Double Check Charlie

Once I worked as an auditor. I was tasked to determine that routine transactions were done properly so as not to cheat the customer, a supplier, or the reputation of the company. Most transactions were denominated in cash. Some were not: process, timing, accuracy, etc. Errors could easily cost the company money in lost sales, reputation and credibility.


Back in the mid-60’s computer systems grew in sophistication and functional reach. Developing the systems were highly complicated. The auditing staff was asked to monitor information technology development in order to uncover fraud, attempts to subvert the systems, or just plain catch errors. That meant we had to learn a lot about technical things, include software languages.


Of course, auditing is a double check to thwart fraud, and errors.


Government has an active auditing function, too. And when the function under scrutiny is mainly complex policy formation and application, Inspector Generals are deployed to monitor government units. Oversight committees are another tool Congress employs to double check entire departmental functions of the Executive Branch.


The Supreme Court functions as a double check against both Congress and the Executive Branch. All three branches of the federal government check on each other.


That is the design. The US Constitution provides the framework for the ‘double check Charlie’ system. That is why it is disturbing that many double check mechanisms are being silenced. How? The President has fired many Inspector Generals that keep watch over the Executive Branch departments – Commerce, State, Treasury, Commerce, Education, Health and Human Services, Veterans Affairs, Justice, Defense and many more operating units.


The president doesn’t seem to like prying eyes to be watching his every move. But those eyes serve the American public’s interests and maintain trust in our form of government. The president doesn’t get to decide these matters; we, the people, do. He evidently doesn’t know this. So many things he doesn’t know or understand in our government.

Thus, it is alarming that stacking the courts, including the Supreme Court, undercutting the ranks of inspector generals, and even reducing the credibility of oversight committees based merely on political allegiance, is all being done on a daily and weekly basis. Nearly four years of such actions has weakened double checks on government operations.


Trust and confidence in our government is wavering. Without those, government falls.


None of this is secret. The press has reported it. The public doesn’t appear to be paying much attention. But when complaints are aired, the messenger is pooh poohed and humiliated in public.

When any politician says up is actually down, we need to pay attention and hold him/her accountable. Seems to me a lot of accountability is being ignored these days.


Even the public health response to COVID-19 has been flawed and oversight derailed. Where do you suppose this will likely lead us over the next 12 months?

Has the concept of  'clear and present danger' come alive for you yet?


May 18, 2020