Assessing Inauguration Day Ethically

Today is Friday, January 20 the Inauguration Day of a new president, Donald J. Trump. It is a day to take stock of where we are every four years. How do we compare to January 20, 2013, the second inauguration day for Barack H. Obama? What are the prospects for the next four years?

Judging by politics alone, we appear to be in one more pendulum shift from progressive to conservative. At the same time the change of presidential ethical values, at least was quite a different pendulum shift—from solid moral family man to “wheeler and dealer” in all phases of life primarily in-it-for-himself man.

How can I say this about our next president? After all he seems to love his present wife and children, their spouses, and grandchildren. A simple look to his record will throw up red flags on his moral fiber.

First of all, his record in business would set off red flags for anyone looking at his conduct in the world. His business ethics is less than desirable. He is famous for his book on “the art of the deal” and his franchise tag is “you’re fired.” But it is his real estate dealings in New York which are most indicative of his integrity. For example, there is a case in Manhattan where his business systematically evicted poor people who could not pay their rent. The way in which they did it led to a lawsuit, which they settled out of court.

Second, the way in which he conducts himself as a member of the privileged class seems to put him out of touch with those who are in greatest need. Both in New York and Palm Beach he is travels in the world of marble and gold. He went to schools that kept him cordoned off from people with real need, and he has made no attempt during his life to bridge that gap. Even though many very wealthy people have been “Carnegie style philanthropists,” because of the way in which he cordons himself from those in need one does not look for charitable efforts from President Trump. He seems to practice classism.

Third, although his rhetoric has been to the contrary, President Trump seems to favor Caucasians in leadership to people of other races. Although it is hard to know President Trump’s specific positions on many issues, it does appear that he takes a retro/pro-Caucasian in control view of America. His rhetoric to build a wall to keep out “undesirable” Mexicans, his position on the minority judge in Indiana, and his treatment of civil rights icon John Lewis point in the direction of racism.

Fourth, it appears by his selections for the cabinet, his long-standing feud with Megyn Kelly, his treatment of his first wife with possible marital rape and infidelities with his soon-to-be second wife, and his recorded comments about women that his treatment of women is very sexist. Although in our country, you are innocent until proven guilty, there are enough charges of harassment and using authority of wealth, position, and office in situations with women to question his personal sexual morality. By all accounts of how he has conducted his personal life, he seems quite immoral.

All of these ethical measures taken together, would lead one to wonder why such a person was elected president of the United States in the first place. How did we get here from four or eight years ago? Perhaps high ethical standards were not in place during the last four to eight years. There has been a high degree of self-interest practiced in Washington D.C. during that time. High ethical standards appeared to be practiced at the top, but perhaps when one looks below one finds more of a mixed record. At the same time one wonders about what is important for the bulk of the American people. Are we mainly driven by who can put more money in our pockets? Do we really care about substantive concerns such as moral fiber and actions taken by our now president in power that might initially appear to be better for us as sometimes struggling Americans, but my soon to be “the baby thrown out with the bathwater.”

One things is for sure—our transition today will be a loss of someone in charge who looks out for those not commonly in power and control of their lives. The Obama administration was strong on the rights of individuals. There was respect for all people—regardless of race, gender, or creed. Although many members of non-white races hoped for more from the first non-white president, such things as the Affordable Care Act were done for all people. At least when viewed from the outside, one sees in former President Obama a far more ethical leader than what we can hope for during the next four years.

All in all, it is clear to me that we will need voices of reason doing moral deliberation every day of the next four years. If we question the smell of what is going on at the top of government, if we find a Tweet unrepresentative of the moral expectations of a person in this high office, we need to stand up and speak out. People will have to stand up for race, gender, creed, and for the rights of all people. If we do not, there is no telling what the self-serving leadership of the next four years will do. They clearly may take us to the depths of royal rule during the time of the Old Testament prophets. At least there is a Scriptural source for critique for the years ahead: “Woe to those who lie on beds of ivory and dine on couches with choice lamb… and do not care about the poor and needy…”