Is There a Double Standard Between the Behavior We Accept from Politicians in the White House and Congress Versus Leaders in Other Walks of Life?
Those of you who have read my previous posts know that I am the retired chairman & CEO of a Fortune 100 corporation, a previous board member of some of the largest public and private companies in the world, a veteran and former officer in the United States Navy, an author of a nine children’s books rather than another addition to the crowded series of ex-CEO treatises on leadership, an ardent supporter of American democracy and the rule of law, and someone who believes that most Americans and others around the world are good, decent people who want the best for themselves, their families, and their country.
You also know that I don’t suffer fools gladly and that I’m not shy about speaking my mind when I see leaders and the institutions they represent acting contrary to their agreed-upon responsibilities and the “oaths of office” they took before assuming their position, whether they be politicians, business executives, or leaders in other walks of life. Oh, and lest you wonder, I vote for candidates based on their character and positions on important issues rather than strictly by party affiliation.
My father was an immigrant, having passed through Ellis Island from England when he was an eight-year-old with his widowed mother and three siblings. In addition, my grandmother on my mother’s side immigrated from Ireland as a young woman. My father, mother, and each of their siblings were the first in their generation to graduate from college and receive advanced degrees. My parents later volunteered for the Army when World War II started. They were both decorated for their service in combat zones: my father as a surgeon in the Pacific, and my mother as a nurse who followed our troops from England through France and other European countries. Like many of their generation, they fulfilled their military obligations while witnessing the horrors of war, and then they returned home to get on with their lives, never seeking recognition for their service and rarely, if ever, speaking to their families about what they did and what they saw.
When I was growing up, my parents, teachers, and athletic coaches taught me many “golden rules” worthy of living by. Recognizing that no one is perfect, and everyone makes mistakes from time to time, that list included:
Never lie or accept lies as the truth. Own up to your mistakes. Don’t bully those weaker than you, stand up to bullies, and protect those who are bullied. Respect and take care of your neighbors, regardless of who they are and where they have come from. Be a team player and support your teammates. Listen, think, and remember to put yourself in the other person’s shoes before you speak. Do the best you can in whatever you choose to do. Work hard and prepare yourself for what may come. Respect the law and never cheat. Pick your friends wisely because they reflect on you and your judgment. Be loyal to those who have earned your respect and trust. Keep your word and don’t betray confidences. Don’t brag or act in a conceited, self-promoting way. And treat others the way you would want to be treated.
Why do I say all this? Well, because a growing number of people believe we have a blatant double standard underway today, and it extends to the highest levels of our government.
So here are two acid-test questions in this regard. The first question is: “Would you or any board of directors accept the following type of behavior from a person who was the CEO of your company, director of a nonprofit organization in your community, chair of your local school board, principal of your children’s school, or a leader of any other organization with which you are affiliated?”
▶︎ A record of consistently misstating facts, twisting the truth, and perpetrating outright lies.
▶︎ An unbroken chronology of never acknowledging, owning up to, or apologizing for numerous mistakes, bad decisions, and misjudgments.
▶︎ A reputation for going into important meetings woefully unprepared and being susceptible to and influenced by false praise and hollow promises during important negotiations.
▶︎ A string of bad hiring decisions, capricious firings, and a consistent pattern of turning on former employees and friends.
▶︎ A history of admiring and praising brutal autocrats, and an inability to condemn the actions of racist, white supremacist, and other hate groups.
▶︎ An extensive list of unethical decisions that put self-dealing and personal gain ahead of the best interests of the organization they had sworn to represent.
▶︎ A well-known and ongoing failure to keep confidential information and documents safe and secure.
▶︎ A documented list of bullying subordinates and disregarding or ridiculing dedicated co-workers with whom they disagree.
▶︎ A proclivity to use purposely false, divisive, hateful, and incendiary language to pit individuals and groups against one another.
▶︎ A mean-spirited, vindictive personality devoid of genuine compassion, caring, and concern for others.
▶︎ An egotistical, self-promoting set of actions that puts his or her image, name, and reputation above all else.
If your answer to the first question is an unequivocal “NO,” then the second question is: “Why would you ever accept this type of behavior from a member of the executive or legislative branches of your government?”
And, upon reflection, if you don’t accept this type of behavior, what are you prepared to do about those who act this way, now and in the future?