This Code of Ethics is posted on the wall of my office's coffee mess. I see this on almost a daily basis when I go to get my morning cup of joe.
I wonder if the President and VP have ever been exposed to it.
I wonder if it's posted on Congressional office walls.
Does Gonzo have any idea that it exists?
Granted, it's a list of "shoulds" as opposed to a list of "shalls", but I really think our Politicians should have a little retraining on this issue.
Code of Ethics for Government Service
House Document 103, 86th Congress, 1st Session - Passed by the Congress of the United States on July 11, 1958.
ANY PERSON IN GOVERNMENT SERVICE SHOULD:
I. Put loyalty to the highest moral principles above loyalty to persons, party, or Government department.
Since Bush was installed upon the throne, have we seen any examples of "highest moral principles" displayed? I can't think of any from the regime or the prior rubber-stamp Congress.
From Gonzo's "I work for the White House, you work for the White House", (thanks mcjoan) speech to the USAs, we learn exactly what Gonzo thought about "loyalty to the highest moral principles above loyalty to persons, party".
II. Uphold the Constitution, laws, and legal regulations of the United States and of all governments therein and never be a party to their evasion.
Let's see, I think that Bush actually has a bit more than just a "should" requirement on this one. Didn't he actually, you know, swear an oath to uphold the Constitution, or something like that?
Somehow, denying habeas corpus rights to a US citizen (thanks Devilstower) and employing illegal spying programs (again, h/t mcjoan) against citizens of the US doesn't, to me, seem like a fulfillment of that oath.
III. Give a full day's labor for a full day's pay; giving to the performance of his duties his earnest effort and best thought.
Hey, McCain, I know that running for President is almost as much hard work as presidentin itself, but (WaPo) missing 42 consecutive votes in the Senate tells me that the taxpayers aren't getting much bang for their buck.
IV. Seek to find and employ more efficient and economical ways of getting tasks accomplished.
Robert Greenwald's "Iraq for Sale" chronicles this better than anything I've seen or read on the subject.
Hey, Rummy, I'm starting to think that wholesale privitazion of our military might not be the right way to go afterall. Just saying.
V. Never discriminate unfairly by the dispensing of special favors or privileges to anyone, whether for remuneration or not; and never accept, for himself or his family, favors or benefits under circumstances which might be construed by reasonable persons as influencing the performance of his governmental duties.
How are those Halliburton stock options (raw story) working out for you Dick? 3,281 percent increase in the last year?! You don't say. Damn you're lucky.
I guess maybe it's true, you DO make your own luck.
VI. Make no private promises of any kind binding upon the duties of office, since the Government employee has no private word which can be binding on public duty.
Actually, I don't have an example at hand for that one. Anyone want to fill in the gap?
Update: (Thanks Noor B) Dick's super secret energy policy fits the bill nicely.
VII. Engage in no business with the Government, either directly or indirectly, which is inconsistent with the conscientious performance of his governmental duties.
But I guess it's OK when their wives do it. (thanks Kagro X).
VIII. Never use any information coming to him confidentially in the performance of governmental duties as a means for making private profit.
Let's see, hmmm, OK, how about a little Kyle "Dusty" Foggo?? (sign on San Diego)
Being third in command of the CIA could, perhaps, make one privy to a little inside knowledge, don't ya think?
IX. Expose corruption wherever discovered.
Bwhaaahhhaaaahhahaaaa!!
X. Uphold these principles, ever conscious that public office is a public trust.
"A public trust!?? You've got to be fu*king kidding me!! I earned my way here, dammit, and I'm owed... big time"!!
Far too few politicians recall that they have a public trust. They strive for power for powers sake (and some for money, connections, some just to get the chicks [or dudes]) (CNN)
I wish I could get a copy of this in front of every single one of them and force them to recite it in front of the class.
Please feel free to add scandals to the ethics cited.