Kentucky GOP sifting through teachers' emails for political misuse

[TexasTowelie]

The Republican Party of Kentucky has sent a wave of open records requests for the work emails of several teachers, including some who ran for office in November's election — a move it said was a way to see if there was widespread misuse of government resources.

But some educators see it as an intimidation tactic.

While the GOP has declined to say how many requests it has submitted or for whom, at least some of the requests are for Democratic candidates who lost their elections.

"I think the reason they're doing it is they want to make everybody afraid to run again, afraid to run against the establishment next time," said Dustin Allen, a teacher in Laurel County who made an unsuccessful bid for the Kentucky House's 87th District.

Read more: https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/elections/2018/12/14/kentucky-republicans-requests-teacher-emails-potential-political-misuse/2299048002/

[bitterross]

1. It IS intimidation. It's also completely legal. It is also proper.

There is nothing wrong with the GOP, or the Democrats, being able to get the e-mails of public officials and public workers.

I see no reason why the Democratic Party shouldn't do the same thing. Every bit of knowledge you have about a candidate is a bonus.

Sure, it's natural to just send an e-mail to a co-worker and think nothing of it. The last part is the issue. You may no longer "think nothing of it." Not in today's environment.

I have made it a practice to never discuss any sort of contentious internal matter on my company's internal e-mail or chat system. If I want to discuss how I think management is doing with one of my co-workers I do it in private e-mail and on personal phones/texts. On work e-mail, I stick to "Just the facts Ma'am."

If you are on any sort of e-mail/text/chat/team sites with co-workers I advise you to never, never use them for personal reasons. Never use them for union organizing. Never use them to air your complaints about management. Private enterprises OWN all of that communication and are free to search it at will. Governmental systems are, as you can see, far more open to search by unintended people. People who will twist every word you type, and take it all out of context. Do not give either private employers or the public that opportunity.

[Marcuse]

3. Exhibits A and B.

[PatrickforO]

5. Sadly, you're right. There is NO privacy at work and you shouldn't expect any.

Your emails are the property of your employer, just as the computer you use at the office is. So they track your use, where you go, your keystrokes and have copies of all your emails.

Work is not democracy. It is a benign dictatorship where your acceptance and continued presence is based on performance, and that's it.

[blueinredohio]

2. I know this doesn't have anything to do with the post but

speaking of Kentucy how does McConnell rep getting reelected with a thirty some percent favorable rating?

[Hassler]

4. The Putinization of America continues.