| Corruption in business and government is | | | | for themselves. We have to wait until they get |
| legendary. Don't become a legend. You could end | | | | caught so that the courts can handle them.I'm |
| up disgraced and in the slammer.When I was a | | | | interested in helping those who have a basis for |
| kid, my friend's father piled me in the family car | | | | proper conduct. The ones who had parents that |
| along with my friend and his sister. We took a | | | | were able to teach them proper conduct. Those |
| long drive around the city and we were treated | | | | who would like to stay honest in all of their |
| to ice cream and candy. It was a big day for us | | | | dealings.Here are some suggestions:1. If your |
| kids. It was the last day for my friend's father.My | | | | associates are doing wrong that does not justify |
| father was the auditor of a large city in the | | | | you in doing the same things. (Are you listening |
| mountain west. Sometimes his accountants would | | | | Congress?) If they try to get you in bed with |
| find discrepancies in certain accounts. My father | | | | them, tell them that you are not interested. When |
| was aware of what could happen to a person | | | | you get promoted and they don't, you can |
| caught in embezzlement. He wanted no more | | | | straighten them out as to what is proper conduct. |
| suicides like the one that had taken his friend and | | | | If you are kept from advancement because of |
| my friend's father. Sometimes he was able to | | | | honest conduct, find another job. Tell your |
| prevent a suicide. Other times he could not. Some | | | | attorney why you left the company.2. If you |
| folks are so embarrassed that no retribution | | | | were a Boy Scout, recite the Scout Oath |
| seems sufficient. They take their own | | | | occasionally to remind you to stay away from |
| lives.Unfortunately, too many still take the suicide | | | | corrupting influences. If you were not a Boy |
| way out. Most others face the court.Even here in | | | | Scout, remember what your mother taught you. |
| Idaho we read in the newspapers of individuals | | | | (You Girl Scouts figure this out for yourselves.) |
| taking funds that are not theirs from government | | | | Try to remember what you were taught in |
| and business coffers. Some get a tap on the | | | | school and at church. Recite the Ten |
| wrist; others are sent to jail. Each case is an | | | | Commandments. Well, do something of this order |
| individual and family tragedy.Most people are not | | | | that doesn't sound silly to you.3. Teach your |
| intentional thieves. A clerk with access to funds | | | | children to be honest. Be an example of honesty |
| decides that she must get some money to buy | | | | to them. Don't redefine honesty to suit your |
| her kid a birthday present. She "borrows" ten | | | | interest. Don't let greed (yours or your wife's) |
| bucks from the cash box. She puts it back the | | | | dictate your actions. When you pick up your child |
| next Monday after she has cashed her paycheck. | | | | ask yourself if you are a good example to your |
| She does that over again and again.Then one day, | | | | child.4. We had instructions at one company |
| she doesn't replace the stolen money (loan to | | | | where I worked to always pay for samples and |
| her).Pretty soon she looks at the money box as | | | | never to tell the supplier what we were doing |
| a cash cow. She starts juggling the books to | | | | with the samples. Another company asked that |
| cover her pillage.Then she gets caught.The | | | | we take suppliers to lunch part of the time rather |
| accountants say that she has embezzled twelve | | | | than have the supplier always pay the bill. The |
| grand.She didn't imagine it was that much.She | | | | deeper suppliers get into your business, the more |
| promises to pay it all back out of her paycheck. | | | | leverage they have. Keep your distance to avoid |
| She is terminated and prosecuted. She is fined | | | | gifts and overindulgence.5. Find a picture or a |
| and she spends three years cooling her heals in | | | | motto that you can hang in your office. A friend |
| the state prison for women.At least she doesn't | | | | of mine had a motto in his office that read: |
| kill herself.With some of our noble | | | | Integrity is being good when nobody is looking. If |
| congressmen-who are supposed to be icons of | | | | you have a picture, when you hang it up, say to |
| truth and justice-they take a little gift from a | | | | yourself, "I'm hanging this picture here to remind |
| lobbyist. Then they go to Canada with him on a | | | | me to be honest in all that I do."6. If you are CEO |
| fishing trip. Next, the lobbyist is throwing money | | | | of a company and the Board offers you and |
| into the congressman's charity trust or campaign | | | | other company officers exorbitant wages, stock |
| fund. When the congressman leaves office, he | | | | options, insurance, and other quirks, suggest that |
| has a ton of money he can spend on himself. | | | | they could be more prudent and that they place |
| Charity begins at home.Some business | | | | the stockholders first. If you want a huge estate |
| men-educated in our noblest institutions-have no | | | | like the other CEOs that are ripping off the |
| morals after graduation. They want power and | | | | workers and stockholders, ask yourself this |
| money. They obtain exorbitant salaries, stock | | | | question: Would that really make my family happy |
| options, and quirks. They suck money out of the | | | | or do we have more than what we need now?7. |
| corporation denying the owners-stock holders-a | | | | Give your excess assets to charity or return |
| decent return on their investment. They cut the | | | | them to the company when you retire. Don't spoil |
| benefits to employees and they rifle the company | | | | your kids with excess. Leave them what they |
| pension funds. These men are called crooks.To | | | | need, not what they want.8. When you look in the |
| rifle the corporation, they get fancy with the | | | | mirror ask yourself: Am I truly being honest?The |
| accounting. They claim false profits to drive up | | | | EndJohn T. Jones, Ph.D. (, a retired VP of R&D for |
| the stock so that they can exercise their stock | | | | Lenox China, is author of detective & western |
| options. They spend company money on personal | | | | novels, nonfiction (business, scientific, engineering, |
| travel. Some purchase personal items with | | | | humor), poetry, etc. Former editor of Ceramic |
| company money. They accept gifts from | | | | Industry Magazine. He calls himself "Taylor Jones, |
| suppliers.They have no shame.I don't know what | | | | the hack writer. |
| to do about these lowlifes that have no respect | | | | |