First, I am doing much better, still a little bit of a headache but it is almost gone. Second, ethics for accountants revolve around a rule that says "if something appears to an outsider as being wrong, then whether or not what you are doing is wrong, in the eyes of ethics it is wrong." That is a paraphrase of the rule.
That is how I look at scandals. As you all know I am a pretty strong President Obama supporter, however, I think all three of his cabinet appointees that didn't pay their income taxes should have resigned not just two of them. In the current times we need to trust our politicians and every politician should behave like they are living in a glass house. They should be above reproach. They shouldn't even do something that appears to an outsider as being remiss. We need honest, ethical, folks to lead us out of the mess that has been created the last sixteen years. We didn't get that with the three appointees that didn't pay their taxes. I will say it was extremely refreshing to hear President Obama say "I made a mistake", that is a good start to restoring trust with me.
Wells Fargo is holding an extreme expensive retreat at the most expensive hotel in Las Vegas and that is just wrong. Yet, the Wells Fargo executives are defending it. How can we support giving them more bailout money when we can't trust them to use our money in a judicious manner.
In the City of Portland the current scandal involves the first openly gay mayor in the city's history. Before the election he denied having a relationship with a teen intern. After being elected he did admit to a sexual relationship with the intern, but stated that sexual relationship was after the teen turned 18, the age of legal consent in Oregon. Both the teen and Mayor Adams admitted to kissing twice when the teen was seventeen. To me the gay issue is a red herring and doesn't mean a darn thing to me, what does matter to me are two things 1: Does relationship between the young teen and Mayor Adams when the teen was 17, appear to be wrong. My answer is yes. 2. Would have Mayor Adams been elected had he not lied about the relationship and was honest about the relationship before he got elected. I don't think he would have been elected. Mayor Adams now is being investigated to see if his relationship with the teen broke the law. Under Oregon law kissing can be considered a sexual advance and when one party is under 18 and the other party is twenty years his elder it can be considered illegal. I've come to the conclusion that Mayor Adams should resign. He has lost the support of some of the city council. He lost the support of a lot of the city, although there is a good share of city residents that still support him. I just think I'd rather read in the daily newspaper about what Portland is doing to improve its economy than the daily dose of the current scandal.
What is your take on the scandals? What do you think needs to be done to restore out faith and trust in politicians?
About Me
- William J.
- First, I think the birth sign is wrong. 6-21, some papers say Gemini, some Cancer. Guess that means I have so many personalities that I can do group therapy alone. For those that don't know how to read Google profiles I have put what I really mean in ( ). Hot (Good looking enough to be in movies(if I buy at ticket). A body like a God (Buddha). Romantic (Thinks begging is foreplay.) Physically fit (Heart trouble. Put 911 on speed dial before we get initmate.) Good Provider (has good life insurance in case you forget to put 911 on speed dial.) Loyal (has reference letters from Mom and parole officer.) Intelligent (scored 1600 on his SATS but you have to total the scores of the four times that I took the test.) Looking for someone compatible (Be between 30 & 99 and not inflatable.)
8 comments:
I'm delighted to hear you're feeling better and hope the headache is history, by the time you read this.
Scandals... sigh. Like you, I'm disappointed in the fact three of his cabinet choices had unpaid tax problems. Here we have American citizens struggling like crazy to pay their taxes, because their income doesn't cover basis, yet highly paid public officials (and I'd sure like to have a close look at some of the CEOs) aren't paying taxes they know are owed.
Yes, politicians need to be above reproach but, truth be told, I can't think of a one of them that I truly believe is honest, ethical and acting in integrity in all areas of their lives. If it's not taxes, it's connections to special interest or lobbyists or extra-marital affairs or playing games to get pork money to assure re-election or some such.
Yes, we need, as you say, "honest, ethical folks" to lead us out of the mess we're in. Yet, to be honest, I often wonder where these folks are. Even if/when we find them, do they have the money it now takes to get elected? I know this may sound facetious, but if we could get some good-old-down-home-folks into office and into the cabinet positions, would we be further ahead with their honesty, ethics, common sense and practicality than we are with those who have experience making money, raising money and bending the rules to gain power and wealth?
