I don't know that anyone would suggest that the drug trade is victimless, but one must admit that the use of pot and many other currently illegal drugs is certainly victimless apart from the user. The dangers of the drug trade are directly tied to the war on drugs and the illegal position of those drugs. Take away the prohibition and most all dangers of the drug trade would disappear. To argue otherwise is to buy into the fog of dishonesty that shrouds all conversation about drugs and drug use.

that the earlier stories had when the indictments were announced and the nature of the description of West was more than accurate and made up for the earlier references of West as a "prominent businessman".

Prominent businessmen do not launder their brother's drug money through their business.

Prominent is a word which indicates that the subject is somewhat anchored in what he has been doing and has risen to this position over time. Neither of which apply to West although there are a number of good people doing good things on Market Square.

In the food and drink business in Knoxville, Mike Chase, Mike Conley, and Bill Regas are prominent.

I normally don't give a hoot what anyone is saying as long as I'm doing my job, which I am in the West case. It just sometimes gets frustrating to be so publicly judged.

I do not find any problems with Jamie's article on Scott West. I do not see that the problems with the Knoxville News Sentinel are with the reporters. They can only have articles printed that the editor and publisher approve. But there are serious problems at the daily paper.

The dichotomy between the sympathy for the Wests and the apathy towards Mayor Ragsdale's possible criminal actions is difficult to understand. What has happened to this town? An appeal is made for leniency for a “benevolent drug dealer” while the County Mayor does his imitation of Watergate and there is outrage over the reporting on the drug dealer? Are we that messed up in this town?

There need to be changes at the Knoxville News Sentinel.

Anyone can make a complaint to the Knoxville News Sentinel Ethical Program Director. The number is 1-888-397-4911. If you choose not to leave your name a identification number will be issued.

The Scripps Code of Ethics can be found here:

(link...)

The hands off non-reporting of the County Mayor seems to violate the following section of the Scripps Code of Ethics:

POLITICAL ACTIVITY
The Company remains independent in all political matters and will not make monetary contributions, directly or indirectly, to political campaigns or causes, or to political parties. Moreover, its officers will not make such contributions acting on behalf of the Company. Rare exceptions may be made to this prohibition, but then only if permitted by law and approved by the President of the Company.

Although the Company is independent in all political matters, employees are encouraged to register to vote, with party affiliations, and to vote. Employees may pursue their own personal political activities, but may not, either inadvertently or intentionally, represent their personal views or contributions to be those of the Company. Employees must avoid any suggestion that their relationship with the Company constitutes an endorsement of any kind.

Journalists and others working in newsrooms must abide by a more restrictive standard, given the disinterested neutrality from which news organizations must work. They must not serve in elected or politically appointed positions. They must not participate in political fund-raising, political organizing, nor other activities designed to enhance a candidate, a political party or a political-interest organization. They must not make contributions of record to political campaigns nor engage in other such activity that might associate an employee's name with a political candidate or a political cause.

The Wests enjoyed a long run as downtown media darlings, mainly due to their own relentless self-promotion and willingness to support TPTB in all things -- compounded by always uncritical and often fawning media coverage. They developed a loyal following, and that crowd resents them being called what they are. There is a classic case of shoot the messenger going on (not on this forum, but elsewhere), and Jamie Satterfield has done nothing but her job.

Jamie has done some very important work over the past decade and gets far too little credit. I wish there were a dozen more like her.