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Wednesday, 2010-03-10

How would you improve ethics in government?

Ethics In Government
Depending on one's point of view, the degree of ethics employed by government can only be determined by outcome. A government is only as good as its ability to stand on the courage of its constitutional convictions. This is likely where the first hint of unethical behavior begins. Understanding the constitution of a government means reading amendments in the manner in which they were intended. Once dilution or reinterpretation begins, the ability to weaken constitutional intent becomes easier. As an example, licensed drivers approach a stop sign on a local road. No dilution or reinterpretation is needed to effect the desired action. Unethical drivers may sail through the stop sign without concern for the dangers they are creating. This is the same issue governments face when they ignore the intent of the constitution.

How To Improve Ethics In Government
Government is government. Business is business. The two should never be mixed. The reason is obvious. Government officials are elected by a majority of citizens as outlined by the constitution. Business operates solely for profit, enterprise and self-gain. When business is allowed to overrule the electorate through special interest groups and lobbyists for big business, it interferes with the right of citizens to have a full and complete voice in their government. Then money, not citizens, is the mechanism by which government functions. In the USA, states have individual rights that are separate and distinct from those of the federal government. This was an intent of the signers of the constitution to prevent a federal entity from accessing autonomous power over the people.

Instilling National Allegiance To Improve Ethics In Government
In order for ethics to improve in government, citizens must be united to the cause of their own government. Without national allegiance to the government comprised of every citizen eligible to vote, divisive factions begin to destroy the unity necessary to bolster allegiance to a government of the people, for the people and by the people. By strengthening the will of a unified people, government retains original constitutional intent. Even in a country with multiple political parties, the people must always have more power over the actions of their government than big business. In this way, the people make decisions on ethics or lack thereof in government and businesses that seek to gain a larger share of influence.

Ethics Begin At Home
Clearly, improving ethics in government must beging with each town, municipality, county, parish or district. Although local elections give voters choices, the choices remain constrained in many ways. This is usually a result of political party leaders who choose candidates from their parties who run for office. This is a dilution of the original intent of the constitutional right of the majority to choose who may run from each party. Lack of ethics in government begins at the root of each political party's core leaders. In most cases, partisan choices are biased toward party members with a preconceived agenda for holding the power to create political office.

The Political Party Bosses and Ethics
In order to improve ethics in government, it becomes necessary to bring about transparency with political party leaders. The constitutional intent of the voting process was clear in its origin. As a result of dilution or reinterpretation of the voting process, the power of the people has been neutralized by outside interference in the form of special interest groups. What exists at present is a voting process that allows a majority vote that may be reinterpreted to suit partisan interests. Particularly, since candidates in primaries elections are chosen by party leaders. This limits choice among voters to only those candidates affiliated with party leaders and creates an unfair agenda not transparent to voters.

Steps to Improve Government Ethics
Transparency is the right of every citizen living under an established government. The only exception to this would be in military intelligence. Lack of transparency is the chief factor that incurs unethical actions. Maintaining an uninformed electorate reduces the power of the people to form decisions and violates the constitutional right to a voice in government. Thus, the first step to improve government ethics must begin with transparency that is inclusive of every citizen.