Wizard of Oz

I opened this topic as a ‘catch all’ commentary to some of the outstanding discussion threads that are listed on this site, notably the most recent “ATF Employees Unite” and “Corruption”.

As Thor God of Thunder stated, those persons posting replies here do so accepting the real risk that they will ultimately be retaliated against by ATF managers and attorneys. Some have accepted this risk as their personal cost of doing business to seek ATF management reform. Others have not and that is understandable.

I have a wide variety of contacts within ATF at the field employee level. An enormous majority have a consensus opinion that ATF’s management is overloaded with uninspiring leadership.

From first line supervision, through the division executives, and climbing all the way through AD’s to the very top executives, our managements inability to make good decisions is the common denominator of de-motivation we all have been subjected to. Even some managers have posted after suffering their own abuse at the hands of the executives above them. No one at ATF is completely safe from abuse and reprisal. Edgar Domenech documented this in his own whistleblower complaint against ATF (which he won by the way).

The double standard Headquarters mentality of “us vs. them” is now known, exposed and proven to be real. They give each other free passes that are never extended to us. That is proven and undeniable. A case by case review shows that we (field employees) are ALWAYS wrong and they (ATF managers) are always right. Just ask Cheif Counsels office. They'll tell you so.

Look at numbers of “views” on the various CleanUpATF topics. They are increasing at an exponential rate. This site and what it stands for is not a fluke. Many are viewing it. Some are responding. Whether someone decides to post or not is a personal decision. The reasons not to post are easy to understand. Your livelihood is being put on the line when (not if) ATF’s executives do what they do – retaliate.

To win this eventual war keep the comments accurate and truthful. This is what makes this project strong. Keep the complaints solution oriented. This is what keeps the project headed toward its intended direction which is change for the betterment of all, including those who are being complained about.

If you were exposed to a potentially bad decision by management and history proved that a mistake would have taken place but ultimately did not, thank CleanUpATF. If you have seen a change in the attitude of your supervisor toward you or how they have historically handled their business, thank CleanUpATF. If you are sensing a more compassionate position towards the terrible “living conditions” we have suffered at ATF over the recent years by your boss, thank CleanUpATF.

Our problems lie as much with DOJ who has knowingly allowed us to flounder without a Director and accepted ATF’s placement of ‘Actors’ in critical management positions for years and years. DOJ has betrayed us workers as much as the persons who have sat in these prime positions and acted corruptly.

Oversight and transparency is never bad. As an ATF manager if your actions and decisions are true, with good intentions and are made with the intent of benefitting ATF you have nothing to worry about. Conversely, if your actions do not meet that simple standard then expect to called out, publicized and exposed on CleanUpATF for exactly what they, and you, are.

This is a big part of the reason why the ATF sections of Chief Counsel, EEOC, Workers Compensation, PRB, and grievance review are embarrassing slow or totally ignoring. They string you along never addressing what they know to be bad conduct by management in order to break your back and make you quit. Right and wrong, truth and justice are not a part of their decision making process. Protection of the guilty, covering up corruption and avoiding precident setting solutions are their motivation.

Rest assured, the field is winning and winning big. We are winning by exposure of the truth. Like in the Wizard of Oz, we have pulled back the curtain of our managements “Oz” and have shown that the ones in control are frantically and randomly pulling levers and pushing buttons desperately trying save their reputations as “the all knowing and powerful”.

CleanUpATF and its contributors have shown that our “Oz” is just like the munchkin in the movie, a confused, power hungry and corrupt controller who managed for a long time by sheer intimidation with no one ever knowing the truth.

Agents and support staff, clicking your heals together and wishing to go home is not going to get it done.

Dorothy, this isn’t the movies.