We hope that your church, club or association recommends or endorses people, newspapers, books, organizations or websites that promote the values or ideals they embrace. These beliefs hopefully include ethical practices as defined by religions, society and law.
Most people, seeing a person stealing a neighbor’s vehicle would recognize that as an unethical, criminal act and either personally intervene or call the police.
If a person sees a shoplifter pocketing an item and leave the store; should they report the theft to the store? If they don’t, are they condoning this unethical and criminal act? Would you report this theft? Would you report a murder?
Some people are simply unable to recognize ethical issues, conflicts of interest, or even good from bad.
Abraham Lincoln said, “When I do good, I feel good; when I do bad, I feel bad. That’s my religion.” Amen.
Although this blog often reports incompetent acts by local elected officials, we will never ridicule any action made by an elected official who has made an honest attempt to serve the residents and taxpayers of Mullett Township.
We will continue to recognize, report, and ridicule unethical or illegal behavior. Doing otherwise condones the unethical or illegal behavior. There is never shame in doing the right thing.
Warren Buffet tells employees to conduct themselves as if anything they say or do might be published on the front page of tomorrow’s newspaper. We are the front page of tomorrow’s newspaper.
When an elected Trustee, with a fiduciary responsibility to the taxpayers; hires himself as a contractor to do work for pay, defining both the job and pay amount, that is a conflict of interest and unethical.
When an entire Township Board adopts by Resolution supporting the Trustee’s practice and endorsing hiring elected officials to perform work for pay outside of their legal duties as elected officials, that is a conflict of interest and unethical.
When a Township Supervisor introduces a “Hold Harmless Agreement” in an attempt to hire a friend’s son “off the books”, avoiding Worker’s Comp Insurance and for the publicly stated reason to avoid a possible Court ordered wage garnishee, that is a conflict of interest and unethical.
When the entire Board unanimously votes on a motion to adopt this “Hold Harmless Agreement” in an attempt to hire a friend’s son “off the books”, avoiding Worker’s Comp Insurance and for the publicly stated reason to avoid a possible Court ordered wage garnishee, that is a conflict of interest and unethical.
When a Township Clerk lobbies the Board for a 25% pay increase in mid-term and then presents “data” ostensibly justifying an 8% pay increase, with no added duties and with no federal COLA increase, that is a conflict of interest and unethical.
When a Township Clerk ignores a motion passed by majority Board vote selecting a software vendor because she voted nay; and then attempts to justify her inaction by falsely denigrating the vendor’s business reputation, that is a conflict of interest and unethical.
When “good” citizens, clubs and associations ignore, overlook or condone these transgressions in an attempt to serve or promote their own interests or agendas, they endorse this unethical behavior.
That is also a conflict of interest and unethical.
