Ethical conduct and integrity are the most critical components of the moral fabric of public sector leadership. The case of New York State Senator Malcolm Smith and New York City Councilman Dan Halloran depicts the structural corruption taking place within the government. This paper evaluates whether or not Smith and Halloran have breached ethical obligations, analyzes what actions they have failed to take from a moral point of view, compares them to private sector standards, looks into New York’s cultural background of corruption, and distinguishes his leadership and power. This introductory section thus introduces the analysis of the ethical dimensions present in public officials’ behavior and actions. Further, it illuminates the complexity and implications of the officials’ behavior in a larger governance context. Looking into the roles played by Smith and Halloran, one can conclude the problems and dilemmas of ethical leadership in the public sector.
Ethical Obligations Allegedly Breached
Smith and Halloran supposedly broke some moral rules they were supposed to follow in their jobs. One of the most important things is always to be truthful and honest. As people chose to lead, they were tasked with helping the public and keeping democratic values strong. However, they are accused of trying to cheat in the New York City mayoral race by giving money and being dishonest. This makes people not trust the election process and the government. Also, they did not fulfill their moral duty to be responsible and accountable by putting their desires for success and money before caring for the people they serve. Government leaders must fulfill the trust given to them by those who voted for them and work for the good of the people they represent.
Ethically Proper Course of Action Not Taken
The morally correct course taken by Smith and Halloran was lacking in principles of disclosure, transparency, and respect for democratic governance. Instead of doing these back-dealings secretly, they should have followed the well-known, legitimate, and apparent processes. This would have meant competing in the political field for offices to be filled out based on fair and honest means, and this should have been done without bribery. They justified their wrongdoings by secretly hiding the evidence and closing their shady deals. In this way, they violated transparency principles that are key to public opinion of the political processes (Fox, 2022). Besides, they should have respected democratic principles and the rule of law by competing in the mayoral race relatively on equal ground, not using illegal tactics to achieve an unnatural triumph.
Comparison to Private Sector Ethics
Being ethical is crucial for building trust and keeping the company honest in public and private businesses. Although the rules and systems may vary, being honest, doing the right thing, and following the law are always important. Corruption, bribery, and fraud are bad vices that can significantly impact people (Bozeman & Jung, 2022). It is not just about getting in trouble with them; it can also ruin your reputation and make people trust you more. In the private sector, businesses compete with each other in markets. They must be trusted and seen as reliable to keep customers returning and make investors feel confident. Entering corrupt activities weakens these critical factors, putting the organization’s ability to survive and continue at risk. It is vital to follow ethical rules, from small businesses to big companies. This is not just the right thing to do but also helps with long-term success.
In the same way, people chosen to be in charge of the government have a responsibility to protect the people’s interests and support democratic values. Corruption in the government makes people lose trust in the political system and can weaken democracy. If Smith and Halloran did what they are accused of, it would break the public’s trust and make the democratic process less fair. Breaking the rules looks terrible for one politician and makes people question the whole government (Arendt, 2022). Although oversight and accountability work may differ in public and private sectors, we still expect everyone to behave ethically. Both areas have rules and groups to stop and punish dishonest behaviors. Furthermore, when someone breaks the rules, it does not just lead to punishment by the law. It can also hurt the organization’s reputation, make stakeholders lose trust, and make it less effective.
Cultural Context and Leadership vs. Power
Corruption exists in some societies, but it is not fair to judge everyone based on a few people’s actions. Corruption happens because of politics, money, society, and culture. Leadership and power are different ideas that can sometimes be related, but they also have some critical differences. Good leadership means being honest and doing the right thing. Using their power badly can cause corruption and unethical behavior (Giurge et al., 2021). The Smith and Halloran case shows how important it is to have good leaders who make ethical decisions.
Conclusion
The case of Malcolm Smith and Dan Halloran is an indirect message of the moral dangers that a politician goes through in power. They have cheated and broken the rules to get their way, which has only made the political system unfair, and they have no longer gained the people’s trust. Their behavior shows that it is essential to follow the rules honestly in both the government and business sectors. It also highlights the importance of having leaders with good character who are honest and transparent. With corruption in our society, we look up to our leaders to emulate moral values and become role models to the general public. It also pleads to make our society better.
References
Arendt, H. (2022). On lying and politics. Library of America.
Bozeman, B., & Jung, J. (2022). The Corruption-Incompetence Nexus: Analysis of Corrupt US Mayors. Journal of Policy Studies, 37(2), 1-12.
Fox, J. (2022). Accountability keywords. Washington DC: Accountability Research Center.
Giurge, L. M., Van Dijke, M., Zheng, M. X., & De Cremer, D. (2021). Does power corrupt the mind? The influence of power on moral reasoning and self-interested behavior. The Leadership Quarterly, 32(4), 101288.
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