Bonusitis

Two things on my mind this morning:  this quote on Facebook from my friend Jennifer: 

"Growth for the sake of growth is the ideology of the cancer cell." - Edward Abbey

And Rich Klein's latest article on his blog, Views on Reputation.

Whether it's Congress members who grant favors in exchange for money (and votes) or companies who operate as if anything goes as long as nobody's looking closely, it seems greed and self-interest rule among what should be the pillars of our society -- our corporations and governments. 

I don't get it.

I spent most of my adult life working for a company with a well-earned reputation for its squeaky-clean image.  I won't claim it was perfect nor immune to the siren song of the past 20 years "Bonusitis" virus -- but I also never participated in nor witnessed a complete abrogation of responsibility to the employees, customers, communities and shareholders responsible for keeping us in business. 

I wish I could say that the moral and ethical disintegration unfolding around us means a serious reassessment of institutional values.  I suspect, though, that Mr. Liddy spoke for many others in acknowledging the changes that came only when the strong light of public opinion made it impossible not to. 

And that when that light fades, as it will, we'll be back to business as usual.