Public Service Ethics
Public service could
mean a lot of things. It usually means that someone has taken employment to
provide service to the public. It could be a health care provider, volunteering
at a food service bank or maybe even helping the American Red Cross. The one that
is most familiar to most people is working for the military or the government.
Needless to say, working for the government is not the most popular choice
today.
It seems that the people
who are in charge of making decision for the public seem to set the worse
example of public service ethics. It seems that the public service providers
have the disposition of “do as I say, not as I do.” A public service provider should be concerned
with the public’s trust and how to earn it and keep it. Public service should
have a higher standard than most because they are not just representing
themselves, they are representing a large majority of people who believed that
they would do what is best for the situation instead of personal
accomplishments or gain. When someone who provides a public service does
something wrong, it is an ethical issue that can be corrected if they so
desire. A lot of public service providers know what they did is wrong, but they
refuse to make the necessary changes to make it right. Therefore avoiding
misconduct is of the essence if you want the public believe that you are
sincere and your integrity is not at stake. It is very important that a public
service provider ensures the public that their decision may have been a mistake
but it can be restored by gaining correcting the mistake and trying to gain the
trust back from the public who believed that they are still the right person
for the job.
When public service argues about their ethics
or lack thereof, they often rely on practical expectations. Their claims are often made as a way to
attempt to persuade people to accept a moral conclusion vice unethical behavior.
It gives them the opportunity to convince them that their argument is made from
a person with a sound mind and they are no reasons to be concerned about ethics
or morals. They objectives are to convince the public that they are the right
person to provide the public service that they need in their community or
lives. They will go to the extreme to convince the public that they have done
nothing unethical even if it means twisting the facts to look plausible or
immoral.
Mary W.
ReplyDeleteYou are correct about being a public servant. Do we make mistakes or decisions during our lifetime? Do we learn from those mistakes or wrong decision/choices? Are those same decisions/choices/mistakes made by someone that we know or have a connection?
The answer to all of those questions can be answered, but in my line of work, I deal with those who continuously lie so much that they believe their own lies and do not know the meaning of the truth. When it comes down to some public servants, they are hired to do the job and carry out the mission and not about the "mission" written on the wall. Meaning the mission statement or the value statement for the organization. This is something that is expected of your to learn while employed. Well, guess what? It seldom happens and this is what takes place.
Besides, when they have achieved the power or status quo "a job", some feel that they are invincible. They become comfortable and complacent until the media comes around.
Excellent post.
Eric H.
I agree with your post. Public service workers should be more careful with what they do. Little do they know they might have someone that looks up to them.These workers are not held to the same level as "common" people. I understand that everyone is human but no one forced these people into jobs that keep them in the public eye. Since these people have made this decision they should be readily prepared to do things that keep them out of trouble and if they make a mistake be more than willing to apologize to the public and gain the trust of the community back
ReplyDeleteMary: You have raised very good points in your blog. Professor Taylor
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