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The national integrity two-step

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Cornerstone Business Group Inc 0225086119

In my blog yesterday I talked about the perils of pulling a Brian Williams in business by lying to get ahead. Mr. Williams is really an insignificant player in the broad scope of things, but something that has come out of this story should cause all of us to pause and reflect on where we've gone as a nation.

You see, in Mr. Williams's case, he "mis-remembered" being shot out of the sky over Iraq. When Hillary Clinton relayed how she was dodging Bosnian bullets she was just tired and "misspoke." When Larry Craig solicited the guy in the stall next to him in a Minneapolis airport bathroom he just had a wide stance while doing . . . (you get the picture). He wasn't really encouraging a rendezvous with the off duty police officer. Yeah, right. When Jim Bakker, of PTL fame, did the comforter tumble with Jessica Hahn he was stressed out and needed some relief. I hear you buddy, but the bimbet down the street wasn't your blow up doll.

This list could go on forever. It doesn't matter if it's a political figure, religious leader, the head of the PTA, a law enforcement officer, your brother-in-law or your best friend, the ability to avoid accountability for life choices has become a nationwide sport. 

It's no wonder people go into contracts with no fear of breaking them. That's what people do. Contracts, a person's word, personal behavior, accountability, dependability, integrity, morality have become negotiable. I call it situational honesty, integrity, morality, etc.  Just fill in the blank. Many will be honest until their back is against the wall and they need to lie their way out of a mess.

Over 20+ years, I've worked with a few clients whose first response to anything was a lie. It was only after the lie was confronted that the truth surfaced. Why should we have to do that dance over and over? Too often, it has become the accepted response.

 When a politician is confronted with a moral failure the default response is to deny. The cover-up begins and the story takes on a life of its own. It's only after zealous reporters (and that can depend on which political party the liar belongs to) dig and dig that the dirt-bag finally confesses. He/she suddenly remembers that he/she misspoke, mis-remembered or mistakenly thought that everyone was so enamored with his/her presence and value that they would overlook his/her foibles. 

This is one time where my 16 years of working inside our nation's prisons have helped me immensely. You see, most liars are not all that good, but inmates have years of practice perfecting the craft. When you can see through their lies it helps equip you to see through those on the outside.

My point is this, why are we accepting this kind of behavior from anyone? Brian Williams should have been given a box to load his desk into and then the security officer should have watched him leave the building. But, the truth is, NBC is weighing their options because Williams has been a hot commodity. No, actually, Mr. Williams is a pathological liar who is asking us to trust him with the news. Does that give you confidence in his reporting?

If we are willing to accept this kind of behavior, it will continue. Until we're willing to call bad behavior bad behavior it will continue. Until we've had enough of politicians saying one thing before November and doing something else after November they'll continue disappointing us. The United States has lost its moral compass and righting this starts with each individual. If you've had enough, stand up, speak up, stop supporting bad behavior with your presence and your treasure. 

Comments (21)

Lenn Harley
Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate - Leesburg, VA
Real Estate Broker - Virginia & Maryland

Brian Williams will fall depending on the reaction of their advertisers.  They'll get the viewers' response in the Neilsons. 

What they won't get now, is respect of the public.  Too late for that.

Feb 10, 2015 05:21 AM
Susan Haughton
Long and Foster REALTORS (703) 470-4545 - Alexandria, VA
Susan & Mindy Team...Honesty. Integrity. Results.

You are so absolutely right about this...we have come across clients who have lied about things for no reason at all.  I'm always confounded when someone lies about something that will be exposed - especially when there is just no reason to do so in the first place.  We are in a sorry state. 

Feb 10, 2015 06:09 AM
Mike Cooper, Broker VA,WV
Cornerstone Business Group Inc - Winchester, VA
Your Neighborhood Real Estate Sales Pro

Dick, I saw a significant shift in the value of truth in the 90s, and it appears we have never reverted back.

Amen, Lenn.

Confounded is a good way to look at it, Susan.

Feb 10, 2015 07:15 AM
Tom Arstingstall, General Contractor, Dry Rot, Water Damage Sacramento, El Dorado County - (916) 765-5366
Dry Rot and Water Damage www.tromlerconstruction.com Mobile - 916-765-5366 - Placerville, CA
General Contractor, Dry Rot and Water Damage

There is a generation that has grown up watching all of this and believing that this is normal behavior Mike. we have some work to do in bringing things around again.

Feb 10, 2015 10:52 AM
Mike Cooper, Broker VA,WV
Cornerstone Business Group Inc - Winchester, VA
Your Neighborhood Real Estate Sales Pro

That's a pretty good perspective, Tom.

Feb 10, 2015 11:02 AM
Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

Integrity in the news is something that we Americans expect, or at least hope for.  That being said, I know if I had to correctly remember 100% of events from 12 years ago, there would be a problem.  The following cartoon circulating around the internet provides a glimpse into a lack of integrity of credibility, when it is truly important.

Feb 10, 2015 11:20 AM
David Shamansky
US Mortgages - David Shamansky - Highlands Ranch, CO
Creative, Aggressive & 560 FICO - OK, Colorado Mtg

I agree Mike its disgusting at the least. Now Myrl that picture ... really, pretty tasteless in my opinion but whatever

Feb 10, 2015 01:36 PM
James Dray
Fathom Realty - Bentonville, AR

Mike most all politicians would be in the group.  I agree with David,  Myrl where is the current administration in that photo?  Tasteless is a good word for it.  

Feb 10, 2015 07:40 PM
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

Lack of integrity, accountability, responsibility and honesty does seem to be on the rise, and those behaviors shouldn't be accepted at all.  Lying serves no purpose except perhaps short-term for the liar (until they get caught).  

