Websites banned by Anderson County

[daco]

According to Bullmooseblog some local internet sites have been blocked to Anderson County’s internet access. Ordinarily I really couldn’t care less what government agency or private business does in the way of restricting internet access. Fact is there are thousands of websites that would be blocked on my company’s internet access…if I were big enough to worry about such stuff. Personally I would prefer that county employees weren’t wasting their time, and our tax dollars, reading tripe like this, but if they can still read this…why can’t they read other opinion driven sites?

What puzzles me is the sites that were blocked. The short list that I have includes citizennetmom, bullmooseblog and atomic city talk. According to a couple of unnamed county employees, these sites were blocked by the Accounts and Budgets department, which happens to be skippered by one Gail Cook. Yep the same Gail Cook that is reported to have refused to provide a current list of county employees that are being paid from more than one budget code. In other words, a list of county employees that are double dipping in the county coffer.

Is it possible that Ms. Cook is unhappy with these sites because she has recently been the topic of discussion? There have lately been discussions at Bullmoose about AC politics and Ms. Cook’s involvement, as well as Atomic City Talk , but not a peep from Netmom. Could it be that Ms. Cook just threw citizennetmom in there for good measure because she is friendly with Alan Beauchamp, Anderson County Buildings and Grants department head and well known public enemy of Netmom? After all Mr. Beauchamp’s website is site accessible on county computers.

Therein lays the moral to this story. Ms. Cook, if you’re going to ban sites that you don’t like, you had better ban all internet sites that don’t benefit county operations. Banning only those sites that are unfriendly to you makes you look like you are offended by those sites and possibly covering something up. If you are offended by those sites, maybe they are getting a little too close to the truth for your comfort.

Have you done anything wrong that you don’t want publicized on county computers? Please feel free to comment and set the record straight. Oh wait...never mind. You won't be able to read this.

[Pokey]

Really?
Sounds like bollocks to me. I'd wonder if other political sites, like Terry Franks, or Inside Anderson County, are similarly blocked, and if not, I'd be curious to know why.

[Jacket]

Government computer administrators reserve the right to block sites. There are also user agreements. I find none of that repugnant. I do find the what appears to be a selective blocking of blog sites that are generated within a county, that may be critical of that counties admininstration as repugnant. There is no harm in accessing that type media any more than reading Knoxnews, NYT's, CNN, or Fox. These sites are not pornographic, seditious, nor a time waster any more than the above I mentioned. The only difference is that before the 'net those dead tree editions were brought to work and read at the desk also. This does not pass the smell test. But we shall see I guess.

[ORHS 73]

"I'd wonder if other political sites, like Terry Franks . . . are similarly blocked . . . "

Well, I'd count that a good thing. Terry Franks is like intellectual antimatter.

[Jacket]

You gotta love that statement. Heh!

[Ernestine]

I agree. A business has the right to block outside sights but to be selective to the sites you personally don't approve of is almost like censorship of the employees. Block them all, do not give access to the internet but don't pick and choose. When you take on these roles in government you are open to criticism. If you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen. My friends at the county told me that sights were not blocked during the election. Maybe that is because the person who blocked the sights was not a target at that time. Sounds personal to me. This is not the type of reaction you want from someone holding an important position. Very poor problem solving techniques, if you ask me. Kind of vindictive.

[poisonivy]

Wonders never cease. Amazing how this stuff continues to happen. I was reading and found this almost scary that these people can do as they please and never get questioned. It might be time for accountablilty by these people.

[daco]

As a public service offered to the employees of the Peoples Republic of Anderson County, the following link will enable you to bypass the heavy handed, jack booted tactics of our county internet czar.

http://www.webstuffscan.com/2006/11/23/h...es-top-10/

Oh wait...you can't read this. Nevermind.

[daco]

After re-reading Leean Tupper’s article titled, “County workers paid from multiple codes; answers being sought,” (7-11-07) I’m confused. Evidently Gail Cook, Anderson county Director of Accounts and Budgets, told Ms. Tupper that she is only aware of who is being paid out of more than one accounting code, in her department. However, according to the published description of her department’s responsibility that can be found on the Anderson county government website, she not only is aware of how all county employees are paid, her “…office prepares all payrolls.”
The longer this issue sits in the sun, the more it stinks.

http://www.andersontn.org/accountsandbudgets.html

[poisonivy]

Daco:

Great investigative skills. I know a couple of newspapers that need to hire you. That said, I think we need some serious accountability here. It appears that there are way too many chiefs and not enough indians. I thought the County Commission was the chiefs but it appears that Ms. Cook and Mr. Lynch think they are the chiefs and County Commission is the indians. We might be preparing for battle here between the commission and the employees. Wonder who will come out the victor.