

[@lizimpey6338]

Corruption is endemic and it is sad to say many whistleblowers reap the whirlwind that can and does destroy their lives

[@titanicbigship]

Yes we need people who need to tell the truth like whistleblowers Cough the Pentagon papers

[@LightWays]

yes agreed, well said friend👍

[@Tristan-zg6dg]

6:13 “They’ve told us about the lethal chemicals being pushed by big pharma.” Can someone please elaborate on this statement he made?

[@johnkoko5794]

@@Elizabeth.Holiday Maybe there were pain management facilities there. It's usually not one bad link in the chain. It's several. Accidents in aviation are usually a series of miss steps. Sometimes it's just a bad part. That's rare.

[@Tristan-zg6dg]

Hallie Farrar I hear and understand you, but who are ”they”?

[@tommueller8533]

@@Tristan-zg6dg "They" are whistleblowers, who were inside each organization, at regulators like the DEA and the Pennsylvania Inspector General's office, and many more places

[@Hellgrinde]

Winner of the best timed video award....

[@elizabethcsicsery-ronay1633]

Whistleblowers have to be so brave! He didn't mention the most famous whistleblower, Edward Snowden.

[@StephanieElizabethMann]

Yes. We need people to stand up and be heard. If we can't be heard we and the democracy we live in loose and we perpetuate a dictatorship.

[@LightWays]

yes agreed, well said friend👍

[@Japanese_Pizza]

Thanks alooooot!!!

[@ahmedlabaali9583]

Keep going That's helpful 🙏🙏

[@onteaya]

Well done sir. 👏

[@theclavers]

So inspiring. While blowing should be an academic subject. I started my channel Green Morality after being inspired by this channel and needs support.

[@SudinsCreation]

Thanks for Share

[@SINGH_A.K.]

I most motivativeted by this video

[@Droffatsstafford]

I can definitely get behind this kind of patriotism.

[@viralbeat1212]

blow the whistle, but let the people judge!

[@stuartrideruk]

Just watched the office whistleblower episode and now I see this

[@lequadone]

Where do you watch these episodes?

[@stuartrideruk]

@@lequadone Amazon prime video

[@marvamk]

If you only think its "us against them", then you become blind to the problems of your own team. And in the end this makes your own team weaker. Its not obedience and loyalty to authorities that helps to create a good future and justice. Critics, discussion, different ways to proceed are needed for any progress.

[@Diego-ys9tv]

Can't believe he didn't mention Julian Assange, he was illegally moved to Belmarsh prison from the Ecuadorian embassy in London, British policemen entered the embassy!!(that goes extremely against international law). He's been tortured for a long time, now in the prison he is in solitary confinement, his health is getting worse everyday, and the british authorities aren't giving him enough access to his papers, basically, he can't defend himself at court and it's very likely that he will get extradited to the US, where they're going to get revenge. I know that his figure is quite controversial, but the way authorities have treating him is unacceptable. Where is freedom of speech and information? Is it only an ideal?

[@GaasubaMeskhenet]

This is why we need a system that financially supports people even if they can't find work. And dont force people to jump through hoops to get that support

[@christinasperos160]

We are learning that whistleblowers have to be 100%vetted. They are capable of having agenda’s too. As we just learned.

[@kylelove927]

EXACTLY!!!!!!! 🇺🇸🦅🏁

[@MicDread]

Christina Speros , I like your sentiments, example of your thoughts will shine at the end of the Presidents lawyers on that whistleblower. I wonder how it will move the voters?

[@huzme705]

🙏

[@indacakka4368]

Free Julian Assange!!!!! Celebrate abd honor Edward Snowdon!!! Stop the military industrial complex before it destroys the world!!!

[@captjack2112]

This is what happens when people value their jobs more than value life. Very sad but the way most of the World runs

[@billykobilca6321]

Human species requires snitches since it's basic dna of self interest and greed prevent the species from actually progressing.

[@Miss1Ginger]

Lmao

[@ambivertlad]

Wow

[@CryptoChef99]

Watched THE ---TORCHER---- REPORT last night on Netflix. Based on true events from a "whistleblower" inside the gov. Very good movie. About Guantanamo bay torcher of prisoners after 9-11. 👍👍

[@schemagroup1]

Edward Snowden whistleblower, hero, modern day vigilante, FTW!

