Monthly Archives: July 2010

Ethics Dunces: Sen. Kerry’s Critics

Hypocrisy, unfairness…pick your own adjective for Republican and conservative attacks on Sen. John Kerry for saving himself some money by docking his $7 million yacht in Rhode Island. Continue reading

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Filed under Citizenship, Ethics Dunces, Government & Politics, Journalism & Media, Leadership, U.S. Society

Ethics Quiz: The Garage Sale Treasure

The story of a man who bought two small boxes at a garage sale ten years ago and just discovered that they contained 65 previously undiscovered glass negatives by famed nature photographer Ansel Adams worth millions (he purchased the boxes for $45) raises some interesting ethics questions. Here’s a quiz! Continue reading

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Filed under Business & Commercial, Daily Life, Etiquette and manners, Finance

Ethics and the Killer’s Liver

Wouldn’t it be more ethical to withhold a life-saving liver transplant from a murderer, and give the liver instead to someone who isn’t a blight on society and likely to spend the rest of his life in prison? Continue reading

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Filed under Bioethics, Government & Politics, Health and Medicine, Law & Law Enforcement, Professions

Charlie Rangel, Ethics Corrupter

Rep. Rangel should admit that his ethical principles became tainted over time, apologize, and resign with dignity. He should not pass those tainted principles on to the community, where they will do more damage. Continue reading

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Filed under Citizenship, Government & Politics, Leadership, Public Service, Philanthropy, Charity, Race, U.S. Society

Obama, the Bomber, and the Dangers of Deceit

This President promised to forge a new transparency in the office, and to eschew “politics as usual” in Washington, which means means rejecting the official language of the city, deceit. His undeniable embrace of the dishonest tactic of deceit in this instance to avoid accountability for an unpopular diplomatic call raises serious questions about his integrity, courage, and honesty. Continue reading

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Filed under Around the World, Business & Commercial, Government & Politics, History, Leadership, U.S. Society

Daniel Schorr’s Ethical Legacy

The Late Daniel Schorr was not an objective journalist, and despite his proclamations to the contrary, he wasn’t an ethical journalist either. He just thought he was. Continue reading

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Filed under Arts & Entertainment, Government & Politics, History, Journalism & Media, Professions, U.S. Society

“The Decision” and ESPN’s Ethics Fail: The Ombudsman Blows the Whistle

You knew there was a lot wrong with “The Decision,” LaBron’s James’ revolting “special” about making his free agency choice. Now ESPN’s ombudsman explains just how much was wrong with it. Continue reading

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Filed under Arts & Entertainment, Business & Commercial, Journalism & Media, Sports

The Ethics of Non-Voting Candidates

Does not voting for over a decade disqualify one for public office? Not quite, but… Continue reading

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Filed under Citizenship, Government & Politics, Leadership, Public Service, Philanthropy, Charity, U.S. Society

More Lessons from the Sherrod Ethics Train Wreck

We learned that we can’t trust videotape to be self-explanatory, as if we didn’t know that already. We learned that we can’t trust Andrew Breitbart not to mislead us. We learned we can’t trust our government to act fairly, responsibly and with due process when political concerns loom, and that we can’t trust it to take full responsibility for its own errors. We learned the same about the N.A.A.C.P., and also that its leadership will lie to the public when it thinks the media will allow it to do so. Continue reading

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Filed under Government & Politics, Journalism & Media, Leadership, Professions, Race, The Internet, U.S. Society

Free Speech or Theft? The Law and Ethics of Stolen Valor

How much protection should be accorded to intentionally false speech? Do we have a Constitutional right to lie? All lies? Some? How about claiming the be a war hero when you’re not? Continue reading

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Filed under Citizenship, Daily Life, History, Law & Law Enforcement, U.S. Society, War and the Military