Is it POSSIBLE TO BE HONEST AND MORAL IN PUBLIC LIFE?
814092
As a politician you need to be able to speak for all those you represent, or at least appear to.  Sometimes you have to make compromises to achieve what you are after.  Some of those in public life are better at this than others.
397237
Very good question. I agree with your assertion about integrity and honor. This means to behave according to reasonable standards of morality, and to accept responsibility for decisions, both good and bad. And to be consistent in our words and deeds as much as possible within a political environment.\nI'd really like a politician who can listen to all viewpoints and make decisions based not on special interests alone, but based on the good of the citizens as a whole.\nThere are times when the ideal politician will even vote against the preferences of the majority in his/her district, if the larger good is enhanced. \nBeing able to resist special interests would be a fundamental quality.
212057
Your question though simple, is actually quite complicated.  Yes, they can.  Their understanding of what they are doing may be different, though, and their interpretation of what is, and is not, a lie may also be different.  Their understanding of the morality of truth vs lying may also be different.
351816
Not really. If you are blunt and honest with people that can be a great quality to possess. People will know that you do not sugar coat things and that you tell them exactly how you feel. Some people are overly sensitive and cant handle critism.  if they dont want to hear your honest opinion then they should nt ask. In that respect maybe people are conditioned to think that by asking someone their opinion they are going to lie to them to make them feel better. Good for you in breaking the stereotypical view of what should and how something should be said.
161792
I wouldn't quote exact figures, but I'd say a lot of people would say "honesty is the best policy."  However, no one can be 100% honest all the time.  Think about all the white lies we all tell to spare someone's feelings or to get out of an uncomfortable situation...
370113
absolutely!!! I don't have any idea why ppl are not bothered by the lack of morals our polititions have. they say, well they are ppl too, but we are talking about the pres of the united states!! I say if they are going to be bad they should at least be good enough at it that we don't find out!!1 I mean shouldn't they be smart enough to be good at being bad??
178928
I would like to agree with that statement, but I don't believe it's entirely correct.  People develop morality in part because of social conditioning, but also partly from instinct; the invisible man would have no need for morality, but he most likely would still have some.  People do have a tendency to make mental connections that truly baffle- assigning personalities to our cars, talking to plants, believing that some supernatural being is always watching (whether its God or Santa is up to you).  The fact of the matter is, that left to their own devices, most people are intrinsically good and honest for whatever reason.  (I think it's delusion, others call it nobility.)\n\nThis was demonstrated in the book "Blink" by Malcom Gladwell.  He describes a bagel supplier that operated on the "honor system".  Just a box was left for money, while bagels were self service- dropped off in dozens of offices all over town, fresh each morning.  Even the most dishonest office lunchrooms where the brave entrepeneur did business still paid for more than 75% of their bagels- while most of his client offices had rates closer to 95%.
346647
Of course not.\n\nBecause who's ethical codes to you follow? All have their flaws and their good points!\n\nBest to just do what you feel is wrong and right and hope for the best.
640938
I would say yes. The problem would be that "truly good and decent" people can be defined in more than one way. They would need laws demonstrating they respect eachother's varying choices, even if those choices all seem inherently good to each individual member.\n\nAn example would be in cooperative relationships and commerce. Likely these people would cooperate and would need laws or agreements to do so. \n\nOne person may believe their society will be communistic and perhaps act in a manner to fulfill this with truly good intentions, and violate another's capitalistic ideas.\nThey will need agreements on property and privacy as there can be varying approaches that are inherently good, yet conflicting.\n\nI think inherently good people could easily construct the laws needed and they would not have to include such petty laws as we have in societies filled with injustice, inequity and even evil.\n\nGreat question.
465399
I am brutally honest and I don't believe in sugar coating something to make myself look better so I imagine I am as far from Politically correct as they come...\n\nTo correct myself according to what society wishes I were...would be to compromise my own dignity and morals.
384257
Be nicer to one another and consider the feelings of others?
734277
Well ... though most of us have an illusion that morality and ethics have strted to die out in the field of business ( Imyself used to think that earlier ! ) , yet there is evidence that those companies who have a well defined ethical code for their employees as well as fir the customers are successful to form a good "public image", which proves to be instrumental in boosting up a company's profit. There is also statistical data available on that. I know all this now cuz recently i had a chance to give presentation on business ethics in college and for that i had to do extensive " research" . So the verdict my friend is ... there still is room for ethics and morality in business world ..( though the intention behind the same may not be genuine ) ...
