The basis of morality is not God or incomprehensible abstract principles, but that satisfying certain desires, either immediately or at all, leads to societal disorder – and so we punish such behavior.
That sure sounds punchless, doesn’t it? So I’ll let Randall Lane of Forbes, the leading business magazine, explain:
As American democracy rebounds, we need to return to a standard of truth when it comes to how the government communicates with the governed. The easiest way to do that, from where I sit, is to create repercussions for those who don’t follow the civic norms. Trump’s lawyers lie gleefully to the press and public, but those lies, magically, almost never made it into briefs and arguments – contempt, perjury and disbarment keep the professional standards high.
So what’s the parallel in the dark arts of communication? Simple: Don’t let the chronic liars cash in on their dishonesty. Press secretaries like Joe Lockhart, Ari Fleischer and Jay Carney, who left the White House with their reputations in various stages of intact, made millions taking their skills — and credibility — to corporate America. Trump’s liars don’t merit that same golden parachute. Let it be known to the business world: Hire any of Trump’s fellow fabulists above, and Forbes will assume that everything your company or firm talks about is a lie. We’re going to scrutinize, double-check, investigate with the same skepticism we’d approach a Trump tweet. Want to ensure the world’s biggest business media brand approaches you as a potential funnel of disinformation? Then hire away.
Lane correctly intuits that a business world based on deceit and mendacity will self-destruct, probably within a decade.
Trump was, and is, the parasite who plays the rules of morality for advantage: lying, lying about lying, prevaricating, not honoring contracts, all done with absolutely no shame. What would happen if we all did that?
Social disaster.
But the fruits, so tantalizingly within the grasp of the liar, are so tempting. And, hey, look at Mr. Trump, he’s a billionaire and he lies through his ass all the time.
Good for Forbes. Will other influential businesses issue similar statements and implement similar policies?
I hope Kayleigh likes pushing a broom. Because Trump certainly won’t be able to support her when she finds herself short on cash.
