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Personal Ethics
« Previous EntriesThis holiday season cut spending, not ethical corners
Saturday, November 29th, 2008Thanksgiving is over, leftovers are drying out in refrigerators nationwide, and that means the holiday shopping season is upon us. Not surprisingly, the recent economic downturn is putting pressure on everyone to cut back on holiday buying. Early news reports suggest that most shoppers intend to spend less than they did in recent years and are aggressively [...]
This Thanksgiving, settle your unresolved feuds with an apology
Wednesday, November 26th, 2008Thanksgiving Day is upon us, which means that a great many Americans will be traveling long distances to sit down for dinner with family and friends. It’s a wonderful holiday - until one of those “issues” that seem to crop up every year rears its ugly head over coffee and pumpkin pie.
There are various ways to [...]
At the end of the day, and with all due respect, I absolutely apologize to my readers!
Saturday, November 15th, 2008Recently, The London Telegraph reported that researchers at Oxford University had compiled a list of the top ten most irritating phrases. The list sounded like it would offer an entertaining break from all the bad business news so, just for fun, I looked it up.
Oh, dear …
Imagine my chagrin when I found that several of the [...]
For President Obama, ethical challenges await
Wednesday, November 5th, 2008Congratulations to President-Elect Barack Obama for his historic Presidential victory last night! And kudos, too, to Senator John McCain for his gracious concession speech. Whether you’re elated or disappointed in the wake of yesterday’s Presidential election, it has to be a relief to know that the vote is in and the results are clear.
As soon-to-be President [...]
What’s the next President’s position on abortion?
Friday, October 17th, 2008Continuing my series on ethical issues facing the next President, let’s step away from economics and turn to one of the most divisive social issues in America today: abortion. During Thursday’s final debate, Senators McCain and Obama were asked if they would impose a “litmus test” on Supreme Court nominees with regard to the most [...]
Congressman Mahoney’s apology falls flat
Wednesday, October 15th, 2008Florida Congressman Tim Mahoney is not having a good day. AOL News reports that the married Congressman was called to address claims that he’d had an affair with a former aide. Mahoney issued a public statement “taking full responsibility” for the embarrassment and heartache he had caused his wife and daughter. Not bad … until [...]
Was SEC Chair Christopher Cox right to dismiss self-regulation?
Thursday, October 2nd, 2008As the subprime mortgage/credit crisis continues to play out, the second-guessing has begun. The New York Times recently quoted Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Christopher Cox as blaming the SEC’s “voluntary regulation” program for the failure. To grossly oversimplify the program, investment banks were invited, but not required, to submit to the SEC’s supervision, opting [...]
Is the Church of England’s “apology” to Darwin really an apology?
Monday, September 29th, 2008Recently, a friend forwarded an article from the London Telegraph reporting that the Church of England was going to issue an apology to Charles Darwin for its initial hostility to his theory of natural selection. Written by Rev. Dr. Malcolm Brown, the Church’s Director of Mission and Public Affairs, the apology reads as follows:
Charles Darwin: [...]
Referee Hochuli may have missed the call, but it was the NFL that fumbled
Sunday, September 21st, 2008In the interests of taking a break from the melodrama on Wall Street, let’s turn to the world of professional sports, where another drama is unfolding. A week ago, referee Ed Hochuli blew a call in a critical game. Hochuli’s error cost the Chargers a victory and, with the amount of money at stake in pro football, [...]
Do your children know how to apologize?
Monday, September 15th, 2008When I talk to interviewers about my book, The Art of the Apology, they frequently ask if it’s important for parents to teach their kids how to apologize when they’ve done something wrong. The answer boils down to two words: you bet. Apologizing is an essential social skill that kids need to learn if they’re [...]
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