# Would you whistle blow on Trump? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 12, 2020, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-whistle-blow-on-trump/847830 "2020-02-12T17:52:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2020, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-whistle-blow-on-trump/847830/1 "2020-02-12T17:52:22Z")
Suppose you were a career public servant who worked in the vicinity of the white house and came across some form of incriminating information about Trump. Its not for any crime that is worse those he has already been accused of, but it is new evidence. I’m think of something like evidence that he told some of his rich buddies to buy oil futures, two days before a pre-planned missile strike on Iran. Letting the public know is the right thing to do, but you know that nothing will actually come of it. His supporters will find a way to dismiss it and it will blow over in a couple of weeks. On the other hand, you know that you will be retaliated against, definitely lose your job and likely put you and your family in danger. Do you do it? ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2020, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-whistle-blow-on-trump/847830/2 "2020-02-12T17:54:42Z")
I might not “whistleblow” internally, but I might release documents/evidence directly to the public/media. I don’t trust that doing anything through government channels would be effective at this point. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2020, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-whistle-blow-on-trump/847830/3 "2020-02-12T18:12:30Z")
I’m blowing until drool sprays out the sides of my mouth. Getting fired by Trump on a moral disagreement is a rare and prestigious badge I would wear proudly. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2020, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-whistle-blow-on-trump/847830/4 "2020-02-12T18:14:11Z")
Blow blow blow!!! ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2020, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-whistle-blow-on-trump/847830/5 "2020-02-12T18:26:33Z")
Tweeeeeet tweet tweet… I’m pulling a Daniel Ellsberg and making copies of everything I can get my hands on. I’ll gladly sit my civilly disobedient ass in prison if it takes down the whole criminal enterprise - I know I’ll be vindicated eventually. Tweeeeeet tweet tweet… ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2020, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-whistle-blow-on-trump/847830/6 "2020-02-12T18:53:57Z")
I’d be a hypoxic dude with a worn out whistle. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2020, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-whistle-blow-on-trump/847830/7 "2020-02-12T18:59:40Z")
> [@Moriarty](#): > > I’ll gladly sit my civilly disobedient ass in prison if it takes down the whole criminal enterprise The OP did say this, though: > [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > you know that nothing will actually come of it…you know that you will be retaliated against, definitely lose your job and likely put you and your family in danger. So I think his hypothetical makes it clear that this is \*\*\*futile \*\*\*whistleblowing - he is asking if you would blow _even if futile and brings great harm to you_. (But not being the OP, I’ll let him speak for himself) ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2020, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-whistle-blow-on-trump/847830/8 "2020-02-12T19:13:12Z")
Probably, but it depends on how badly I ‘needed’ the job. If it was a once in a lifetime job, I may not. But I’d still make as many video, audio and digital copies of everything I could in case I found a situation where whistelblowing would help. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2020, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-whistle-blow-on-trump/847830/9 "2020-02-12T19:32:49Z")
Yep, damn sure would. A man that’s afraid to lose his job for doing the right thing doesn’t deserve to have that job … and isn’t much of a man. And besides, I’ve built a career out of tilting at windmills. I’m to old to start being a yes man now. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2020, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-whistle-blow-on-trump/847830/10 "2020-02-12T19:45:08Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > So I think his hypothetical makes it clear that this is \*\*\*futile \*\*\*whistleblowing - he is asking if you would blow _even if futile and brings great harm to you_. (But not being the OP, I’ll let him speak for himself) If you’re being true to your conscience, nothing you do is futile. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2020, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-whistle-blow-on-trump/847830/11 "2020-02-12T20:04:38Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > …I think his hypothetical makes it clear that this is \*\*\*futile \*\*\*whistleblowing - he is asking if you would blow _even if futile and brings great harm to you_. (But not being the OP, I’ll let him speak for himself) Fine. I’ll gladly sit my ass in prison feeling certain in the belief that, even if it is years after I’m dead and gone, I’ll be vindicated for being on the correct side of history. Tweeeeeeeet. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2020, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-whistle-blow-on-trump/847830/12 "2020-02-12T20:06:14Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > So I think his hypothetical makes it clear that this is \*\*\*futile \*\*\*whistleblowing - he is asking if you would blow _even if futile and brings great harm to you_. (But not being the OP, I’ll let him speak for himself) Yes, exactly. New evidence of general corruption and graft isn’t going to bring him down. Anyone left who isn’t already convinced that Trump is horribly corrupt won’t be convinced by new evidence. I was mostly curious as to the extent to which Trumps intimidation tactics were likely to work against future whistle blowers. The responses so far suggest that it won’t, which is encouraging, with some major caveats. First, the straight dope is a far from a representative sample and is heavily enriched among those who would sell their right arm (or at least someone’s right arm) to damage Trump, second that its a lot easier to virtue signal when the danger is only hypothetical\*. To answer my own question I’m not sure. I see Trump as a great threat to our country but I’m not sure that I am not sure I would be willing to upend my entire life for something that is likely to be meaningless. - note I 'm speaking only scholastically, and not making this accusation in reference to any particular post or poster. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2020, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-whistle-blow-on-trump/847830/13 "2020-02-12T20:15:02Z")
