"Ethics Inside/Out?"
The recent intended first action of 2017 of the new House GOP to weaken the Office of Congressional Ethics so that they can monitor themselves raises the issue of how successful human beings are with monitoring their own ethical behavior. It is really an Inside/Out question of community holding individuals responsible for their behavior, particularly when previously those in control have not done a very good job at monitoring their own behavior. It raises a host of questions like: “Can individuals in power with resources belonging to another be trusted to be ethical? What role does community play in individual ethical decision-making? How much of our ethical behavior is based on our being part of a community? To what extent can our elected leaders be trusted to monitor themselves?
First, power has a lot to do with the necessity to have outside groups monitor behavior. Lord Acton’s statement that “power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely” certainly can be applied here. Its application presently may relate to the dominance that one political party has over the other at this point. One might say having a president and both houses of Congress being controlled by one party tends to be “absolute.” Previously in 2008 the outside Congressional Ethics committee was established because of abuses of power within a more balanced government. So one would think this Office of Congressional Ethics is needed now more than ever! Certainly not having it in place would remove a check or balance to monitor any corrupt behavior. Even though this is relatively new, it was established for a reason, and any watchdog group on increasingly polarized party politics, no matter who is in power, would seem to be desirable from an ethics point of view.
Second, community plays an important role in individual ethical decision-making. I have observed this many times in twelve step groups, as well as the Lutheran congregations I have served as a pastor. Community is a check on the sinful human nature that we see as being a flaw in individual decision making. If I know that another person may find out about my behavior being inconsistent with my/our ethical norms I will certainly be deterred from taking disreputable actions. Being accountable to God goes a long way to keeping a believer’s ethical conduct in check. A second layer of accountability to one another adds a dimension that is more concrete and visible. It will be more likely to keep those who have freedom and responsibility to “not take from the cookie jar” when they are directed not to do it.
Much of our ethical behavior has to do with following what’s best for the communities in which we live. We may often say, “I can do this or that if I want to. It is a free country” but when it comes down to it laws and mores that have been found over time to be best for the good of all in society govern us. We are not free to do as we please. Although a libertarian view might want a society that allows for individual decision-making, as someone who believes in individual sinful human nature I believe the consequences would be disastrous. Perhaps the tendency of some in power to want this is what is so disturbing and anxiety producing for many today.
Finally, I do not believe anyone elected in representative positions in this polarized world in which we live can be trusted to vote according to those they represent, yet alone monitor their own ethical behavior in order to keep in mind what is right or what is just. Since the advent of tea party Republicans there has been a greater divide between those who serve in the United States Congress. This brings the norms that usually hold people in check into question. There is greater anxiety, which leads to reactivity on the other side, and homeostasis has a tendency to not be followed. Consequently, it is more important than ever to have outside checks and balances.
As we start the New Year, this proposed action-- although ultimately not taken—is a good reminder of how important our family, friends, community, and other systems are to hold us in check. We really do need each other-- to have good lives and for the sake of what is best for us as individuals and in our communities.
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