I think I read that Wells Fargo cancelled their spendy retreat, in the face of public outcry. I hope so. Sigh. Our relatively small bank we selected when we moved here (because it was small, yet not a stand alone) was bought by Wachovia, then Wachovia bought AG EDwards, where I have my IRA, and now Wells Fargo has bought Wachovia. On the one hand, it's a temptation to go to a smaller bank; on the other, we're so comfortable with the folks at our local branch and they've been so helpful, one hates to break the relationship. Then again, if one looks at ethics and integrity and true concern for the economy... it's all very convoluted in my mind.
I'm with you on the mayor going. Not because of his sexual orientation, but the fact he lied (apparently to be elected) and that raises the question of HIS honesty and integrity and what else will/has he lied about?
I don't think faith can be restored in politicians. I think if we could elect and appoint statesmen/women, people who honestly have the best interests of the country and the entire population at heart, we could see some progress. Politicians, almost by definition, have their own interests and, perhaps, that of the lobbyists and special interest groups and whatever porkbarrel project(s) needs to be done to get re-elected at the basis of their actions. At the risk of sounding negative and cynical, I think greed and power are the driving forces of at least 75% of our elected and appointed officials and until that changes, nothing else is going to change.
(Putting away soapbox and celebrating fact youngest sister arrived half an hour ago at Mom's)
Hi Dr
About your sister being there, YIPEE!!!!!!!!!
The headache is gone but the frustration about some things are work is there !
We have a senator here in Oregon, Ron Wyden, that I think is pretty ethical. He now is being considered for the position that Tom Daschle bowed out of, I hope he gets it.
The affairs that politicians bother me to now end, because it shows bad judgment and no loyalty to people that love them.
I like to think there is some honest, ethical folks, like Warren Buffett, that could lead us. So far even though he made mistakes I think President Obama's heart is in the right place.
I've often thought we should choose are politicians the way we choose jouries. A person takes a test to make sure he is qualified, then he or she goes into a pool. Every four years randomly people are picked for different offices. The money we save on elections could be used to pay for some to take the jobs of the chosen few until their terms are up and they can get back to what they are doing.
I hopr Wells Fargo canceled their retreat. I couldn't believe the idiots were defending it. Talk about out of touch!
I'd be hesitant to go to a small local bank in these economic times, I think you are doing the right thing staying where you are.
As to are mayor a lot of the gay community wanted Adams to resign because they felt it isn't how they want to be represented. It also plays into the stereotype that gay men are predators. After Adams decided not to resign they support him because they think it is best for the city.
Greed and power without regulations are why we are in the shape we are in. Why our IRAs have tanked.
Bill
The last I heard, Wells Fargo had canceled that junket. They were idiots to plan it in the first place.
Politicians above reproach? Wouldn't that be nice. Ain't gonna happen. A politician with ambition who isn't scrupulous about taxes is an idiot. I imagine they all got away with stuff like that in the past, but starting with he extreme scrutiny of Clinton's nominees, they should have known they had to be squeaky clean if they had aspirations to higher office. I suspect we're missing out on some of the best people for the jobs, but in the end it's their own darned fault. Sad but true.
As to your mayor, I am thoroughly sick of hearing about politicians' sexual peccadilloes. Offhand, I'd say kissing a 17 y/o is one of the tamer ones I've heard so far, but I'm sure it'll crucify him in the end, and he probably deserves it, not for the kiss itself, but for being stupid. Don't these guys know they always get caught in the end?
And since when is there a test to be on a jury? They never tested me. They kicked me off once because I had an opinion or two, but there you are. Can't have jurors with opinions, can we? OTOH, if we selected representatives by lottery, maybe with a basic IQ test to qualify them, we might be better off than we are now.
One other thing I'll take exception to. What I've heard is that small banks may be safer than the big ones. They haven't gotten into toxic loans as much as the bigger ones, and some are still strong. Same with some credit unions.