[@suchdevelopments]

Somebody who is the first, to report somebody or something is the wrong doing

[@mrunknown-ep5jw]

These bad people in this bad building are mot smart, they are corrupt people !!!!

[@HiMoncsi89]

Does anybody know what's up Dana and Walt?

[@luzardoramos8029]

in an ideal world you would be right unfortunately we live in a world where the other two superpowers dont have whistleblowers so being the only ones exposing our own secrets put us in a dangerous situation were not living in an ideological amusement park

[@luzardoramos8029]

@@aydingundogar9217 describe to us one relationship in the animal or human kingdom in which power is not involved

[@luzardoramos8029]

@@aydingundogar9217 and who would administrate the system ? where do we find a group of completely altruistic , devoid of selfish interest , with enough inteligence to calculate all individual needs of billions of people , and to allocate all economic production to the right place at the right time , and after that , to live forever , because nothing guarantees that the next generation of these group will choose to follow the same path ...

[@marypac4882]

Well, it's pretty clear that those of the 12 who decided to go all the way had to have their resignation letters ready. I thought it was common knowledge, was not it?

[@stunpre3392]

Then such a society is doomed. One must feel free, arrogantly free and be able to speak up when it matters. Sheep allow such a mentality to rule over them, honestly it's a pity the world we are in whether rich or poor.

[@HungaryEye]

👍

[@leonardniamh]

The first voice only

[@moodindigo3681]

Like * 10.

[@stephanieprochaska7964]

I was on board until he mentioned the founding fathers being whisteblowers. I will have to strongly disagree with him there, as the intentions of the founding fathers have been called into question for decades now. And yet no mention of Edward Snowden, one of the most important whistleblowers of the 21st century. I guess he didn't want to stray too far from American exceptionalism and not get "too controversial."

[@justsmile4185]

Hello guys I need your help Do you know any applications which I can practice English from them with native speakers

[@marvik5371]

Are you looking for reading, writing, speaking or listening applications?

[@justsmile4185]

@@marvik5371 Speaking applications plz

[@manarali6120]

ترجمو ياخي

[@ghostfacechili1650]

🙏🖖👍🤙👌🤘✌👻🌶

[@ijasikku1706]

*..കമന്റ് തൊഴിലാളി കീ......* Like from kerala,INDIA 3422

[@docequis9796]

Wistleblower needs first hand knowledge to be credible and not morally reprehensible.... and cannot have colluded with political opponent of the person they are blowing the wistle on... otherwise this becomes 1930's Germany.

[@NeverMetTheGuy]

This started with companies in which people have and sign a contract, and ends up talking about the overarching government of the US. Although the parallels are clear, there isn't any mention of discretion regarding how information is released (i.e. Redacted vs unredacted documents). The premise in this is very true, however, it's open for a lot of interpretation which isn't necessarily a good thing; time constraints may have been a factor which I'm taking into account.

[@luis_l1402]

Ich möchte Wissen wie Ihr euch diese Abonnenten gehackt habt😂Ihr könnt doch nicht so „wenig“ Aufrufe im Vergleich zu euren Abos haben. Also wenn Ihr wollt, ihr könnt mir das Script oder wie Ihr es auch immer gemacht haben gerne jederzeit schicken xD😂✌🏻

[@lllzeo7386]

ITH 089-02 MUC Manche Videos von denen haben echt viel Aufmerksamkeit bekommen und sie haben auch 4 Milliarden Aufrufe. Wieso fragst du hier eigentlich etwas auf Englisch?

[@luis_l1402]

lzeo Auf Englisch? Du meinst auf Deutsch. Ich hab auf Deutsch gefragt.

[@amazingscienceandfuncocrid7461]

I am the 19 viewer who watch this video

[@umniatkhalde]

اتمنى لو تشرحونه بالعربي

[@tahakhan1]

Hmm...

[@PaulSmith-pf2uq]

Benjamin Franklin: "Death to tyrants is obedience to god!".............Trump is a tyrant. Just saying.

