Does Weiner's fall now raise Congress' ethical rating?
Weiner is now resigning. Will ethical standards in politics rise because of his fall?
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Rep. Anthony Weiner has resigned. That sharpens the question we’ve been raising all week until we have to ask ourselves: Does the fall of this individual, now, raise the ethical standards of Congress — or our regard of other leaders?
The three-week ordeal is over. Yesterday, Weiner announced his resignation from Congress. The pressure on him from his party’s leadership was enormous.
The revelations of Weiner’s indiscretion came at a bad time, distracting attention away from the Democrats’ core messages. From all media accounts, Democratic leaders weighed in against him. Even the president said publically that Weiner should resign.
Weiner, a relative unknown from New York, attracted national attention. For a short period of time, he was even more popular in Google searches than Lady Gaga. Lady Gaga is my cultural baseline, as you know from my earlier comparison between the pop star and concerns about jobs, unemployment and the deficit.
Will Weiner’s resignation raise the ethical standards of Congress?
This week on OurValues.org, we’ve discussed the low level of regard with which most Americans hold Congress when it comes to ethics. Most say that ethical standards have fallen, and almost half see a gulf between the governed and those who govern almost as wide as it was between England and the America colonies in the 18th century.
If ethical standards are that low, then Weiner’s exit can’t help but elevate the Congressional average. But even that will still remain low.
Are you glad Weiner decided to resign?
How concerned are you about the ethical standards of members of Congress from your district or the senators from your state?
Dr. Wayne E. Baker is a sociologist on the faculty of the University of Michigan Ross School of Business. Baker blogs daily at Our Values and can be reached at ourvaluesproject@gmail.com or on Facebook.
Comments
justcary
Mon, Jun 20, 2011 : 7:23 p.m.
"Even the president said publically. . ." Publicly. Spelling counts. Just as Weiner's behavior is a big distraction from important Democratic congressional work, mechanical errors distract from the weight of the writer's message. At the very least, run a spell check!
Gordon
Sat, Jun 18, 2011 : 2 p.m.
Not - Absolutely. The public is so caught up in their busy personal lives they pay little attention to their government until somebody screws up. We need to be more involved in ground root politics, we need to filter who is fit to run for office, and we need to bring Politics back to a level equal to the rest of us in benefits. At one time are Politicans were the Elite. Today we need Politicans who are the mentally Elite not just after the Power & Fame. It's a tough job no question about it; but the voters don't treat it that way; so the politicos don't either. Weiner resignation doesn't improve the atitude about Congress. Way too many self-serving people are still in office. The voters thorough lack of attention have given away too much power to elected officals. Circulating the net is a voter sponsored petition requiring Congress persons to have to retire under the same rules as their voters Social Security & Health care. That saleries be based on changes in inflation. That one or two terms are not enough to create a retirement program. After a few years I'm still looking for the job that gives me other peoples money (campaign funds) , better health benefits, and a stronger reitirement program. Shame on me for sounding jealous or am I thinking too much power becomes more power then is healthy?
Brad
Fri, Jun 17, 2011 : 3:44 p.m.
ABSOLUTELY......Not! Congress and the Senate are an absolute joke. Each and every Congressman and Senator is as corrupt as the next. Make no mistake, the common agenda of a congressman or senator is to take the common person's concerns and complaints and make some legislative changes to help curtail those issues. But there is another common agenda for congressman and senators, and that is to line their own pockets with money from bribes...oh wait, that would be illegal...with money from lobbyists. Anthony Wiener is just another example of what is wrong with this countries political system. All of these politicians think that they are untouchable and above the law, because they "make" the laws. So you get arrogant, pompous politicians who try to blame their indiscretions on "hackers" or "evil doers". What a Joke!