Principles in the Modern World

Before writing this article, I put these questions all over the net. 1) Is there room for principles at work? 2) Have you ever lost your job because you stood up for your principles? 3) Have you ever put your principles aside to keep your job? 4) Has management ever asked (told) you to set you to do something against your principles? I put these questions everywhere. The funny thing is, I only got one response. I think the reason is that most people are afraid of "work" finding out that they "talked".

I guess to better understand this, I should give you the Merriam-Webster definition to the word. "Principles" : a comprehensive and fundamental law, doctrine, or assumption b (1): a rule or code of conduct (2): habitual devotion to right principlesprinciple. For our purposes, we will also define the word. "Ethics" : the discipline dealing with what is good and bad and with moral duty and obligation 2 a: a set of moral principles : a theory or system of moral values.

The one person who answered me gave what I believe to be an honest answer. They started working for a firm which sold time shares specifically to the elderly. The kicker was that upon the elders death, the time share reverted to the firm which sold it. The person who told me this said that they worked there until they could find another job, but felt bad for the people that he helped dupe, which are his words, not mine. Seems to me that most schemers go after the elderly because they tend to be more trusting of their fellow man than the rest of us.

Since I got such a limited response to my queries, I decided to search the news and blogs on-line for material. The first article that really jumped out at me was Marc Garlasco who was suspended from Human Rights Watch for collecting Nazi Memorabilia. The fact that he collected memorabilia from both the Allied and Axis powers was overlooked. The real reason he was ostracized was for his lax stance on Palestinian rights. He was suspended for his views more than for his hobbies, yet someone's interests was at stake and they used public perception against him. When the story broke, there was no, "Marc Garlasco suspended for collecting WWII memorabilia," which was the truth.

The second article that really JUMPED OUT was titled, "ACORN displays loose principles in helping those allegedly in need." Now that got my attention, surprised that a the association of community activists have been called on their principles? The real irony is that the least principled body in the land, and I mean CONGRESS, is voting to cut their funding to zero. How is it that the entire organization is being judged by the few? So, who's principles should we question here? Ours? ACORN is probably the one organization that is responsible for Obama winning the presidency, which made them a target. I am not condoning the actions of the few. However, during the run for the presidency, the Republicans accused ACORN of trying to steal the election for Obama.

The only time we seem to have principles in the modern world is when they suit our own agenda. Case in point is the next article, "Calpers Backs Principles To Improve Private-Equity Industry." Calpers is the California Public Employees' Retirement System. Nice how people had to lose half their fortunes before they decided that ethics and principles were important in the financial system. Where were these people when Enron was fleecing half the country.

What is even more amazing is America's insistence that we are helping the rest of the world by bringing "Freedom" and "Capitalism" to the rest of the world. The truth behind that is that we are robbing every resource we can from the rest of the world leaving the indigenous populations to starve after we have fleeced them. To prove this all you have to do is look at the buying power of the average Indonesian since they were freed. At the same time they were freed, the IMF and the World Bank approved millions in loans. All the government had to do was secure those loans with their resources and their infrastructure. Now in order to get electricity or water, all you have to do is send your payment to the IMF. According to the IMF and the WB the average income there has increased, but that tells us that the one percent that is earning millions when averaged with the ninety-nine percent making a dollar a day, the average is higher.

There is no room for principles and ethics in a system that pits every man against his brother. No one celebrates when they break even. Money is really what it is all about, isn't it? Ask anyone and if the number is high enough, they will leave all their morals, principles and ethics behind. All you have to do is look at the executives at the tobacco and drug companies. Researchers have found that most CEO's are sociopaths, which makes it easier to rob and steal from the rest of the world.

I am really interested in what you think about ethics, principles and morality in the modern world. feel free to e-mail me at drenchzgrinch@yahoo.com with any and all stories that you have. I will not reveal your name or any company by name due to libel concerns. I am NOT done with this topic as it opens the door to so many others.....