Whistleblower loses to addicts
Hi Vernon,
I’ve followed your case on and off again via Cassingham’s online column. I just visited your web site (http://www.aldotwaste.com/_sgt/f10000.htm). What a jerk of a writer in the comments section. His enabling is an example of why I removed the ability of others to make comments on my web site.
You write that this is a case of David vs. Goliath. More important, it’s a case of the non-alcoholic vs. the alcoholic. The comment on racial slurs did it for me: I’ve never found a racist in whom I could not eventually identify alcohol or other drug addiction.
The code of silence indicates a culture of alcoholism–insuring that people aren’t required to bear the responsibility for misbehaviors. While most in such a culture are generally non-addicts, it only requires one or two near the top. Game-playing on company or taxpayer’s time and dime indicates alcoholism in the game player, but not always. Combine that with sleeping on the job and racial slurs, and it adds up to alcoholism 80% of the time.
No wonder you’ve had such a miserable time, Vernon.
Doug Thorburn
Doug,
Thanks for your support and feedback. I had not considered your analysis before, but here are the facts as I know them, the supervisor in question is certainly addicted to nicotine (at the very least), spending most of his day standing outside (no smoking in building allowed) chain smoking. His supervisor is a known alcoholic, and I avoided any overnight travel with him because of that. The lead computer tech that testified against me has since been fired due to his drug use (crystal meth). There are a few others that have turned against me, but I don’t know them well enough to be aware of any addictions.
Thanks again,
Vernon
Hi Vernon,
Few consider the possibility, which is a discovery that led to my book-writing endeavors and, now, the online Thorburn Addiction Report (www.addictionreport.com; you can down load the archived issues, which I think you will find fascinating given the number of lead stories that are courtroom dramas, and subscribe free to future ones).
Chain smoking is a great clue to alcoholism. While 10% of the population in the U.S. has the disease of alcoholism (which means something different than commonly believed–loss of control over use is a symptom, and a latter-stage one at that), 30% of U.S. smokers are alcoholics. In my experience, the heavier the smoker, the higher the likelihood of addiction. I am not at all surprised about the layers of management and accusers in whom there is likely addiction. Alcoholics and meth addicts are prolific and very believable liars. We know this because recovering addicts tell us they were the world’s greatest liars. We also know it because if you show me a good liar, I will prove alcohol or other-drug addiction about 80% of the time. That’s how I knew there was at least one addict behind the trauma you have suffered.
Doug