Resources & Learning June 20, 2007

Logical Fallacies IV - Begging the Question and Appeals to Emotion

At first glance, these two logical fallacies don't seem to have much to do with each other. When you beg the question, you assume something has been established or proved, according to my trusty dictionary. The way a logician would define the begging the question fallacy is that the premises include the claim or assumption that the conclusion is true, without providing any evidence or actual argument. The result is a circular argument, taking for granted what it's supposed to prove.
Read more →
Resources & Learning June 19, 2007

The Best Continuing Ethics Education No Money Can Buy -- With Deterrence Thrown In

One great advantage of handling local government ethics matters at the state level is that decisions and advisory opinions can be easily and widely disseminated to all local governments in the state. This sort of publicity is good for several reasons. One, it provides precedents and guidance to local government officials. Two, it provides deterrence by showing the consequences of a wide variety of ethical violations.
Read more →
Ethics Codes & Reform June 18, 2007

Where Ethics Provisions Should Appear and Not Appear

What happened recently in Colorado makes it clear that a state constitution is not the right place for ethics laws. Last November, an amendment to the state constitution was approved by voters, prohibiting state and local officials from accepting any gift of over $50 from any 'person.' The state Attorney General ruled that this amendment would prevent the child of a government official from a receiving a scholarship, or a state university professor from accepting a Nobel Prize. Click here to read the rest of this blog entry. A suit was file
Read more →
Conflicts of Interest May 2, 2007

Conflicts of Interest

Areas to check:

  1. Using office for private gain
  2. using organization resources for personal purposes
  3. soliciting gifts or accepting gifts from persons doing business with the organization
  4. seeking or accepting private compensation for doing one's work (gratuities)
  5. soliciting political contributions or political activity from subordinates
  6. disclosure of confidential organization information or using this information for private purposes
  7. appearing before organization agencies on behalf of private interests or representing private
Read more →
April 30, 2007

The Making of a Model Website and Blog in My Hometown

I've been on a sort of work-leave the last two weeks. My town, North Haven, Connecticut (pop. 24,000), has been a mess for a long time, but few people have cared enough to pay attention, and those who criticize the administration are personally attacked and delegitimized. It was my town's mess, and my inability to do anything locally, that led me to do work for Common Cause Connecticut, and then devote myself full-time to municipal ethics by coming to work for City Ethics. Sadly, it takes a big scandal to grab people's attention, as much as we like to think there are other ways.
Read more →
April 30, 2007

SERVICES

Many citizens and government officials see the need to strengthen ethics programs in their cities, towns, and counties. But how do you get started? Do you have to be a lawyer to understand and work through this process?

Read more →
Subscribe to