On the Other Hand: Ethics, Ethics, Everywhere!

Last updated on: August 2, 2011 at 11:13 am by Ben Bartlett

On the Other Hand: Ethics, Ethics, Everywhere! 2011-08-02T11:13:29-06:00 Ben Bartlett

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

If only politics were more like business. If only our elected officials were honest. If only presidential history listed names like Iacocca, Welch, Buffet, or Mulally rather than Nixon, Carter, Clinton or Bush. If only, if only, if only.

You and I listen to the tone of media more then we realize, and as a result we think of politics as dirty and unethical. Okay, I’ll give you that. I’m going to write about the recent debt ceiling issue soon and I imagine it won’t reveal an ethical Utopia.

But ethical issues are common to all mankind, and that certainly includes the business world. I was reminded of this listening to an excellent podcast on misuse of patent law over at the NPR Planet Money blog. The story is truly amazing… men who purport to crusade on behalf of lowly inventors are essentially buying inventor patents with shell companies (to help obscure their involvement), which they then sell to other companies (whose owner is unknown, but who don’t do any actual work), so that they can get kickbacks when those other companies sue everyone and their mother for accidental patent infringement.

If that sounds confusing, well, you’re right. I recommend you listen to the podcast. But what was most striking to me was how businessmen and lawyers and scientists alike can get so wrapped up in schemes and financial structures with no purpose other than attack, with no goal other than financial gain. Every realm of our world is fraught with ethical opportunity and temptation, and in every sector people choose poorly.

Reminders like this should cause us to cry out to God for help in remaining steadfast, in exercising honesty about our lives and our careers, and in making wise decisions. Politicians are in the limelight, but almost without exception each of us has opportunity to cause good or harm in the life spheres we occupy. You may work in health insurance or patent law, media services or counseling, baking or financial auditing, and you will still face difficult ethical choices.

I love that media’s increasing interest in various niches allows us to feel less alone in our struggles. But it also reminds us that the struggles we have are still real and need to be treated with ethical seriousness and careful prayer, whether they are discussed in newspaper headlines or not.

Asides

On the Other Hand

Previous Post

August 1, 2011

Citizenship Confusion: Praying for those in Power

Next Post

August 2, 2011 When Games Matter: The Imaginative World of Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Asides Elsewhere Featured Film Games General Culture Headline Literature Music Of the Moment Podcast Politics RetroPost Sports Technology Television Uncategorized Viral

Select a Month February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz