Auditors' Videos Warn, 'Taxpayer, Watch Out!'

That is so pity of them to do that!!!! Do they even pay their taxes to work there???? Well, whoever is singing, dancing, and think is funny, I hope you whoever you are get audit!!!

I wish more companies would do this. I truly belive it relives the stress. I don't care if it is the IRS, NES or our elected officals.
There are to many strokes, heartattacks, nervous breakdowns, because of job and home stress. So if a company can do something to relieve some of the pressure from their employees, then let them!! I know I wish my company would.
I for one am not offended by their singing or the lyrics. Leave them alone and let them sing loud and dance.

I know there are many incompetent public servants in Tennessee and the rest of the United States. It is obvious when you look at the way the Government operates. However, Reagan Farr wins the competion for the "Biggest Government idiot" hands down. If the govenor does not fire him, after Phil William's investigation, then something is very wrong. It is obvious that Mr. Farr is a fool and is not competent to serve as Tennessee's Revenue Commisioner.

Uh, Phil. I hate to tell you this, but these songs are supposed to be parodies. You assume that because some of these lyrics poke fun at taxpayers that means the singers/writers hate taxpayers. So, does that mean Weird Al Yankovic hated doctors when he did his "Like a Surgeon" parody of "Like a Virgin"? Or, since you look old enough to remember Alan Sherman, that he hated summer camps when he did "Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah"?

Maybe if you discover a sense of humor you'll be able to report REAL news. Your story on fake degrees was, in my opinion, right on target, but this story falls into my category of taking a cheap shot at state government because that is the easy, fashionable thing to do. So, here's my parody of the late Phil Hartman of SNL doing his Frankenstein impersonation about your story:

Mmmm. Government, bad! Media, good!

I concur with NotWeirdAl. Phil must've got audited and now has an axe to grind. To put it bluntly, this piece was very disappointing and just not up to Mr. Williams' usual standards.

I am glad Phil brought this to our attention. we can now be aware what some of these people think of us. Having fun at our (taxpayers') expense is not what I consider "training". Even if the intent is to relieve stress, it is not respectful of the people who work hard every day and have to pay those taxes. When people "play games" like this, some actually take the attitude seriously that belittles taxpayers. Also, with funding supposed to be so tight right now, I would think this training could be done at a less costly location.

They should have gone to a State park for training. I would've save money. The training is very structured. They are taxpayers, too. One of them may have been audited as well. So what about the lyrics, laughter is the best medicine. I think it's great that they had an ice-breaker and added some fun to their training. Life is filled with too much stress! Laugh a little and release some of that stress. Quit being so negative!

Drew Johnson...Dude, you need to chill out!

I can't even believe this is newsworthy material. Anyone who knows anything about training others knows that you have to keep things interesting and keep everybody motivated. And what some of you don't seem to know or understand here is that this was not just a TN Dept. of Revenue affair. In fact, those people in the videos you see may not even be from the state of TN. From what I hear, they had a very long and tedious day of training and stopped for about a two-minute break to come up with their parodies in groups. How would you feel if I told you those same people also took potty breaks on your dime. Yep, that's right! Come on, people. Give them a break.

Rick Steinberg wrote:

I know there are many incompetent public servants in Tennessee and the rest of the United States. It is obvious when you look at the way the Government operates. However, Reagan Farr wins the competion for the "Biggest Government idiot" hands down. If the govenor does not fire him, after Phil William's investigation, then something is very wrong. It is obvious that Mr. Farr is a fool and is not competent to serve as Tennessee's Revenue Commisioner.

As a State Employee it is disheartning to see how you feel. I too pay my taxes!! Until becoming a State Employee I did not understand nor relate to how difficult it is and no one from the "Private Sector" could understand that your personal information has just become PUBLIC knowledge. Due to my position, you the public, can know my exact salary, who I am and every detail of my job. Can you say that about yourself? didn't think so. If these songs, not done tastefully I give you that, helped employees that have a VERY STRESSFUL job learn how to do their job better, then it was obtained. Most State Employees do not waste taxpayers money, we strive to lower the cost of doing the same job, yet do it in right & save time.

I’ve worked in both the private and public sectors over the last several decades, and have attended more hours of training than I care to recall. It is typical for professional trainers to include this type of exercise during exceptionally long training sessions to relieve tedium and develop teamwork. Those type of skits are created either within 10 or 15 minutes during class time (which takes exceptional cooperation and group participation), or are developed outside of class during personal time. Without exception, all of the similar exercises I have witnessed turned out to be self deprecating humor. (For the gousing “all State workers are bums� commenters, that means to put yourself down.) My disappointment is with Phil for continuing to chew on a non-story. You have done some very good investigative stories, Phil. This ain’t one of them. The only story I have witnessed on channel 5 during the last 30 years that was worse took place soon after the tragic Columbine High School shootings. Chris Clark breathlessly led off the evening news with a story about a shooting at a local school which, after tirelessly using and repeating all the fear-triggering words, was finally reported, live and on site, that someone shot one bee bee into a shatterproof window at a school after everyone had left for the day. I take it back. Chris Clark’s shameful non-story may be second worst.

