With the uproar about bank and corporate bonuses and lackluster action in Washington, I have heard many gripes about the indecency of corporate honchos and the corruption of our legislators.  I also recently read about Illinois lawmakers trying to skirt around real campaign reform.  One congressman, U.S. Rep Mike Quigley, D-Ill, is forcing the House probe further into the investigation about getting special mortgage deals from big lenders, making both Democrats and Republicans nervous.

Reportedly, the “little people” are getting enraged and I have heard about revolution afoot with some extremists.
People are legitimately upset with the seemingly “same-old, same-old” from our leaders.  Most believe that the reason for the turtle-pace movement on health-care reform and other important issues is lobbyists greasing the regular greedy palms.  I agree that much of this speculation is based on what is so.

What all of this leads me to wonder is why has nothing changed?  There are many plausible responses.  One that I believe is entrenched in our minds is “It’s always been this way and it will never change.”  Of course, it is easier to complain about something than to contemplate putting forth remarkable effort to change a system that has the weight of history and the past ennui of those at the effect of it.  

Do we just want to blow off steam when we moan and groan about this situation?  Do we feel we have met our obligation as citizens to gripe out loud?  Do we feel we gain an iota of justice because we confer with others about the dreadful state of our governments?  A larger question: Do we really care?  Is the extent of our involvement tantamount to our temporary fascination as we pass an automobile accident or hear about some kid in a bad neighborhood murdered? Is it our left-over teenage need to be like our peers - we hear others being upset about the purported corruption and want to belong, want to be liked?  Do we sound-off because we believe the undefined “they” expects us to make our voices heard?

Why since the days of our founding fathers have we felt duped by the powers-that-be and never really join to change the greed and corruption that makes our government and our leaders of huge companies feel the needed pressure to change the so far unchangeable?

I am not sure about the answers to these questions.  However, I suspect that there may be some truth to the possibility that we may not want to rock our own boats.  Government and business leaders are greedy and corrupt; and what about us? Our representatives and leaders are just like us; okay, perhaps a lot richer, but people and citizens of this country nonetheless.

How pristine is our behavior in business and in our lives?  How important is it to us to keep commitments to those we serve – our clients, customers, friends, and neighbors? What if the tables were turned and concerned citizens wanted to investigate our honesty and our practices?  Do we fear that we might be the pot calling the kettle black? If we have the nerve to pursue honesty and justice will we have to be subjected to the same scrutiny?  Aha – a little scary!

To me, a great course of action would be to start with our own conscience and behavior.  What if each of us behaved the way we expect our leaders to behave?  What if we kept ourselves to the standards we want set for our business leaders and government?  If as you read this, you are shouting and protesting because you do live up to your own standards, then I challenge you to move forward and get busy finding others like you, have discussions about what can be done – such as not voting in cheaters and charlatans, which is another blog altogether – and start doing something about it!

The next time you want to blither on about those rotten dogs in Springfield, Washington, Wall-Street or wherever – ask yourself so what?  What are you going to do about it?