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Tag(s): Accountability; Censorship
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February 16, 2008 at 09:19:45

Headlined on 2/16/08:
Head of GAO quits, citing censorship

by French Press Agency (Posted by Josh Mitteldorf) Page 1 of 1 page(s)

www.opednews.com

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WASHINGTON (AFP) — The head of the audit and investigative arm of the US Congress announced his resignation Friday, citing "real limitations" on what he could do.

David Walker, 51, a respected voice on fiscal matters, said he was making an early departure from the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) to head a new public interest foundation.

"As Comptroller General of the United States and head of the GAO, there are real limitations on what I can do and say in connection with key public policy issues, especially issues that directly relate to GAO's client -- the Congress," Walker said in a statement.

He did not elaborate but Walker last year issued an unusually downbeat assessment of his country's future in a report that drew parallels with the end of the Roman empire.

He had warned that the US government was on a "burning platform" of unsustainable policies and practices with fiscal deficits, chronic healthcare underfunding, immigration and overseas military commitments threatening a crisis if action was not taken soon.

There were "striking similarities" between America's current situation and the factors that brought down Rome, he had said.

These included "declining moral values and political civility at home, an over-confident and over-extended military in foreign lands and fiscal irresponsibility by the central government."

"This was a very difficult decision for me," Walker said Friday of his decision to leave the GAO, which he joined in November for what was to be a 15-year term of office. His resignation would be effective March 12.

He said he would become president and chief executive officer of the newly established Peter G. Peterson Foundation, which would "educate and activate" Americans while supporting "sensible policy solutions" on various issues.

"My new position will provide me with the ability and resources to more aggressively address a range of current and emerging challenges facing our country," he said.

"This move will enable me to sharpen my messages and bring focus and attention to the fiscal and other key sustainability challenges that I and others have been discussing during the past several years," he said.

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6 comments

Erik Larson, Human Being and concerned Citizen. I only advocate and practice non-violent methods of social and political activism & change.
Better World OrderErik Larson, Human Being and concerned Citizen. I only advocate and practice non-violent methods of social and political activism & change.

now why

did the TV only mention he was stepping down to take another job, and not report his comments about censorship and the fall of the neocon-roman empire? For the same reason i only turn on the TV these days to see what they're omitting and lying about?

God forbid, Bullshit gets to appoint someone to the GAO

by Better World Order (4 articles, 434 quicklinks, 30 diaries, 933 comments) on Saturday, February 16, 2008 at 4:43:33 PM

56 years on this jumpin' green sphere. Musician. Own and operate a music store to help kids find a possible life long friend. I believe in the soul and the search. Happily married w/ 2 boys. Published songwriter. play bass, piano and gut string guitar. there are no solutions..only alternatives. Ask questions. Listen. Be fair and don't expect. Baseball is a mirror. Don't ask....unless you have time and a sense of humor. Peace is never easy, but worth it. Always.
mikel paul56 years on this jumpin' green sphere. Musician. Own and operate a music store to help kids find a possible life long friend. I believe in the soul and the search. Happily married w/ 2 boys. Published songwriter. play bass, piano and gut string guitar. there are no solutions..only alternatives. Ask questions. Listen. Be fair and don't expect. Baseball is a mirror. Don't ask....unless you have time and a sense of humor. Peace is never easy, but worth it. Always.

speaking truth to ignorance

Censorship. He's smart, truthful and tactful.

David Walker. Speaking truth to ignorance. here's a link. You gotta sit through a bit of Glenn Beck at first, but David Walker just weeks ago says quite a lot. The sad part is all of Washington knows it's all true.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2588860308084209137

Resigned? Perhaps. Smart? Yep.

I wish Mr. Walker well. Hope he can do some good in his new position.

We all have work to do.

peace

by mikel paul (11 articles, 1 quicklinks, 7 diaries, 445 comments) on Saturday, February 16, 2008 at 6:11:39 PM

Steven Leser specializes in Politics, Science & Health, and Entertainment topics. He has held positions within the Democratic Party including District Chair and Public Relations Chair within county organizations.