Okay, I'm grumpy tonight. Off my soapbox now. DR, I'm delighted that your sister finally got there. And Bill, I hope whatever's not great at work will work itself out soonest.
Hi Pat
I'm glad Wells Fargo cancelled the meeting but they should have canceled on their own before the public outcry.
I didn't mean to apply that you took a test to become a jurist, I meant that you choose politicians randomly like you choose juries and then *add* a qualification test to avoid getting people that aren't smart enough to come in out of the rain running the country. In a small way since they choose the jury pool from registered voters you do take a minimal test, are you a US Citizen, are you legally old enough, etc. I just would ask several additional questions. Have you paid your taxes. Have you been arrested for a felony. And so forth.
As to the mayor I do think he deserves what he is getting for lying, bad judgment, being an idiot and the relationship with a 17 year-old. I look at it this way. A 40 year old male teacher (or other position of authority) expresses a sexual interest in a 17 year-old female student. He takes her to dinner. She says she is 17. He hires her as a teaching assistant. Before she turns 17 he follows her to the rest room, where they kiss passionately (according to the teen). That is not only a classic case of sexual harrassement, it is illegal in Oregon. The 40 year old man is taking advantage of the girl. Same with the gay mayor. The situation with the mayor is exactly the same as I just described, the only difference is both participants are male. Then we add the issue of him being elected on a lie, then the wondering if the loss of trust with some of the public and the people he is going to be working with how realistic it is that he is going to able to pass his agenda. The agenda that the people elected him on. In Oregon you aren't allowed to recall a politician for six months after elected. I am pretty sure someone will start a recall petition at that time and the mayor will be recalled. Then there will be a special election to elect a new mayor. A costly procedure for the city.
I completely agree that a politician that isn't scrupulous about taxes is a complete idiot. The part I wonder about is why these three guys didn't bring up the tax issues during the vetting process before they were appointed, why it came out after the appointment. If I was President Obama I'd be ticked.
The small banks are safer now than the banks that issued the loans for more than the value of properties. However, with people losing jobs, reducing the amount of money that the banks have on hand and therefore the amount of money they can loan I anticipate the small banks having a reduction of income and if it reaches a point that they have to close the chance of a a bailout for a small bank from the government is pretty small. Credit Unions are safe and that is were I have my money.
I'm sorry you were grumpy but I am glad you took me on in this discussion! I like discussing things with you.
Bill
Okay, I was grumpy last night.
Yes, Wells Fargo shouldn't have even considered that junket. They are idiots. Completely insensible to what the "common people" think of them.
I'm sure you're right about your mayor. But I really am sick of information on politico's sex lives. And having been on the other end of that kiss at 17, I may have a different perspective. No, it didn't turn into an affair. It started out with talking, talking, talking, about all kinds of things, progressed to the kissing stage (not in a rest room, ye gods!) and resulted in a longlasting friendship and correspondence. In some ways, he shaped my thinking, and did far more good than harm. Yes, he was probably wrong to do the kissing part, but I don't regret it at all.
You're right that the politicos should have let their tax problems be known during the initial vetting. But like the mayor and the bankers, they all think they'll get away with something. Will they ever learn? I suspect it'll take a whole new generation of pols to make sure their lives are clean enough to pass muster. And even then, some of them will have affairs, because that's what powerful men have done throughout history.
Am I still grumpy? Maybe.
Hi Pat
It is OK, you do grumpy well.
Oh, I also get sick of information on public figures sex life.
What an interesting insight you provided from a different perspective. I'm glad you are better for it and it turned into a long last friendship.
I would like to have power some day to see how I would handle it. I like believe I wouldn't have an affair. But placed in a different setting one really never knows until we face the situation.
Bill
I think you'd handle power very well. And if you were still single, you could have all the affairs you wanted, as long as the affair-ee was of age. {eg}
Pat
What a really nice message to start the day!
And since I like women 50 and older I think I'm fine with the age of consent.
Bill
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