Verified Document

Ethics In Relationship To Power Structures Ethical Essay

Ethics in Relationship to Power Structures Ethical obligations allegedly breached by Smith or Halloran while in office

Senator Malcolm Smith and New York City Councilman Dan Halloran were accused of attempting to fix the mayoral ballot. They were allegedly reported having exchanged thousands of dollars in cash. This money was intended to pay off the officials of the Republican Party to agree to one of the Democrats, Smith on the GOP line. Halloran demonstrated clear ignorance as he walked into the evil bargain as the confidential witness dangled campaign funds for a personal interest bid. In the context of public ethics, the actions of Smith and Halloran raise questions their principles of justice, democratic society, and common good (Stensota, 2010).

Smith and Halloran must adhere to the principle of ethical policymaking. This principle requires that they hold one another accountable for what they know and value. As such, it draws into play both moral and reason imagination. Smith and Halloran must encourage a culture that takes responsibility for what they understand as moral deeds. Such personal moral knowledge will provide a crucial viewpoint of official knowledge manipulated and controlled by the government, mass media, and business industry (Politico, 2013).

For this case, public ethics is viewed as a normative approach to the mayoral race plot. It insists that tradition of democratic leaders regarding Smith's substantive obligation and role to promote and serve the public interests. While this could be obviously vague, administrators must grasp the substantive independence of political and social issues within the society (Ventriss, 2012). As such, Smith and Halloran must maintain a critical angle of the ethical implications of their corrupt practices. The main issue of "publicness" refers to a moral obligation to Smith and Halloran to establish the real effect of corruption or bribery on the public. This implies that Smith and Halloran have an ethical responsibility, for example, to evaluate the impacts of their bribery decisions that have indirect or hidden costs. They are also required to assess how the...

Some scholars further contend that moral vacuity exists in the very core of administrative ethics. It provides fewer options to public servants like Smith and Halloran to leave public offices when faced with serious ethical violations. This is the main reason why Smith and Halloran, as public servants, have become helpless and non-resistant to evil: willing accomplices (Politico, 2013). The ethical obligations the Smith and Halloran breached provoked experts to demand civic humanism. This approach emphasizes the imperatives of individual autonomy as a requirement for proper public servants.
Smith and Halloran demonstrated a form of coercion through bribery and this diminished virtue. The two must promote a virtuous life through pervasive autonomy. The power of political community is reliant upon the synergistic growth of the ethical character of each public servant. Unfortunately, Smith and Halloran have acted against their obligation; they dismissed character as being irrelevant to attaining actual goals (Stensota, 2010). The civic humanistic view claims that the practical work of public offices is achieved by individuals of exemplary character. In the context of civic humanism, Smith and Halloran, as public administrators, are required to insist consciously on the imperatives of moral autonomy by doing that because they decide to do so (Stensota, 2010).

New York like Chicago and Illinois considered as the most corrupt city in the United States has a special culture where corruption is accepted and expected. Corruption data from the American Department of Justice illustrates that Chicago, Illinois and New York are the most corrupt areas respectively. Additionally, the latest data shows the new need for reforms geared towards reducing rampant corruption in New York, Chicago, and Illinois. From the early 1970s, various political leaders have been…

Sources used in this document:
References

Cody, J. (2012). Chicago called most corrupt city in the nation. CBS Chicago. Retrieved from http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2012/02/14/chicago-called-most-corrupt-city-in-nation/

Politico. (2013). N.Y. state senator arrested in alleged mayor race plot. Retrieved from http://www.politico.com/story/2013/04/nyc-mayor-race-rig-malcolm-smith-89536.html

Stensota, H. (2010). The Conditions of Care: Reframing the Debate about Public Sector Ethics. University of Gothenburg; Blackwell Publishing Limited. Retrieved from http://faculty.cbpp.uaa.alaska.edu/afgjp/PADM601%20Fall%202010/Reframing%20the%20debate%20about%20public%20service%20ethics.

Ventriss, C. (2012). Democratic Citizenship and Public Ethics The Importance of Civic Stewardship in an Era of Public Distrust and Cynicism. Public Integrity, Summer 2012, vol. 14, no. 3, pp. 283 -- 297.
Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Related Documents

Ethics and Management and Ethics
Words: 17336 Length: 55 Document Type: Research Proposal

Therefore, corporations have had to change their viewpoints and start looking at the long-term consequences of their behavior, as well as looking at the bottom line. Businesses also have to be concerned because consumers have also become aware of environmental concerns, and many consumers are demanding earth-friendly products and have shown a willingness to pay more money to competitors who observe environmentally-friendly practices. Interestingly enough, this demand has given rise

Ethical Behavior in Organizations
Words: 7363 Length: 25 Document Type: Term Paper

Ethical Behavior Theory in Organizations This analytical research report discusses the debatable issue of the much-needed ethical behavior in working milieu. The research paper highlights the fundamental characteristics, a well-drafted research design, a separate section of suggestions; a Works Cited an appendix featuring important data and relevant diagrams pertaining to the organizational behavior theory and the underlying ethical issues. The Works Cited nine sources in MLA format. ETHICS AND ORGANIZATIONS Ethics and ethical

Ethics Imagine That IT's Your Responsibility to
Words: 2820 Length: 7 Document Type: Term Paper

Ethics Imagine that it's your responsibility to select an ethics officer for your organization. What qualities, background, and experience would you look for? Why? Would you ever be interested in such a position? Why or why not? An ethics officer plays a significant role for an organization. In the selection of the right ethics officer for my organization, I would have to consider several major factors such as the personal qualities, background

Ethical Dilemmas in International Marketing
Words: 5082 Length: 15 Document Type: Essay

Ethical Dilemmas & Marketing Ethical Dilemmas Ethical dilemmas in international marketing Background of Marketing Ethics Ethical Issues in Marketing Modern Debate in Stakeholder Theory Ethical Theories Teleological Theories Virtue Ethics Ethics in Marketing Ethical dilemmas in international marketing Humanity has long struggled with the question of what constitutes ethical behavior. The answer to this question has not always been simple or easy especially in the midst of conflicting interests. Businesses desire and need to sell products to consumers but serious issues

Ethics Lowes the In formality of Ethics in
Words: 1274 Length: 5 Document Type: Essay

Ethics Lowes The (In)Formality of Ethics in a Private Organization: A Case Study Lowes Foods Including Recommendations The recent economic downturn that the world's economies underwent has lead to a period of major reexamination and reconsideration of certain trends in the word of business and finance. The ethical decisions that business organizations must contend with on a daily basis clearly have major ramifications for many partners in its industry and even potentially

Ethics and Moral Guidelines Criminal Justice
Words: 1933 Length: 6 Document Type: Essay

.....personal ethics derive from a combination of established codifications of moral conduct, such as those embedded in political documents or in religious scripture, but also from my personality, my upbringing, and my worldview. I tend towards a utilitarian point-of-view, in that I do believe that the consequences of actions are more important than worrying about whether an action is inherently right or wrong. I also believe that there are situational

Sign Up for Unlimited Study Help

Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.

Get Started Now