> [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > First, the straight dope is a far from a representative sample and is heavily enriched among those who would sell their right arm (or at least someone’s right arm) to damage Trump, second that its a lot easier to virtue signal when the danger is only hypothetical\*. My answer doesn’t change no matter who the current POTUS happens to be. I call things as I see them–hopefully down the middle. Doesn’t matter if it’s Trump or some future POTUS I actually like. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2020, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-whistle-blow-on-trump/847830/14 "2020-02-12T20:21:56Z")
> [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > I was mostly curious as to the extent to which Trumps intimidation tactics were likely to work against future whistle blowers. Trump has fewer years in his presidential tenure than most folks have remaining in their careers. Getting ‘fired’ by him doesn’t have to mean you’re getting anything worse than a temporary vacation. > [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > First, the straight dope is a far from a representative sample and is heavily enriched among those who would sell their right arm (or at least someone’s right arm) to damage Trump Harming President Trump is not something I think most people want. Curbing abusive and corrupt practices in a more general sense is what motivates me. The liberal hero du jour should expect the same courtesy. Patriotism is not personal. > [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > second that its a lot easier to virtue signal when the danger is only hypothetical\*. Maybe similar to 2A bravado. There’s only one way to tell for certain, and an anonymous internet review isn’t it. 🙂 > [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > I see Trump as a great threat to our country but I’m not sure that I am not sure I would be willing to upend my entire life for something that is likely to be meaningless. And that’s the test isn’t it. Would you upend your life and those several tied to yours if it meant [maybe] stabilizing the lives of hundreds…billions of others. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2020, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-whistle-blow-on-trump/847830/15 "2020-02-12T21:46:57Z")
> [@Inigo\_Montoya](#): > > If you’re being true to your conscience, nothing you do is futile. Yeah but 63 million people voted for this travesty. And the vast, vast majority of them have learned nothing from it and will vote for him again in 2020. After a while, you have to question why does it become your responsibility to fix their screw up? Also, none of it has mattered so far. All the crimes and corruption of Trump haven’t resulted in any consequences (legal or political). All the whisteblowing and behind the scenes books, crimes, etc and none of it has mattered. The issue runs deeper than Trump. ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2020, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-whistle-blow-on-trump/847830/16 "2020-02-13T02:01:35Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > Also, none of it has mattered so far. All the crimes and corruption of Trump haven’t resulted in any consequences (legal or political). All the whisteblowing and behind the scenes books, crimes, etc and none of it has mattered. This. I’m three years away from retirement, and seeing what happened to Andrew McCabe, I wouldn’t say a thing. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2020, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-whistle-blow-on-trump/847830/17 "2020-02-13T02:52:12Z")
Reducing it to something credible, suppose instead it’s my city councilman. What’s the point? If he goes down, he will just be replaced by another power-abusing crony hack. The only people who seek power are those with an eye to abusing it. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2020, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-whistle-blow-on-trump/847830/18 "2020-02-13T03:35:08Z")
> [@Dag\_Otto](#): > > This. I’m three years away from retirement, and seeing what happened to Andrew McCabe, I wouldn’t say a thing. Not only that, but I never voted for this. Why is it my job to clean up other people’s bad decision? Anyone with a brain knew Trump was corrupt and a criminal. They voted for him anyway. After he is out of office, those 63 million people will vote for the next deranged, authoritarian white nationalist who comes along. Why is it my job to fuck my life up to reduce the damage that came from their bad decisions? If a politician I did vote for was doing this (like Obama), I would come forward even if it hurt me personally because I’d feel like I was partly responsible for it happening. But as someone who never voted for Trump, and who knows 90%+ of his voters won’t learn a damn thing, and who knows there will be no criminal, civil or political consequences of exposing his crimes, whats the point of hurting yourself and achieving nothing? Keep records of everything and find a safe way to leak them when you’re in a safer position. The people who allowed this happen won’t learn anything anyway, and there won’t be any negative consequences anyway. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2020, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-whistle-blow-on-trump/847830/19 "2020-02-13T03:40:07Z")
With glee. I wouldn’t lie about it but I’d rat his stinky ass out at any justifiable provocation. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2020, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-whistle-blow-on-trump/847830/20 "2020-02-13T07:07:14Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > Reducing it to something credible, suppose instead it’s my city councilman. What’s the point? If he goes down, he will just be replaced by another power-abusing crony hack. The only people who seek power are those with an eye to abusing it. That “It doesn’t matter because they are all the same” crap is one of the reasons Trump got elected. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-whistle-blow-on-trump/847830.md?page=2)