People (financial executives) have been allowed to act for a long time without a sense of accountability. Other people (CEOs etc.) have paid them for so doing. Yet others (politicians) have created the cultural, economic and legal context for such behavior.
But the world’s rather sorry state has arisen because you and I never cared enough to educate ourselves and demand better. None of today’s culprits has been operating in a vacuum (which is where we would all now like to put them).
This week has seen much rather dubiously targeted moral indignation, while the week’s most irresponsible (and potentially murderous) act has not raised much of an eyebrow in our land.
Consider. We were recently treated to the satisfying spectacle of the trouncing of the chairman of AIG, Edward Liddy, in Congressional Committee for paying bonuses that at the time of the grilling, at least, AIG was legally bound to pay. The same politicians who are directly responsible for the regulatory environment in which AIG operated – and who chose to bail out a company with those salary obligations outstanding – are now getting all indignant about the fact that AIG acted to meet its obligations.
Of course, it is damnably shameful that those who have created this mess be rewarded for it – (do we really have to say it? -) but then, that fact should have been properly dealt with at the time of the bailout. If salary obligations could have been legally overturned by the imposing of appropriate bailout conditions, then we’d do very well to ask ourselves why they were not. Go learn about the federal reserve, in negotiation with which, according to AIG, the bailout terms were determined.
Given that the bailout terms were what they were, don’t blame AIG for seeking to meet its legal obligations. Are these politicians really saying that AIG should throw out contract law? That would be outrageous.
In all likelihood, Liddy would prefer not to have to pay out those bonuses. Indeed, he said as much (and I have no reason not to take him at his word) … But this rather cheap point-scoring by politicians of the left and right as a way to deflect blame is highly undignified.
Yes, we all agree with the sentiments they are expressing, but please: look up the words “law” and “hypocrisy” – and then try again.
All Liddy can do is request employees voluntarily forego their bonuses – which he has done – or else the bonuses can be taxed to elimination without breach of law – which is also happening. Both a little messy, but both ethically and legally acceptable.
The absurdity of this situation lies in the fact that AIG and its executives were not made to pay for their gross (but by no means unique) irresponsibility in precipitating today’s economic crisis at the point of the bailout. What hypocrisy not to have the heads of Liddy et al. over their parts in getting us here, and then to find morality when AIG does what it has always done. I can’t believe I’m writing this but Limbaugh has come as close as anyone to saying as much.
But this topsy-turvy moral indignation pales alongside America’s reaction – or lack thereof – to the Pope’s recent comment that the use of condoms promotes – yes, promotes – HIV infection.
We’re not very good at moral priorities, are we, America?
This week, the Vatican clearly showed that it has not moved on intellectually from 1633, when it forced Galileo’s recantation, as it asserts doctrine against what can be seen and/or reasoned. (Is the Pope a banker?) The Holy See has not moved forward morally either, since telling people who believe that the Pope is God’s spokesman on earth that the use of contraceptives could contribute to their death – when the opposite is true – can kill people.
Let me say that again. It can kill people. One more time. It can kill people.
And if he Pope truly had the power that he’d like to have over the moral lives of all Catholics, it could kill thousands of people.
Specifically, the Pope’s incorrect factual claim is an abuse of trust with the intent to cause individuals to perform (or not perform) a particular action, which can harm them. If your kid’s schoolteacher did the same thing, you’d be rightly suing before you could say “ex cathedra”.
And no, it’s not o.k. just because this guy is the head of a well respected institution, has a big house, wears a special costume, and is respected by lots of people. The same goes for Liddy.
We screwed up in our response to AIG. Here is the appropriate response to the Pope.
Any person who believes that their lack of contraceptive use, motivated by a belief in the primacy of the Pope, caused a disease or any kind of harm, should be encouraged to pursue a case against the Church for grievous harm. While we wait for that person to come forward, Catholics around the world – especially those who do not actually practice the ban on contraception – should be on the streets and demand that moral leaders (who claim to speak as close to absolute truth as is possible on this earth) take responsibility for their words, their actions, and the predictable consequences of both. To pin one’s colors to that particular Roman mast and stay silent in the face of such harmful speech it to contribute to that harm, is it not? This one of many of the week’s abominations isn’t about people’s losing their 401Ks. It is about people’s losing their lives.
What matters to us, America?
It’s all the same problem: stand silent in the face of harmful words, harmful actions and false justifications, when the potential consequences are obvious… Properly directed outrage never hurt anyone. Indeed, America owes its very founding to it.
If we don’t give a sweet Fanny Adams, then she will give us what we deserve…
And that is no more or less than is happening now (and will for ever more. Amen.)
Robin Koerner is a British-born citizen of the USA, who currently serves as Academic Dean of the John Locke Institute. He holds graduate degrees in both Physics and the Philosophy of Science from the University of Cambridge (U.K.). He is also the founder of WatchingAmerica.com, an organization of over 100 volunteers that translates and posts in English views about the USA from all over the world.
Robin may be best known for having coined the term “Blue Republican” to refer to liberals and independents who joined the GOP to support Ron Paul’s bid for the presidency in 2012 (and, in so doing, launching the largest coalition that existed for that candidate).
Robin’s current work as a trainer and a consultant, and his book If You Can Keep It , focus on overcoming distrust and bridging ideological division to improve politics and lives. His current project, Humilitarian, promotes humility and civility as a basis for improved political discourse and outcomes.