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