The Ethical Optimist

Addressing Mr. Spitzer’s chances of remaining in office, a Democrat state official said, “It would be particularly difficult. It makes it harder because he’s not exactly at the peak of his popularity to begin with, and if you’re Mr. Super Clean and you’ve prosecuted other people—the only thing worse than being a sinner is people thinking you’re a hypocrite.” (Crain’s NY Business)

It’s a sad ending to a high profile career that was built on integrity and reputation.

Spitzer took great pride in rooting out high profile ne’er do wells and making an example of them.

The problem with building your castle out of white bricks is in keeping the house clean.

Believe me, I can empathize. I’m trying to build a business built on ethics and social responsibility.  To run it, however, I have to hire human beings.  Moreover, I always have to be on the watch…over myself! I have to be highly critical of my own actions, the clients I take, etc.

I find I constantly question my accountant.  I feel I need to be “squeaky” clean.  After all, how would it look if I built my business on integrity and then thought I was above it on a personal level?

That said, there’s a price to pay (in my case, higher taxes).

Like political strategist Basil Smikle said of Spitzer, “He ran on this law and order platform. He was attorney general for eight years, the sheriff of Wall Street. This works to undermine his credibility.” (Crain’s NY Business)

I’ll say.

Here’s the thing.  As many companies accused of “green washing” are finding out, saying and doing are vastly different things, and few truly walk the walk.  It’s something I’ve blogged about consistently.  As my mother used to say, “Don’t tell me what you’re going to do, do it.”

My mother, a staunch Roman Catholic, rarely saw in shades of grey.  There was always simply doing the right thing, or doing the wrong thing.  She had a thing about people who said one thing, but did another… “Do as I Say and Not As I Do.”

I wonder what Spitzer’s mother is thinking?