Whistle blowers good or bad?

[Stockholm]

Poll question: Whistle blowers good or bad?

Whenever a scandal within the EU/European politics is discovered there is always a whistle blower somewhere in the background. Should the legal protection of whistle blowers in the public sector be strengthened to encourage this among civil servants?

[mikehiggins]

1. The press makes a difference as well

In most countries the press does not function as an arm of government, unlike here. People in Europe know a lot more about what is going on in the world than Americans do. However, we know what kind of underwear Scott Peterson wears so I guess its a fair exchange.

[muriel_volestrangler]

2. They should enforce what there is now, and probably strengthen it

rather than sacking people for embarrassing ministers.

Mr Moxon was informed, in a five-page letter, that he was "in breach of his contractual obligations", and had "failed to follow internal procedures", leading to an "irretrievable breakdown in trust between you and the department". The letter added that he did not act "reasonably" under the terms of the Public Interest Disclosure Act, the legislation introduced in 1998 to protect whistleblowers.
...
An earlier leaked Home Office report recommended Mr Moxon should be dismissed because he had "embarrassed ministers and the department" but said he had acted reasonably in revealing that ministers had failed to act on warnings of malpractice in the immigration system.

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/story.jsp?story=546978

[Stockholm]

3. Good example!

and if one travels around Europe, you find this everywhere.

Since Europe (not least my country) is going through a EU negative period, I have been waiting for a politician to push this idea. Even those of us who are mildly positive to the EU are aware of the rampant corruption.