1057387
misising a few words I think ... anyway moral is flexible and relative. if yet you ind yourself in question I guess you have to live with it ...
699557
honest, dependable, generally good morals.
580695
An infuriating paradox, isn't it? Immorality has secured many parts of the world, but not all. \nContrary to popular belief, morality is making a comeback. We have the technology age to thank for this. The Information Age has turned the tables on people who formerly relied on people not finding out. If you've kept track of politicians across the nation, more and more are being uncovered for this or that political infraction. Crooked politicians are finding it harder and harder to survive. More and more states and municipalities are adopting laws and policies outlining a code of conduct.\nI truly believe that were it not for the moral man, these shifts in ethics and accountability would not have begun. \nDon't get caught up in the drama of movie making. Remember, the producers will do anything to grasp your attention. Flowery quotes can only seem to live in fictional backdrops these days. As long as each of us does their part in preserving morality, I think moral man will survive.
473647
i think that most of us humans forgot the word MORAL means because of the way we act at times\n\nif there is anybody out there that does not agree please ontact me we will discuss it
1021740
If integrity is steadfast adherence to some kind of guiding principle or belief, and the refusal to veer from that course even when it means you might be embarrassed or otherwise uncomfortable...\n\nIn my own life, integrity is one of the *most* important guiding factors of my behavior and decisions and comments.  Without it, I would not respect myself; maybe not even like myself.  Living without honesty (to myself and others) is living without reality!  I can have forays into dishonesty in the sense of playing a role or having an adventure.  But I am always aware of the game, and that means I am being true to myself.  \n\nOthers deserve my honesty as much as I do, and they deserve the real me -- or maybe I just prefer sharing the real me.\n\nHonor isn't a word I connect with as readily.  I believe I live my life with honor, now that I think about it.  I can see how it goes along with integrity, but just isn't a concept I think much about.  \n\nLife for everyone would probably be immeasurably improved if we all were conscious of integrity and how good it makes us feel about ourselves... how comfortable in our own skin.  \n\nI often fantasize about a world where people treat each other with respect and, ok, honor.  Where people have the *courage* to tell the truth when asked a question, and to be themselves in a crowd, say, rather than become a total jerk and expend so much energy putting up a front.  I can't claim to have always lived as I've described and wanted.  But I constantly strive for it, and wish others did, too, more than they seem to.\n\nWouldn't it be wonderful to know you could leave something belonging to you unlocked and unguarded... and it would not vanish? ... to know you could meet someone and learn much sooner who they really were, and if you had compatible interests, beliefs and experiences?... to know you could live your life free of rude jerks (and I'm being kind) who don't have the integrity to respect your time, your feelings, your thoughts, your belongings, your space...?\n\nAnd isn't it a great feeling to *relax* and be your true self??  To know that whatever is true is ok, in some way? ... that there's no need to hide, and that hiding takes a lot more energy than a life of integrity?  \n\nWhat an improvement in life we'd experience if we all had that inner motivation to be the ultimate guide.  Imagine people doing the right thing, not because they'd otherwise get *caught*, but because it's the right thing.  Imagine someone thinking they *wouldn't* get caught... getting that bootleg movie online, say, filing a fraudulent insurance claim, or stealing from a store, yet they *don't* do it because it's wrong.  Imagine a misguided teen knowing that having a buddy say it's alright to do something bad doesn't *make* it alright.  Or standing up to peer pressure by not joining a gang or hate group or the others who pick on the "unusual" kid -- because of integrity standing guard where there's fear of rejection.\n\nTo have integrity could also mean to be whole, as in to have a healthy, comfortable mix of personality traits, interests, pastimes... to have balance in how you spend your time and your energy, in what you think about, and in your emotions.\n\nIf everyone had these things (and more that I'm failing to articulate), there would be little need to lash out at others in words or violence.  We wouldn't have to put others down to feel good about ourselves.  We wouldn't all be so "bored" and looking for superficial thrills and distractions to impress someone or feel momentarily happy.  There would be less reason to distrust.  Less fear would mean less over-reaction to words or events, and more reason and rationality.  I could go on and on.\n\nYes, these things are critically important, and sadly, not as well appreciated as they could be.