Problems with the command alternatives

[Robert Moskowitz]

I am having problems with the command alternatives

On the system in question, I type the command in, even by itself and 
NOTHING seems to happen.  No output at all.

I reboot the box and no difference.  This is F12.  I have another F12 
system that at least providing just the command responds with content 
about the help for the command.

What might have gotten broken to cause this?  I DID use alternatives 
ONCE on the system to set the MTA to postfix.