From Deliquescence to Survival, Essay Example

“Many practices which are permissible, even normal, in the private sector are, or should be forbidden in government.” The private sector and the government have different responsibilities and level of control over the people that they serve. While the private sector does have some stake on the livelihood of their clients, they do not have complete control over their safety and well-being. The government therefore needs to be held to higher standards than the individuals in the private industry. While the organization of the private sector and the government is similar, the government is meant to support its people while the private sector is driven by profit and these two motivations should never cross paths.

Individuals that enter public office must act ethically in order to represent the best interest of the individuals that voted for them. In the government, this is often not what is actually accomplished by elected officials because they are blinded by the power that they are given. However, this is not to say that these practices should be deemed acceptable. Rather, it is fortunate that accountability systems are in place to ensure that politicians that violate these ethical laws are removed from their place of power. These same rules are not in place for individuals in the private sector because the private sector ultimately has power over itself rather than the remainder of the country. While the private sector has the ability to influence political decisions depending on the size of stakeholder groups, it is acting on the behalf of itself and only has the ability to benefit or destroy itself rather than the nation as a whole.

References

Jefferson T. (1785). Letter to Peter Carr from Paris, France.

Mayer M. (1974). From Deliquescence to Survival – Watergate and Beyond: Center Report, Center for the Study of Democratic Institutions.