[@DudesRights]

Som Thing so are you but do I say anything

[@paulgroebler3784]

True

[@archenema6792]

And which side is demanding universities actually respect free speech or lose federal funding, while the other side speaks in code about re-education camps? I'd guess your definition of tyranny is anyone disagreeing with you. ;)

[@PaulSmith-pf2uq]

ArchEnema 67 You guessed wrongly. Read about the origins of Tyranny and who were the Tyrants. Then you'll know pumkinhead is a tyrant. Anyway, what have the repUGLYcunts got to do with freedom of speech? They have been told by their master to do as they are told or else. Your Freedom of Speech ends where the other people's Freedom starts getting threatened. This is why tabloids get sued all the time.

[@archenema6792]

@@PaulSmith-pf2uq What a hilariously absurd justification for safe spaces and censorship. Thank you so much for protecting my tender soul from hearing someone say, "There are only two genders." Why, if I had to hear that, I'd be so damaged, that not even Jack Dorsey would be able to console me. ;)

[@kylelove927]

A whistleblower can be person with a hidden agenda in mind and not always a reliable source.

[@SimonSozzi7258]

That's ridiculous. If they make a claim that is false or that isn't a problem when looked into then...no harm no foul. Blowing the whistle is NOT the same as a smear campaign filled with lies. You always have to take into account the context. What does the person making the claim have to loose? Or are they in a position to benefit from their accusations?

[@kylelove927]

@@SimonSozzi7258 Let me guess... Donald Trump isn't your president.

[@gregorypaul7898]

@@kylelove927 Let me guess... You believe the word of a narcissistic conspiracy theorist over the sworn testimony of career diplomats who have nothing to gain and corroborated everything in the wistleblowers complaint. That's the definition of a cult.

[@kylelove927]

@@gregorypaul7898 I believe your limbic brain is the dominant issue here. You're driven by emotions and not logic. 🇺🇸🦅🏁 Trump will be YOUR president for 4 more years.

[@gregorypaul7898]

@@kylelove927 an insult, followed by projection, and ending with an ironic statement that proves your projection and lack of awareness... Cult followers tend to adopt the tactics of their leader.

[@PhuketWord]

The most difficult truth for most people to accept is that the earth is not a spinning globe going round the sun. Research flat earth

[@tayler8772]

huh

[@mikesherwood22]

People lie. Are liars patriotic too?

[@HyperCazual]

Why can't you whistle-blow against a fellow democrat? Do the right thing instead of only what is good for your own agenda and your own party. You have a one-sided conscious, how convenient for you and your party. You're not a real whistle blower - only one that is blinded by partisan politics. TED talks have gone downhill and don't give fair time to both parties... much like youtube and twitter.

[@caropeter7077]

I dont recall him talking about politics at all, you should listen one more time

[@HyperCazual]

@@jaegerjaqson3355 Look at the description.

[@HyperCazual]

@@caropeter7077 look at the description.

[@HyperCazual]

@@jaegerjaqson3355 where are the whistle blowers on Vice President Biden and his son? If you're a republican whistle blower you get wrongfully impeached for such things.

[@HyperCazual]

​@@jaegerjaqson3355 I just told you where they are - Donald Trump got impeached for investigating The Bidens - it's the only thing that is happening right now in politics. If this presentation is true then where are all the people whistle blowing against corruption in the democratic party - instead only fake alligations and hearsay against the republican party? Because the mainstream media only show one side of what is actually happening and don't report any corruption on their side because it undermines their cause. The president never admitted to being guilty to those charges. Where did you get where he admitting guilt? That's not true at all. Is this why people are confused because the media says "he admitted... for obstruction charges". But what the media doesn't want you to know is where those dots are is where it changes the context of the entire sentence. He admitted to being investigated for obstruction. Because they never told him he was being investigated for the longest time. The democrats are the only ones that have obstructed justice, but no one has investigated them at all. Don't believe media like CNN when they get sued for $275 million by Sandmann.

[@getfreemazes]

1:03 speaker reveals himself to be psychotic

[@r.p.8906]

12 whistle blowers takes time to organize. Something is not right with this story. If one is concerned, one does not wait to whistle. He or she does not organize a 12 person orchestra. One runs to the person in charge, the media, somebody real.... not the person who is part of the problem. This requires courage, integrity and major love for humanity, above self interest for sure.

[@DudesRights]

That’s them you haven’t talk about the other side yet

[@lizimpey6338]

?🤔

[@DudesRights]

Must be a Democrat’s one sided.

[@scottnaylor]

Literally the most boring talk ever. I'm whistleblowing on this talk, everyone needs to know!!!

[@DudesRights]

Still snitches