The issues raised by the huge controversy over MPs’ expenses are as grave as could be for our parliamentary democracy, and urgent action is needed to restore trust. It is good that all parties are recognising this. But many will now be wondering whether the point has not been adequately made; the continuing systematic humiliation of politicians itself threatens to carry a heavy price in terms of our ability to salvage some confidence in our democracy.
It is important to connect some of the underlying attitudes with a wider problem. In recent months, we’ve had a number of examples (bankers’ pensions, the suspension of two peers from the Lords) of people saying when challenged that “no rules were broken”. Some of the initial responses to public anger about MPs’ expenses have amounted to much the same thing. And this suggests a basic problem in our moral thinking.
The question “What can I get away with without technically breaching the regulations?” is not a good basis for any professional behaviour that has real integrity.
Puhleeze… the definitive comment on the controversy was made by the one who blew the whistle on Britain’s corrupt professional political class, John Wicks, who said, “We’ve reached a stage in society where they want to know everything about us – I think we’re entitled to know about them.â€
[i]The question “What can I get away with without technically breaching the regulations?†is not a good basis for any professional behaviour that has real integrity.[/i]
This quote would seem quite as applicable to a variety of situations that we are currently facing, and not solely in the political sphere.
[url=http://catholicandreformed.blogspot.com]Catholic and Reformed[/url]
Jeremy indeed. How often have we heard the defense to an ethical breach: “I didn’t break the criminal law!”
#2 Jeremy I take it you include Jamaica and any number of other Anglican examples. If not, let me place them under that quote and wonder how the ABC can possibly evade its application.
Fr. Timothy,
With the utmost reluctance, I’m afraid I’m beginning to lean that way.
Let me raise the ante a bit and sharpen the point. I find it extremely ironic and poignant that ++RW is able to get so worked up over this parliamentary crisis and yet remain so passive in his handling of the crisis in the AC.
Just fill in the blanks a little differently:
“The issues raised by the huge controversy over… are as grave as could be… and URGENT ACTION IS NEEDED to restore trust.”
Hmmm. Reminds me of Nathan’s parable by which he traps King David, so that by his own words the king stands condemned. Only no one has entrapped Cantaur.
Just about the only times the ABoC has acted in an urgent manner were, first, when he prematurely extended invitations to the Lambeth Conference in July, 2007 (pre-empting the conclusion of the process agreed upon by the primates at Dar es Salaam a few months earlier), disregarding the suggestions of the Windsor Report. And second, when he shockingly declared the primates deadline of September 30th for TEC to respond to their ultimatum as a non0deadline, and as if it weren’t an ultimatum at all, but more of a guidline, you know.
Two absolutely disastrous, unilateral decisions, for which ++RW can blame no one but himself. And they have done nothing whatsoever to “restore trust” within the troubled AC. Quite the contrary. They’ve totally undermined trust in himself and in the ability of the Instruments of Unity or Communion to resolve our deep-seated conflicts.
Jeremy, I understand, but personally, I lost all trust in Canterbury a long time ago.
David Handy+
The picture showing two smoke stacks at Emmits, KS emitting “black smoke” are misleading and probably intentionally so.
A fossil-fuel-fired steam boiler regularly needs to clean accumulated soot particles from its ‘fire tubes’ in order to maintain a high level of heat transfer from their ‘fire sides’ to their ‘water sides’ and to their superheater ‘steam sides.’
This is often done once per day at a set time and the evolution lasts about one to five minutes. That means that the photographer merely needs to be ‘on-site’ at the scheduled time for the event in order to snap the picture.
Note that the third smoke stack in the photo shows no smoke and that is what the exhuast from a high efficiency and high temperature boiler should look like. A clear high efficiency smoke stack emission can contain fine particulate matter, but this needs to be measured using appropriate instrumentation.
The fact that this picture was printed alongside the article leads me to believe that it was included to deliberately elicit an emotional response from the reader that would make him more sympathetic toward the political thrust of the article.
This is an example of what seems to be ‘broken’ in today’s political world. Honesty has taken a holiday and political intrigue has taken over. Its all about winning and not about ‘solving the problem.’
Bt the way, I used to be a chief engineer on a Navy destroyer-type ship and I believe that qualifies my technical analysis of the pictures.
8. Oops. Excuse me elves. I posted under the wrong article. Please remove my blog entry #7.
I found a great deal to agree with in Dr. Williams’ column, particularly in his speaking against the strangling legalisms which govern the English-speaking world these days. We have largely abandoned the idea of what is right, and are left with the impossible task of defining all possible forms of wrong to thwart societal evil.
But I’m not sure I agree with his contention that enough has been done to humiliate and shame those who have abused the public trust with these outlandish expenses. If the public can’t restrain politicians through social opprobium, aren’t we left with the very legalism Dr. Williams says is ineffective?
Oops, let me belatedly correct a couple glaring typo’s in my #6 above. In the 4th paragraph I meant ++RW perversely decided to treat the Dar deadline for TEC to respond as a “non-deadline,” and the primates’ ultimatum as a mere “guideline.”
And Jeffersonian (#9), I think you’re right.
David Handy+
As much an expert here as on Sharia and the ACC Jamaican meeting – Rowan has a perfect 1, 2, 3 strikes. …………you’re out!!!
[blockquote]Religion-based morality is often castigated for imposing irrational and arbitrary rules on people. But the truth is that its primary concern is with how to encourage us to act in such a way that we can be glad of what we have done – and can also recognize that bad actions diminish us.[/blockquote]
ABC, apply this to the results of the the ACC.