What is the role of Ethics, private and public – in a decent society

I recently read a book on the demise of South Canterbury Finance – the billion dollar bonfire. At the book’s end the author, Chris Lee a finance expert, concludes with this message and it reminds me of the vulnerability of many key members of the current government. I worry that some Cabinet members in the government have only a passing relationship with ethical behaviour:

I belong to one of the richest and most powerful tribes in New Zealand. We include bankers, directors, solicitors, receivers, brokers, accountants, auditors, investment bankers, trustees and even regulators. Many of our tribe arrow dipped in arithmetic, are good communicators and problem solvers, have a strong worth ethic and unwavering ambition.

It is regrettably true that some of the tribes are driven by egotism and greed. It is obvious that the control of these undesirable characteristics must be provided by the law. The law must deter greed and define the duty of care that should dictate standards of behaviour.

Greed is often un-checked in today’s environment. In its simplest and most visible form greedy behaviour occurs because there is no effective supervision. Greedy people take because they can.

The law must be prepared to redistribute wealth, with fair compensation to the victims coming from the pockets of the offender. 

This book made me think hard about the way our current government operates. The list of projects on the fast-track list smells very fishy. Dead fishy. Next Tuesday Club notes I will look carefully at local projects and how they happened and their costly ramifications for us as local ratepayers.

I was speaking to a mate recently and he used a word I had never heard of kleptocracy 

When I looked up its meaning the definition was: A government characterized by rampant greed and corruption.

As my kids used to ask when we were travelling…..are we there yet?