Steven Leser writes for www.opednews.com, an internet only media site that has grown to become one of the highest traffic news sites in America, reaching more traffic, according to alexa.com, than all but the thirty largest daily newspapers in the US. Mr. Leser is one of t...

to see more of bio, click on member name
Steven LeserSteven Leser specializes in Politics, Science & Health, and Entertainment topics. He has held positions within the Democratic Party including District Chair and Public Relations Chair within county organizations.

Steven Leser writes for www.opednews.com, an internet only media site that has grown to become one of the highest traffic news sites in America, reaching more traffic, according to alexa.com, than all but the thirty largest daily newspapers in the US. Mr. Leser is one of t...

to see more of bio, click on member name

Many attempts by administration right now to hide eco data

Just see http://thinkprogress.org/2008/02/13/economic-indicators/

and

http://www.economicindicators.gov/

by Steven Leser (227 articles, 49 quicklinks, 34 diaries, 1636 comments) on Sunday, February 17, 2008 at 12:18:19 AM

Sculptor of stone, Activist in the fields of 911 Truth, Stop the NAU, and Illegal Immigration.
JoannSculptor of stone, Activist in the fields of 911 Truth, Stop the NAU, and Illegal Immigration.

Is it a better move?

What bothers me though, he is going to work for:

The Peter Petersen Foundation.

by Joann (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 45 comments) on Sunday, February 17, 2008 at 10:24:19 AM

I'm a 61year old white guy, Veteran of 66-68, operate my own business with my wife and love to travel. Built a big sailboat in the 70's and went sailing for a few years, which ruined me for real work. Now, I fly hot air balloons for a living. Have been initiated as an Andean Paq'o. Yes, I am a liberal.
RogerI'm a 61year old white guy, Veteran of 66-68, operate my own business with my wife and love to travel. Built a big sailboat in the 70's and went sailing for a few years, which ruined me for real work. Now, I fly hot air balloons for a living. Have been initiated as an Andean Paq'o. Yes, I am a liberal.

A GAO with Teeth!!

Imagine a GAO with some enforcement tools. Over the years this important but oft ignored branch of our government has brought corruption to light, only to be ignored. Personally I think a great advance would be to give them some teeth....big ones, kinda like saber toothed tigers had. Then perhaps when Senators come out with the Golden Fleece Awards, there will be a Perp-Walk Video attached.

Veteran '66-68

by Roger (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 388 comments) on Sunday, February 17, 2008 at 12:33:46 PM

Having lived six decades now, I've had a lot of experiences! Grew up in a family often oppressed because of our faith - we stood for peace and against war, and for the rights of all regardless of ethnic background. Active from youth in peace and civil rights. Vietnam-era draft resister. Worked for a while for peace and social justice groups, and then became a civil servant. Felt a call to a consistent life ethic, and am currently serving as President of Consistent Life. All this is out of Chr...

to see more of bio, click on member name
Bill SamuelHaving lived six decades now, I've had a lot of experiences! Grew up in a family often oppressed because of our faith - we stood for peace and against war, and for the rights of all regardless of ethnic background. Active from youth in peace and civil rights. Vietnam-era draft resister. Worked for a while for peace and social justice groups, and then became a civil servant. Felt a call to a consistent life ethic, and am currently serving as President of Consistent Life. All this is out of Chr...

to see more of bio, click on member name

Censorship?

I don't think censorship is a fair word, and Walker himself did not use it - and I think he was being very direct and straightforward, not beating around the bush. I see no indication that Walker has been censored. The real thing is that it is not the role of the Comptroller General to lead a national campaign for a major change. Actually he has done a lot of that, and has gotten away with it. However, it is not what the post was designed for.

His mission is to point out the fiscal unsustainability of our present course. He is absolutely correct on that. He has decided, probably correctly, that putting his full energies into that cause is the most valuable contribution he can make. So he's found a way to do that.

The work of the GAO is varied and multi-faceted. It is simply not appropriate for the Comptroller General to focus on only one thing. That's not censorship; it's just being in a different role than the one to which he feels so strongly drawn.

Other than the fiscal sustainability crisis, David Walker lacks any vision of what is wrong with America. There are things much more basically wrong. Walker does not appear to have a clue about them. His campaign comes from a very centrist political framework, so the Peter Peterson connection makes sense. It's up to the rest of us to work on the other issues.

by Bill Samuel (4 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 338 comments) on Sunday, February 17, 2008 at 2:17:41 PM