Recent Honesty Commentaries

Featured image for “Nurses Do It Better”
Nurses Do It Better
The Gallup organization’s annual Honesty and Ethics poll gave nurses the highest ranking out of twenty-one professions for the seventh straight year! “Eighty-four percent of Americans,” Gallup reported, “call their honesty and ethical standards either ‘high’ or ‘very high.’…” This speaks directly to the issue of trust.  Clearly patients, doctors, administrators and others believe that nurses have the highest level...
Read More
November 27, 2008
Featured image for “An Open Letter to Our Next President”
An Open Letter to Our Next President
Dear Mr. President-elect, An economy in crisis, rising unemployment, needed reform in healthcare and energy, housing foreclosures, wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, a global reputation as unilateral bullies, and a Congress immobilized by special interests and partisan gridlock. The American people are not just fearful of the current state of our union, Mr. President-elect, they’re angry. They’re not only resentful...
Read More
November 3, 2008
Featured image for “Unbelievable!”
Unbelievable!
On Tuesday I noted that in spite of being convicted on all seven counts of corruption, Alaska Senator Ted Stevens said that he would not step down from office. One of the questions I asked was, “Whose interests is [Stevens] really serving?” Answer:  Clearly his own. Now comes word that the Alaska G.O.P. is urging state voters to stand behind...
Read More
October 29, 2008
Featured image for “Do The Right Thing”
Do The Right Thing
“The worst that can happen to us is we run up a bunch of legal fees, and might lose and we might have to pay a fine, might have to serve some time in jail. I hope to Christ it never gets to that…. I don’t think we have done anything wrong.” So said Alaska Senator Ted Stevens in a...
Read More
October 28, 2008
Featured image for “Lawnmower Man, Part II”
Lawnmower Man, Part II
Last week, I told you about a reader and homeowner who had written describing how a couple of teenagers in their area had defaulted on their promise to cut the lawn of the property owner in a professional and reliable way. At one point, the homeowners were so disappointed they cancelled the service.  However, the teen returned and, without authorization,...
Read More
October 27, 2008
Featured image for “Lawnmower Man”
Lawnmower Man
“When is it ethical to ask for pay for work not done, done poorly, and work not authorized?” That was a recent question sent to me by a reader.  Here are the specifics behind the question: “We are out-of-state homeowners that have hired teenagers on two occasions for shoveling snow and mowing. “In each case, the teenager did the work...
Read More
October 22, 2008
Featured image for “Dave, My Plumber”
Dave, My Plumber
There’s been a lot of talk in the news lately about Joe the plumber. His name is Joe Wurzelbacher, and last week he stopped Senator Obama to complain about taxes.  Apparently, he doesn’t seem to care much for Mr. Obama’s tax plan.  Needless to say, this worked in favor of Senator McCain. In fact, both candidates mentioned Joe the plumber...
Read More
October 20, 2008
Featured image for “Is Good Ethics Good Business?”
Is Good Ethics Good Business?
Amid the anxiety and chaos on Wall Street today, I thought it would be interesting to revisit an old question. The following comes from a radio commentary delivered in October, 1997 by my own ethics teacher, Michael Josephson.   I believe it’s a message we need to remember in these difficult times. “‘Good ethics is good business.’  ‘Honesty is the best...
Read More
September 15, 2008
Featured image for “Building a Better House”
Building a Better House
The 2007 “Honest Leadership and Open Government Act” was passed in response to a laundry list of scandals involving convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff.  The new law outlines tougher standards for lobbyists in an effort to stop the flow of undue influence in Congress. That’s a good thing. There’s just one tiny flaw. “…former Senator John Breaux, Democrat of Louisiana, said lobbyists [have]...
Read More
July 28, 2008
Featured image for “Seattle’s Best”
Seattle’s Best
Psychiatrist and radio personality Frasier Crane is wrestling with an ethical dilemma. Dr. Honey Snow is not only a pop-psychologist, best selling author and knockout blonde, she also has a crush on Seattle’s resident narcissist and relationship expert. (That’s not the dilemma.) When the stunning Snow asks him to write the forward to her new book, Frasier struggles to craft...
Read More
June 17, 2008

Read Some of the Most Recent Articles
The Latest... And Often Greatest