In 2002, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act was passed to restore investor confidence through the promotion of effective corporate governance. Sarbanes-Oxley re-inforced the importance of "tone at the top" in corporate governance. "Tone at the top" essentially says that, if a company's leadership does not promote a strong culture of accountability and ethical business practices, those within the organization cannot be expected to be held accountable or to act ethically.
Tone at the top. Effective governance. Is it any wonder virtually every federal department now seems to be a complete mess?
The article which got me thinking about this was an AP story about the TSA. With new causes for outrage every day, it's tough to truly be shocked anymore. But
this story is shocking.
WASHINGTON -
A federal agency collected extensive personal information about airline passengers although Congress told it not to and it said it wouldn't, according to documents obtained Monday by The Associated Press.
A Transportation Security Administration contractor used three data brokers to collect detailed information about U.S. citizens who flew on commercial airlines in June 2004 in order to test a terrorist screening program called Secure Flight, according to documents that will be published in the Federal Register this week.
But why should the TSA be expected to keep its promises when the administration has demonstrated that there are no consequences for breaking promises and lying.
How about the Defense Department? Any different story over there?
WASHINGTON -
Two top Marine Corps officers acknowledged Tuesday that they waited two months to issue a contract for armor kits to protect the undersides of Humvees after promising to do so earlier this year.
Snip
They assured the committee that all Humvees and military trucks that the Marines used in Iraq would be adequately protected by December.
Story.
These guys at least admitted there was incompetence. (Must not have gotten the memo.)
Effective governance. Tone at the top. The Commander in Chief doesn't seem too concerned about the troops. Why should anyone else?
In the free market, investors would hammer them and these guys would be out of a job.
Ok, let's give them the benefit of the doubt. Bush has been busy making America safer. Surely the people in charge of that are doing a good job, right?
June 6, 2005 -- The government has announced its enhanced nuclear inspection program with great fanfare, but ABC News has learned the new, drive-through detection machines being installed -- at a cost of a half-billion dollars -- cannot detect the enriched uranium that many say poses the greatest threat.
"Al Qaeda's highest goal is to have a nuclear explosion in the United States, said Rep. Ed. Markey, D-Mass., a member of the Select Committee on Homeland Security. "The equipment that is being deployed will not detect the highly enriched uranium which is the most likely source of the material they would use."
The machines, however, are triggered by materials such as kitty litter, which gives off a certain kind of gamma ray and has caused many a false alarm.
Story.
Media payola. Custer Battles. Downing Street Memo.
Why should any bureaucrats be expected to be accountable when the President himself is not? What is this costing taxpayers? How many lives will be lost as a result?