Moral Clarity IV - Self-Interest
Robert Wechsler
This is the fourth in a series of blog posts
inspired by reading Susan Neiman's book Moral
Clarity:
A
Guide for Grown-Up Idealists (Princeton, 2008).
One problem Americans have with respect to government ethics is that one of our society’s principle ideologies is that everyone seeking his or her self-interest leads to a stronger economy than any government policy can provide. This is known popularly as free market theory.
Also important to our society is the idea that government are effectively markets of ideas in which variety of interests participate, all seeking what is best for them. This is known popularly as interest-group theory. It’s what lobbying is all about.
But for public servants, neither theory works.
If officials seek what is best for themselves, either alone or in conjunction with others, no one will trust government.
In addition, many elected officials got where they are by pushing one interest or another – the interests of developers, unions, political parties, ethnic or racial groups. Their personal interest is often closely tied to interest groups seeking benefits from government, from jobs to contracts to permits.
With respect to policy, relationships with interest groups are fine. The problem occurs when these relationships become operative outside of policy matters. That is, when they are applied to permits or contracts, when they lead to favoritism and undermine transparency.
Even ethical conduct is often presented in terms of self-interest. It makes us feel good to act ethically. It’s good for our career. It makes people respect us. But, as Neiman points out, looking at ethics in terms of self-interest “leaves us helpless whenever morality and self-interest part company.”
Other blog posts in this series:
Reason and Ideals Intentions
Ethics Environments
Robert Wechsler
Director of Research-Retired, City Ethics
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One problem Americans have with respect to government ethics is that one of our society’s principle ideologies is that everyone seeking his or her self-interest leads to a stronger economy than any government policy can provide. This is known popularly as free market theory.
Also important to our society is the idea that government are effectively markets of ideas in which variety of interests participate, all seeking what is best for them. This is known popularly as interest-group theory. It’s what lobbying is all about.
But for public servants, neither theory works.
If officials seek what is best for themselves, either alone or in conjunction with others, no one will trust government.
In addition, many elected officials got where they are by pushing one interest or another – the interests of developers, unions, political parties, ethnic or racial groups. Their personal interest is often closely tied to interest groups seeking benefits from government, from jobs to contracts to permits.
With respect to policy, relationships with interest groups are fine. The problem occurs when these relationships become operative outside of policy matters. That is, when they are applied to permits or contracts, when they lead to favoritism and undermine transparency.
Even ethical conduct is often presented in terms of self-interest. It makes us feel good to act ethically. It’s good for our career. It makes people respect us. But, as Neiman points out, looking at ethics in terms of self-interest “leaves us helpless whenever morality and self-interest part company.”
Other blog posts in this series:
Reason and Ideals Intentions
Ethics Environments
Robert Wechsler
Director of Research-Retired, City Ethics
---