American Government Requires Ethical Leadership
The integrity of our nation demands ethical leadership. It must be expressed through America’s schools, law enforcement agencies, educators, students, families, workplaces, and government officials.
In my article titled “America’s Critical Ethical Issues Demand Resolution” for the May 20, 2016 issues of the Epoch Times, I addressed ethics as critical to society.
America is at a crossroads for reawakening, and ethical behavior must be the foundation of the nation.
Our governmental leaders must set the example and pave the way for our future. This will only be possible when ethical leadership, not self-aggrandizement, is their first priority.
Government Leaders: Serve the People
Individuals within privileged positions of government have authority, power, leadership, and influence.
Government leaders must always have the best interests of those whom they have sworn to serve as their priority.
Our government leaders must avoid the pitfall of an attitude of superiority. This attitude is malignance that will distance them from those they have sworn to serve. All deemed inferior will easily be ostracized, and understood as insignificant and inconvenient.
Government officials are called to uphold a high standard of ethical behavior. Ethics is the moral foundation that animates their protecting the integrity of government.
Our government leaders are not ever above the law. They must carry the torch as ethical servants of society and must never exploit their obligation to serve.
The fatal distractions of pride, vanity, and arrogance must be avoided. This is only possible when there are ethical safeguards in place.
Government officials must exemplify a full force ethical commitment to serve, especially those in society most in need.
The arrogance of power can be a destructive seduction that ignites injustice, scandal, and corruption.
Corruption Threatens National Security
Corruption can affect security at our borders, safe communities’ nationwide, public infrastructure, which includes the quality of education for our students.
Public corruption can also involve drug trafficking and alien smuggling at our borders through bribes.
There can also be election crimes that involve campaign finance crimes, voter/ballot fraud, or civil rights violations.
Slashing Ethical Oversight: Self-Serving Leadership
As America begins a new year, the hope for an ethical renaissance has been tainted.
There has been self-serving leadership demanding the slashing of ethical oversight within the highest levels of our government.
There are so many priorities for America, and serving the nation is not possible without ethics.
But our House of Representative is off to a dismal start and has sent a terrible message.
House Republicans voted 119-74, during a closed-door meeting, to replace the Independent Office of Congressional Ethics under the control of these very lawmakers.
This change in rules immediately appeared to be a scheme to the American people. It smacked of an impropriety undermining power from an office that can investigate their misconduct.
Certainly, this was not the right message to send to America.
Headlines throughout the nations immediately condemned their poor judgement. These headlines included the following:
• Secret House GOP Vote Guts Ethics Panel, Prompts Outcry
• With No Warning, House Republicans Vote to Gut Independent Ethics Office
• House Republicans gut their own oversight
• The GOP’s Ethics Disaster
• House Republicans move to strip Congressional Ethics Office’s independence
• House GOP seeks to weaken group hat probes corrupt pols
Based on their deficiency in inspiring confidence, a reminder to Congress is required.
According to published reports, dozens of members of Congress have been indicted since 1980.
Crimes in this shameful category of corrupt Congressional leaders include racketeering, tax evasion, accepting illegal gifts, mail and wire fraud, child pornography, aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a child, conspiracy, money laundering, misuse of public funds and embezzlement.
Final Reflections
America’s government leaders must have the best interests of the people they serve first, and this is only possible when ethics is the heart of their service.
The reawakening of the nation demands ethical leadership. We must have leaders who live and inspire the highest standards of character.
The American people deserve nothing less than government leaders dedicated without compromise to service.
The plans of our government officials will only be efficacious when ethics is the driving force behind their behavior and decisions.
This misguided move to gut ethical oversight deserves condemnation from throughout America.
Only because of severe backlash, the travesty of their intent to minimize ethical safeguards was immediately curtailed.
Ethical oversight must be strengthened, not minimized, and America must continue to demand ethical leadership from all who have sworn to serve.
Note Well:
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Vincent is author of over 200 articles, including his weekly column titled “Reawakening the Nation” for the Epoch Times; 35 countries, 21 languages, and growing.
Photos
1. Pope Francis addresses a joint meeting of the U.S. Congress in the House Chamber of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 24, 2015. Pope Francis is the first pope to address a joint meeting of Congress. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
2. The US Capitol is seen in Washington, DC, on November 15, 2016. (NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images)
Labels: Character, Epoch Times, FBI, Leadership, Scandal and Corruption
posted by Vincent J. Bove, CPP at 9:56 AM
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