THE FALL AND DECLINE OF MORALS IN GOVERNMENT AND BUREAUCRACY

No this posting is not about Rob Ford. It could be about permeating fear, insidious corruption, fellow travellors, self interest or even other reasons behind the loss of morality in government/bureaucracy action and decision making. The first question which I will answer is this: "When did morals and ethics finally completely leave government?". My answer is that it completely left when both politicians and bureaucrats realized that it is much easier politically to appear to be doing the right thing rather than actually doing it. They did a cost benefit analysis and determined that the political benefits of lying greatly outweigh the unlikely scenario of being exposed. They understood that as long as governments rigidly control their bureaucrats and employees then they can keep everyone on the same message. As long as the politicians appoint, discipline and dismiss their senior staff they will prevail. These senior staff then have power to appoint, discipline and dismiss their staff, regardless of their competence and honesty. In the case of a wrongful dismissal suit or union grievance; taxpayers money will make all problems go away.

What happens if the bureaucrats know full well that the proper and moral action is A but that there will be consequences for doing the right thing? Do they throw innocent victims under the bus in order to protect the majority of taxpayers from for example a lawsuit by a powerful, unhappy third party. I think the history of government scandals over the last fifty years would say yes. Do bureaucrats throw innocent victims under the bus for fear of repercussions to their careers? If their political masters have an agenda and the bureaucrats like their jobs and perks then human frailties tied to self interest take over. Is it too late to reverse this trend? It is entrenched and established and in my opinion very few honest people stay in politics. I think the expression is if you lay with pigs you will get muddy. I would also suggest that most senior management in corporations have long learned that their self interest lies in protecting the corporation's interests not the public's interests. Just a more recent example would be General Motor's apparent negligence with an switch in their vehicles. People died but apparently not enough for GM to do the right thing immediately.