Archive for 'ethics'

Giving Life Versus Survival

Posted on October 30, 2012 by Kathryn Alexander

Disasters, like the one we are experiencing now on the East coast, bring up survival issues in a big way. Our concern about survival drives a lot of our economy, with the insurance industry being a prime example, and medicine being another.

Mortgages & Foreclosures – Oh My!

Posted on July 18, 2012 by Kathryn Alexander

This whole mortgage topic has seemed to be forgotten by the press but the legacy from 2008 roars on. Because the intent/purpose of the systems we’ve created are all about money we have missed the real issues and been blind to obvious solutions.

Role of Money on Public Policy

Posted on July 9, 2012 by Kathryn Alexander

John Robert’s ruling on the Healthcare issue opens up the ability of states to resist federal requirements that they spend money on: disabled children’s education, poor peoples health (Medicaid), and other programs designed to ensure a healthy, educated population. Robert’s ruling raised the specter of federal forcing states to do things that they wish not to do.

Loyalty – The Achilles Heel of Leadership

Posted on May 2, 2012 by Kathryn Alexander

We love loyalty. It pops up everywhere. Companies want loyal employees, employees what loyal leaders, companies want loyal customers, nations what loyal citizens – what are we really looking for?

Locality – A Natural Law

Posted on April 27, 2012 by Kathryn Alexander

My community is fighting fracking, is yours? This is an issue that seems to cross party line and bring even Libertarians and Democrats together. My city is being told that the state laws limit what the city can do and banning fracking is not permitted.

Corporate Social Responsibility Wave of the Future?

Posted on April 24, 2012 by Kathryn Alexander

I was going through the website for the 2011 Corporate Citizenship Conference and the various video clips submitted by organizations on their corporate citizenship projects. Corporations are going all over the world to help people in developing nations in all sorts of ways. It is heartwarming to see the good that companies can do if they try.

Respect and Reverence: Managing Boundaries

Posted on April 23, 2012 by Kathryn Alexander

A big part of learning to live effectively on this blue ball of ours has to do with understanding the gift life here is. We take both our lives and the Earth for granted, as though both will last forever. That is the illusion of youth, but when elders share it, disaster is not far behind.

Ethical Culture – Oxymoron?

Posted on April 20, 2012 by Kathryn Alexander

For those who are in the compliance game having an ethical culture can be a safety net. The Federal Sentencing Guidelines specify up to $75,000 per infraction. What can save you is having an ethical culture.

The Heartland Institute’s Climate Change Debacle

Posted on February 21, 2012 by Kathryn Alexander

Chicanery in the name of free speech to undermine science is dangerous, corruptive and confusing. Why would people play games with other people's lives in such a fashion?

Greenwashing - Again - Still?

Posted on January 25, 2012 by Kathryn Alexander

Why oh why do we NOT get what it means to be sustainable? "Smart Planet" my foot!

Reciprocity

Posted on January 23, 2012 by Kathryn Alexander

Does providing value to humans trump true sustainability? Dassault Systèmes President and CEO Bernard Charlès sums it up simply: What a company takes from the planet’s resources to create and deliver a product must be surpassed by the value that product or service delivers to the people it serves.

Laws and Ethics

Posted on January 20, 2012 by Kathryn Alexander

Is the "Rule of Law" enough? What happens when laws are immoral? Immigration as a case study.

CAN we meet our needs and those of the future?

Posted on January 8, 2012 by Kathryn Alexander

Sustainability is the capacity to endure. For humans, sustainability is the long-term maintenance of well being, which has environmental, economic, and social dimensions, and encompasses the concept of stewardship, the responsible management of resource use.

Nature or Nurture?

Posted on September 28, 2010 by Kathryn Alexander

This recent article in the Economist gives that old argument new meaning. Japanese scientists have been working to find a genetic link between people and their profession and their satisfaction with their profession. This has come about as scientists have finally discovered that genes don't act alone, but can be influenced by the environment ?