Daily we are faced with ethical decisions that we justify or rationalize within the framework of our morals. Do we return extra change to the retail clerk if we mistakenly receive too much ? Do we speed on the highway when the posted limit is 100 km/hour ? Do we call in sick, when we can work at less than our best ? Do we tell "little lies" so as not to hurt our families, co-workers and those in our communities ? We all justify or rationalize our actions based on the situations we find ourselves in.
When I turn on the news, all I currently hear is the debate on the US Debt Ceiling issue. With the world's economies dependent on the actions of the US Congress and the President of the United States, each party is justifying and rationalizing their positions in this matter. It has me questioning whether this issue is a serious as everyone is making it out to be. If this was as serious as an earthquake - then people would do the right thing - right ?
The last earthquake in Japan showed that the majority of people in a crisis situation do the right thing. The Japanese people showed courage, patience and compassion throughout this crisis. However, the company that owned the nuclear power plant, the current Japanese government in power and their political opponents tried to assign blame, hide facts and put the situation into an easily excused event. So what are we to make of human actions when their ethics and morals are in question. I suggest that most people in most situations will "do the right thing" most of the time. Based on my experience, I suggest that most people, that have power given to them by election or promotion have a distorted view of "the right thing." Why is that ?
Could it be that they do not believe that they deserve to have the position that has been given to them. Is it possible that they have to justify or rationalize their actions because they feel they have no reason for being in the position they find themselves in ? They are put in a position that each action they take might effect the position they are trying so hard to retain.
In the most plain and simple words - TO DO THE RIGHT THING, YOU MUST BE WILLING TO GIVE UP THAT WHICH YOU HAVE. That doesn't mean that you will lose everything if you do the right thing. However, it does require that you make a conscious decision to risk that which you have - "to do the right thing."
Let's get back to the US Debt Ceiling issue. I do not have a clue as to the correct answer to the problem. I trust that all the "really smart people" have reviewed this issue from every possible angle, reviewed each effect of the actions taken, assigned probability to the results of each action and have a range of results that will assist them in deciding on the best decision for the economy, the country and the world community. What I don't trust are the ethics and morals of the persons that will vote on the US Debt Ceiling plans. Until enough of the people that have the responsibility to vote on "doing the right thing" are willing to risk their positions in government, then the right thing will not be done.
The sad thing is, that if President Obama would outline all options, estimated results and his suggestion for a proper resolution to the US debt issues which includes not only this debt ceiling issue - but, also a recommendation for getting the debt repaid and a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution - he would be vilified by his own party, the Republicans, the media and anybody else that would have an opinion - educated or not.
However, what if Obama went to the American people and said that he was suggesting that based on his evaluation the solution was "X", whatever that recommendation is, and he was willing to not run in the next election if the recommendation proved to be wrong. But, if the recommendation proved to be "the right thing to do" then the American people would elect him to a second term. That is, he would be willing to risk his job, in order to do his job. I suggest that the American people would have more confidence in him and support him in his decision and subsequently in the next presidential election. What the average man and women wants from a leader is courage, patience and compassion. No person is expected to have all the right answers, but a person charged with the authority to make decisions is expected to take full responsibility for those decisions.
What do you do if you do not trust those persons in a position of authority "to do the right thing?" Below are a few suggestions
- Get and stay healthy through exercise, quiet thought and the love of your family
- Eliminate or limit any debt that you personally have
- Stick to a reasonable budget
- Live your life based on your values, ethics and moral compass and be willing to risk it all to live life on your terms
- Have financial protection in place to protect your family
- Work at something or somewhere that you are proud to be part of
These are not just words to me - I am willing to do the right thing.
