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“We trust the companies we work with,” Alec Asbridge, director of regulatory compliance at Georgia Department of Agriculture, said earlier this month. “We don’t

“We trust the companies we work with,” Alec Asbridge, director of regulatory compliance at Georgia Department of Agriculture, said earlier this month. “We don’t see any reason they would submit information that wasn’t truthful.” I feel like this statement makes Asbridge unsuited for his job as director of regulatory compliance. Willful obliviousness implies a conflict of interest.

vermontdevil 10y ago
He must think everyone else is an idiot when he talks like this.
- deleted 10y ago
  [deleted]
oxide 10y ago
If it isn't willful obliviousness, at the very least, it is blatant incompetence.
philipodonnell 10y ago
I don't think you have to call it willful. By his own hand he wrote: > “My training was inadequate, inconsistent and sometimes in error,” Schronce wrote of his preparation for calculating the Georgia Dock.
- lsaferite 10y ago
  That quote is not from the same person.
squozzer 10y ago
Mr. Asbridge, have you ever heard of money? If not, do you know what the numbers on your paycheck mean?
ak4g 10y ago
Uh, this makes no sesne to me. He's speaking specifically about the numbers reported for the Georgia Dock, which, from the reporting in this article, could very easily be completely legitimate. You seem to be interpreting his statement as applying to everything under his job description as director of regulatory compliance. I did not read his statement as a blanket statement; it hadn't occurred to me that anyone would until I saw your comment. As a matter of fact, the 2nd sentence seems to explicitly preclude that interpretation.
- cgvgffyv 10y ago
  > I did not read his statement as a blanket statement; it hadn't occurred to me that anyone would until I saw your comment. You haven't been on the internet much have you? Get out before it sucks all the optimism out of you and replaces it with cynicism. I feel it's a non-reversible process.
  - coldtea 10y ago
    >Get out before it sucks all the optimism out of you and replaces it with cynicism. So, get out before you actually get informed about how the world runs?
    - cgvgffyv 10y ago
      Does it make you feel any better though? Do you prefer to be continuously disappointed over things you have no control on? Others don't give a damn, and they're happier because of it. Bad things will happen to you personally eventually (assuming they haven't yet). I have enough of that to deal with already, why would I want more?
      - coldtea 10y ago
        >Does it make you feel any better though? Do you prefer to be continuously disappointed over things you have no control on? Who said we have no control on the world? Do you think one has to be The President or some mogul to have a say in the world? Was Rosa Parks anybody important when she did what she did? And even if it's not about changing the world, being aware of the pitfalls instead of blindly optimistic can let people avoid lots of dangers of the "it can't happen here" or "it can't happen to me" type...
wnevets 10y ago
Didn't you know jobs are more important than regulations?
dimino 10y ago
Even like a, "Trust but verify" attitude here would be more appropriate. Like, sure, I get it, it's easier to work with companies if you demonstrate a trusting relationship, but you're in an adversarial position by the nature of your job, the companies should feel a little uncomfortable around you.
FatAmericanDev 10y ago
Google strawman, that may apply to you.
necessity 10y ago
Next time, the right bureaucrat will be in charge!
Spooky23 10y ago
This is classic red state governance. Strip the organization of resources over time, put politically appointed people in charge of work that should be performed by civil servants, and create a situation where the inmates run the asylum. Even if nobody applies pressure, there's an implied threat of reprisal when the an appointed former garden blogger turned director of whatever gives an undesired answer. That job should be a civil service gig protected from direct reprisal. Compare this ridiculous methodology compared to something more robust like the CPI calculations performed by the US DOL.
- rayiner 10y ago
  Yeah, Georgia, what a shit hole. With its triple-AAA bond rating, below-average debt per capita, and solvent pension system!
  - st3v3r 10y ago
    And apparently, inflated chicken prices.
  - Spooky23 10y ago
    You forgot the inadequate transportation system and underfunded schools. I'm sure those chicken companies appreciate the tax break though.
    - monksy 10y ago
      > transportation system I assume that you're talking about Atlanta. The Marta? Nope. Not even close. It's great if you want to go downtown, but not much else. Also it closes before the bars do. Don't even get me started about the highways there.
    - rayiner 10y ago
      Georgia's school performance is about median, in line with blue states like Connecticut, Washington, New York, and way ahead of California or Michigan: http://www.urban.org/urban-wire/how-do-states-really-stack-2015-naep http://www.urban.org/urban-wire/how-do-states-really-stack-2....
rhizome 10y ago
He's hiding behind a negative proof.

