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The Ethics of Being a Tightwad

November 21, 2008 By Leave a Comment

Amid the economic slump, don’t feel bad about putting saving ahead of spending. In fact, it’s unethical to squander money you can’t afford to spend.

By Bruce Weinstein, PhD

You can’t blame the American consumer for feeling frustrated. After all, we’re caught on the horns of a dilemma: We’re supposed to continue spending our rapidly dwindling dollars to keep our faltering economy from collapsing altogether, but we’re also told to save as much money as we can to prepare for an uncertain future. What to do? [Read more...]

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A Code of Ethics for President-Elect Obama

November 4, 2008 By Leave a Comment

Here are some guidelines to keep America’s new leader on track as he tackles some daunting tasks

By Bruce Weinstein, PhD

The most heated, high-stakes, and divisive Presidential election in recent memory is now over, and on Jan. 20, 2009, the U.S. will welcome Barack Obama as our next President. Even the most diehard Republicans would have to agree that President-Elect Obama ran an outstanding campaign, but Obama’s greatest challenges lie ahead: preventing our teetering economy from collapsing, ending a war that most U.S. citizens believe has gone on for far too long, helping more than 40 million uninsured Americans get the health care they need, improving an education system that has long been in disarray, and many more seemingly insurmountable tasks. [Read more...]

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There’s Nothing Holy About Religulous

October 24, 2008 By Leave a Comment

Bill Maher seems to make fun of everyone he interviews in his documentary about religious beliefs. What a shame.

By Bruce Weinstein, PhD

Bill Maher’s Religulous is a perfect example of how not to make a good documentary. [Read more...]

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Downsizing 102: When It Happens to You

September 26, 2008 By Leave a Comment

Being laid off is one of the most traumatic events we can experience. Consider these guidelines should you find yourself suddenly out of a job.

By Bruce Weinstein, PhD

Americans are bracing for massive job losses in the wake of the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. Even before the recent worries on Wall Street, anxiety about employment was high; earlier this year, the U.S. Labor Dept. released a report stating that there had been a net loss of 63,000 jobs, which was the biggest monthly decline in five years. [Read more...]

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Downsizing 101

September 12, 2008 By Leave a Comment

Charged with giving the bad news? Here are your ethical responsibilities.

By Bruce Weinstein, PhD

Most discussions about downsizing focus on the legal, economic, or psychological issues raised by this practice. These are essential concerns, but we rarely consider how or why downsizing is also an ethical issue. The next two columns are an attempt to redress that problem. Here, we’ll consider your ethical responsibilities if you are the one charged with giving the bad news. In the second column, we’ll look at what you ought and ought not to do if you are the one being downsized. [Read more...]

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The Ethics of Protesting

August 20, 2008 By Leave a Comment

You have a right to voice your dissent. Just make sure you do it the right way, which means with fairness and respect uppermost in mind.

By Bruce Weinstein, PhD

The fear that as many as 30,000 protestors will disrupt the 2008 Democratic National Convention (which runs Aug. 25-28) has led to preparations for an unprecedented turnout by federal and local authorities, according to The New York Times. The city of Denver has spent more than $2 million on protection equipment for police officers, and millions more from the federal government will be tagged for Secret Service, FBI agents, and others charged with maintaining law and order. It’s possible that protests planned for the Republican National Convention, to be held in Minneapolis-St. Paul from Sept. 1-4, will be even larger and more intense. [Read more...]

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The Ethics of Taking Vacations

July 29, 2008 By Leave a Comment

You owe it to yourself to recuperate, and you’ll do your job better if you take time off. Both are ethical issues.

By Bruce Weinstein, PhD

Which of the following statements is most accurate for you?

A) I receive 15 days of paid vacation each year, and I take them—guilt-free.

B) I receive 15 days of paid vacation each year, but I feel guilty if I take them.

C) I haven’t had a vacation in years. I’m loyal to my company or business and am proud of this fact.

D) I work for myself and don’t take vacations. If I don’t work, I don’t make money. [Read more...]

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The Ethics of Picking a Vice-President

July 15, 2008 By Leave a Comment

A running mate should be chosen on the basis of what’s good for the nation, not just who will help get Obama or McCain elected.

By Bruce Weinstein, PhD

Who should be the running mates for Senators Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.)? This is one of the most debated questions in the Presidential campaign, but it shouldn’t be viewed as merely a strategic concern. Whenever we ask what someone should do—and the rights or well-being of others hang in the balance—we are asking an ethical question. And that’s why the question of who our next Vice-President ought to be is an important ethical issue. [Read more...]

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The Art of Losing Well

May 20, 2008 By Leave a Comment

Despite the sports aphorism, winning isn’t the only thing. Accepting and learning from defeat can take you a long way.

by Bruce Weinstein, PhD

The din of voices calling for Hillary Clinton to give up her Presidential bid is growing louder by the day. Why does she continue to run when the odds of her winning the Democratic Party’s nomination are so slim? Perhaps it’s because she truly believes she is the best person to be the next President of the United States. Perhaps it’s because she is convinced that, with continued determination, she can succeed at this formidable task. But the reason could be much simpler: She may consider losing to be a form of personal failure. [Read more...]

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In Interviews, Honesty Is the Best Policy

May 6, 2008 By Leave a Comment

Job hunting is a cutthroat business, especially these days when work is scarce. But it still pays to stick to your ethical principles.

by Bruce Weinstein, PhD

It’s graduation season, and this means it’s time for job hunting. Joining the pool of applicants will be a lot of people who have been downsized, fired, or who found their previous employment to be less than satisfying. Whether you’re a newbie or a seasoned veteran of the job search, it’s helpful to get advice about the all-important but nerve-wracking experience known as the job interview. [Read more...]

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