Feb 10, 2015 07:45 PM
Sally K. & David L. Hanson
EXP Realty 414-525-0563 - Brookfield, WI
WI Real Estate Agents - Luxury - Divorce

His six month "vACATION" will let advertisers speak their dollars...and there is where all business has their compass...unfortunately.

Feb 10, 2015 07:48 PM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

This is a sad story. I have always enjoyed news reports by Brian Williams.

If we could fire all of the real estate agents who have made misstatements, it would be a great way to reduce the surplus number of agents. 

Feb 11, 2015 12:21 AM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

I must admit, the Brian Williams scandal was one I nearly missed.  When I heard it, I figured he should be fired.  News anchors should be trustworthy.  Sadly, we already know not to trust politicians.

Feb 11, 2015 10:21 AM
Gayle Rich-Boxman Fishhawk Lake Real Estate
John L Scott Market Center - Birkenfeld, OR
"Your Local Expert!" 503-739-3843

Mike, yet ANOTHER reason why I don't watch the news! And by the way, we really ought to throw Mr. Cosby into the mix, while we're at it, since "date or business rape" (however you want to coin it) was one of those things he conveniently FORGOT ABOUT for umpteen years.

I am really mad at him because I grew up listening to his albums as kids and we as a family, loved him. 

I also abhore politics for the same slimy reasons. Ya hit a nerve here, Mike--and I thought this piece was stellar.

 

Feb 11, 2015 11:23 AM
Evelyn Johnston
Friends & Neighbors Real Estate - Elkhart, IN
The People You Know, Like and Trust!

Making a mistake is human.  lie-ing about it to avoid responsibility is an entirely different problem all together.  I remember my Dad saying, way back in the 1960's that America's downfall would be our morals, or rather, lack of. He was right.

Feb 11, 2015 11:28 AM
Jon Zolsky, Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Condo Realty, 386-405-4408 - Daytona Beach, FL
Buy Daytona condos for heavenly good prices

I like the comment that news anchors should be trustworthy. I do not agre with it, as I believe people should be trustworthy. being honest is not a part of a job description. And if it is, then we are in deep trouble. Then it means that trustworthy wold go and become news anchors, and not trustworthy would go and become ... what? Attorneys? Doctors? Car Mechanics? Where do you see theose not trustworthy, except as in jail? But can we have such a jail, holding everyone besides news anchors? 

I got to stop as I am already laughing...

Feb 19, 2015 10:53 AM
Jon Zolsky, Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Condo Realty, 386-405-4408 - Daytona Beach, FL
Buy Daytona condos for heavenly good prices

Mike - gosh, you are holding me, I have already left a bunch of comments on your posts, and can't leave...

here is the most important part. We are making it our culture. And here is where it is plain stupid and dangerous. There is a war in Ukraine, and our President is trying to provide Putin the safe passage out, so that he can retain the face.

This is unbelievable. He is a bully, a unintelligent but cunning man, putting lives of people at risk and willing to do things that would put the world at risk of WWWIII and our leaders have nothing better to do, but to arrange so that he can retreat safely and be considered the god by his own people.

you can tell me about the protocols, and all that crap, but I know only one thing.

If the leaders of the world in Australia, when Putin was there wouldn't shake his hand, there would be no bully Putin. It would be enough shame for any politician to be called the way they are.

We would have a much safer world, if that were the rules. Politics is part of life and not above life, so what is normal to people, is normal to countries. being honest and straightforward would have done more good that bad.

Oh, I hear the voices that politics is a game. I agree. It is a game which we choose to lose by telling the world what, when and how we will attack. And also from the get go telling bullies of the World that we are not going to fight Russia. This is off the table. Did Mr. Putin say big Thank you to Obama for a green light to go with the war?

You are right saying that "Mr. Williams is really an insignificant player".

We know bigger liars and bigger players.

Feb 19, 2015 11:02 AM
Jon Zolsky, Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Condo Realty, 386-405-4408 - Daytona Beach, FL
Buy Daytona condos for heavenly good prices

Sorry, just could not pass on the opportunity. Typed the previous long-winded comment, then came back and ran the spell-checker, and there was not a single misspelling, at least the spell-checker did not find any.

Wow, I believe it is the first time I type sloppy as usual, and it comes out perfect. Gotta be angry when you are typing, I guess... :)

Feb 19, 2015 11:05 AM
Mike Cooper, Broker VA,WV
Cornerstone Business Group Inc - Winchester, VA
Your Neighborhood Real Estate Sales Pro

Jon, my heart breaks for my friends in Ukraine. My time was always spent in the east not far from the current fighting. Many of my friends have touched base with me through the process. They're frightened and they don't know what's going to happen from day to day. Nearly 15 years ago a church elder told me that they were afraid for our country. He was concerned for the poor quality leadership we had at the time. He also said they didn't know if they would have ten years of freedom or less or more, but they were making plans as if they had more. I couldn't phathom that mindset, but I'm watching his fears being realized right before my eyes, and the incompetent leadership in this country has given the aggressors a free pass. 

Feb 19, 2015 11:25 AM
Jon Zolsky, Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona Condo Realty, 386-405-4408 - Daytona Beach, FL
Buy Daytona condos for heavenly good prices

Mike - if someone is a coward by nature, you can't change it. To have a coward as the commander-in chief is the biggest joke for America.

Feb 20, 2015 12:36 AM
Mike Cooper, Broker VA,WV
Cornerstone Business Group Inc - Winchester, VA
Your Neighborhood Real Estate Sales Pro

 

 

Sad, Jon, but true.

Feb 20, 2015 01:07 AM