vermontdevil 10y ago

He must think everyone else is an idiot when he talks like this.

deleted 10y ago
[deleted]

oxide 10y ago

If it isn't willful obliviousness, at the very least, it is blatant incompetence.

philipodonnell 10y ago

I don't think you have to call it willful. By his own hand he wrote: > “My training was inadequate, inconsistent and sometimes in error,” Schronce wrote of his preparation for calculating the Georgia Dock.

lsaferite 10y ago
That quote is not from the same person.

squozzer 10y ago

Mr. Asbridge, have you ever heard of money? If not, do you know what the numbers on your paycheck mean?

ak4g 10y ago

Uh, this makes no sesne to me. He's speaking specifically about the numbers reported for the Georgia Dock, which, from the reporting in this article, could very easily be completely legitimate. You seem to be interpreting his statement as applying to everything under his job description as director of regulatory compliance. I did not read his statement as a blanket statement; it hadn't occurred to me that anyone would until I saw your comment. As a matter of fact, the 2nd sentence seems to explicitly preclude that interpretation.

cgvgffyv 10y ago
> I did not read his statement as a blanket statement; it hadn't occurred to me that anyone would until I saw your comment. You haven't been on the internet much have you? Get out before it sucks all the optimism out of you and replaces it with cynicism. I feel it's a non-reversible process.
- coldtea 10y ago
  >Get out before it sucks all the optimism out of you and replaces it with cynicism. So, get out before you actually get informed about how the world runs?
  - cgvgffyv 10y ago
    Does it make you feel any better though? Do you prefer to be continuously disappointed over things you have no control on? Others don't give a damn, and they're happier because of it. Bad things will happen to you personally eventually (assuming they haven't yet). I have enough of that to deal with already, why would I want more?
    - coldtea 10y ago
      >Does it make you feel any better though? Do you prefer to be continuously disappointed over things you have no control on? Who said we have no control on the world? Do you think one has to be The President or some mogul to have a say in the world? Was Rosa Parks anybody important when she did what she did? And even if it's not about changing the world, being aware of the pitfalls instead of blindly optimistic can let people avoid lots of dangers of the "it can't happen here" or "it can't happen to me" type...

wnevets 10y ago

Didn't you know jobs are more important than regulations?

dimino 10y ago

Even like a, "Trust but verify" attitude here would be more appropriate. Like, sure, I get it, it's easier to work with companies if you demonstrate a trusting relationship, but you're in an adversarial position by the nature of your job, the companies should feel a little uncomfortable around you.

FatAmericanDev 10y ago

Google strawman, that may apply to you.

necessity 10y ago

Next time, the right bureaucrat will be in charge!

Spooky23 10y ago

This is classic red state governance. Strip the organization of resources over time, put politically appointed people in charge of work that should be performed by civil servants, and create a situation where the inmates run the asylum. Even if nobody applies pressure, there's an implied threat of reprisal when the an appointed former garden blogger turned director of whatever gives an undesired answer. That job should be a civil service gig protected from direct reprisal. Compare this ridiculous methodology compared to something more robust like the CPI calculations performed by the US DOL.

rayiner 10y ago
Yeah, Georgia, what a shit hole. With its triple-AAA bond rating, below-average debt per capita, and solvent pension system!
- st3v3r 10y ago
  And apparently, inflated chicken prices.
- Spooky23 10y ago
  You forgot the inadequate transportation system and underfunded schools. I'm sure those chicken companies appreciate the tax break though.
  - monksy 10y ago
    > transportation system I assume that you're talking about Atlanta. The Marta? Nope. Not even close. It's great if you want to go downtown, but not much else. Also it closes before the bars do. Don't even get me started about the highways there.
  - rayiner 10y ago
    Georgia's school performance is about median, in line with blue states like Connecticut, Washington, New York, and way ahead of California or Michigan: http://www.urban.org/urban-wire/how-do-states-really-stack-2015-naep http://www.urban.org/urban-wire/how-do-states-really-stack-2....

rhizome 10y ago

He's hiding behind a negative proof.