I think channel 5 spent way too much time on this story. Surely there are other issues that Phil can investigate.

I thought these were HILARIOUS!!! Not that big of a deal to me.

This is stupid. As long as they do there job correctly, who cares what they do during training. Do you think police don't talk about how great it is to bust someone, or teachers talk about failing kids? Do you really think these auditors are the first to make fun off their "customers." Besides, you would only have to pay Tennessee taxes if you have some type of investment income. Get a life Phil Williams. I hope you get audited now.

To paraphrase an earlier comment... I know there are many VINDICTIVE TELEVISION REPORTERS in Tennessee and the rest of the United States. It is obvious when you look at the way the MEDIA operates. However, PHIL WILLIAMS wins the competion for the "Biggest TELEVISION idiot" hands down. If the STATION does not REPRIMAND him, after Phil William's investigation, then something is very wrong. It is obvious that Mr. WILLIAMS is a fool and is not competent to serve as NEWSCHANNEL 5'S INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE move on to another story.
Why does Channel 5 insist on this story being in your lineup of top stories???????? I think I may have to move on to WSMV (http://www.wsmv.com) or WKRN's (http://www.wkrn.com) website for my daily news.

A free press is wonderful freedom and vital to a civilized society. However, it carries with it an awesome, awesome
responsibility for truth, nonsensationalized, and non-personalized
reporting to the citizenary that it serves. Reporting must contain all facts and be totally true in order that the readers or viewers may know the complete story. Distortion of reality in the report gives the readers or viewers an untrue mental image. Here, Phil you have violated all those principals and ethics in reporting for what seems to be a personal vendetta against the state government,specifically the Department of Revenue. Kinda reminds one of Dan Rather, who, fortunately, got caught lieing and was fired.

Phil, while I am sure it will not happen,
(you have too big an ego for this)both you and Drew Johnson owe the Department of Revenue, it's Commissioner, and the hard working dedicated employees a public apology that, at least, seems sincere, for what ranks among the top in violations of ethics, morality, and truth in reporting that I have ever had the displeasure to witness. Also, I wonder why most of the comments that appeared yesterday and this morning have been deleted. Could it be the fact they were running more than two to one against you and Channel 5 and in favor of the Department of Revenue? Channel 5
managers, if you project these percentages across alll of yout viewers, is this really the image the owners and management want to present?

Annoyed wrote:

That is so pity of them to do that!!!! Do they even pay their taxes to work there???? Well, whoever is singing, dancing, and think is funny, I hope you whoever you are get audit!!!

Ya know everyone pays taxes....if you work you pay taxes...I am a state employee and I am sick and tired of everyone thinking we dont do anything and we get paid big bucks...I am a single mom I have worked for the state 10 years and I dont even bring home 1800 a month.....Just because a department had a stress reliever everyone is getting all pissy. You know we dont get a raise unless legislators say we can...so this year when most of the private sector are getting raises remember the state employees who are not and their insurance premiums going up and cost of living going up. Come work one day in our shoes and you will see its no different than provate sector and we catch alot more flack!

Autumnblaze wrote:

I concur with NotWeirdAl. Phil must've got audited and now has an axe to grind. To put it bluntly, this piece was very disappointing and just not up to Mr. Williams' usual standards.

I've heard Phil Williams speak at a government event, and tell about how his father had to go before the local political committee of his home county years ago to get their "approval" for a job. So yes, I would say that he does have an axe to grind.
While state government isn't perfect, what I saw in this story was no worse than some team building exercises I've participated in in the private sector. This was just a very convenient story to run while the Governor talks about cutting 2000 jobs from state government. I wonder how long he had this footage before he ran it?

Phil NOT Williams wrote:

<quoted text>
I've heard Phil Williams speak at a government event, and tell about how his father had to go before the local political committee of his home county years ago to get their "approval" for a job. So yes, I would say that he does have an axe to grind.
While state government isn't perfect, what I saw in this story was no worse than some team building exercises I've participated in in the private sector. This was just a very convenient story to run while the Governor talks about cutting 2000 jobs from state government. I wonder how long he had this footage before he ran it?

Since this person chose to get personal, I wanted it to be clear that I spoke at that event of having seen political patronage at work when I was a child during the days of the Blanton administration. How you can twist that into a grudge against auditors is beyond me.

In fact, I still have the speech. I spoke glowingly of the work that auditors do.

Here is how it ended:

"Sometimes what you have to say may not be welcomed -- whether it's how tax dollars are spent, how the government treats the least among us, or how public officials treat themselves at the expense of the public.

"And, for you, there too may come a time when you – and only you -- can make a difference.

"If you yield to political pressure, if you look away, no one may ever know.

"But you will.

"When those times come, ask yourself: If you don't stand up, who will?

"Thank you for your attention, and thank you for all that you do to look out for the public."

Some grudge, huh?

Phil