Moral Commitment to Limit Hate and Corruption (Thought Experiment)

We are continuing to explore the concept of freedom by discussing hate and corruption and its potential impact on the environment. This learning story is a hypothetical philosophical discussion on the power of democracy to overcome even the most entrenched bad behaviors. It isn't immediate and there are many people who must make decisions based on their personal values but eventually the will of people realigns to universal values we all share. Below is the continuation of a 5-year discussion about exploring some of the bad stuff we can think related to hate and corruption. In the end we will have a very positive result that adapts and improves the whole.

In this example corrupted officials felt a sense of loyalty to their fellow clan members, ideologies, and in turn did their best to hide corruption after years of harm to victims and the community. Bad actors went out of their way and continued to go out of their way to protect misdeeds in a manner that put members of a community at future risk. Their words and behaviors out of sync. They didn't care about our laws, children, vets, elderly or their town as much as they did about themselves and the Clan. A complete disrespect for human life and blatant violations of basic concepts of freedom.

(Yikes sounds pretty bad but we can learn.....)

What the network didn't expect was the power of democracy and its ability to rally people to a greater cause to nip them where some decision makers couldn't muster the courage and integrity needed leading to a system (...some by fear of rejection, some by confusion, and some by personal choice). Good officials and local community members felt a deeper sense of loyalty and patriotism and begin to report corrupted officials while strengthening and supporting good officials who were serving their community honorably and nobly every day (Small acts of collective support that have bigger outcomes. It is a protective survival system built into our culture, species and nature. Theoretically anyway.). 

Interesting in this learning example, as more people reported, more victims came forward, community concern rose, and the network became further exposed. Denial and the dehumanizing hate-based narratives were simply not something that would work anymore as people had seen enough and became fed up. Decision makers refused to investigate perpetrators but did allow for targeting and threats to concerned citizens (...good officials reported but clan officials blocked.). Some of these behaviors could bump into a different category (...keep in mind willful coordinated aggression.).

The choices we make over our lifetimes helps determine not only our own personal values but also the social values that make-or-break futures. For example, if you socially teach that corruption is ok it will have a different long-term impact when compared to if you hold to account/reverse corruption. Strong communities ensure there are mechanisms in place to overcome corruption and lack of faithfulness to shared oaths and principles. Those who protect and reward serious misbehaviors show little loyalty the purpose of position or the sacrifices people before them made (even their own parents and grandparents). They are selling outs to society.

This is where the problems lay and have always laid....in the value systems of the decision makers and not necessarily in the people (Yes, there are good and bad people, but mostly collective society strives upward.). The very choice to protect/reward or stand for higher principles is fundamental to the soul of a person and its good or bad influence in the environment. Both good and bad can spread as ideas are shared, changed, constructed and reconstructed. If leaders and officials regularly stand for what is good, noble and essential to our collective purpose, people will know it and trust will rise. They don't, they lie, they act in aggressive ways, and through natural human psychology people won't trust. (This is why I sort of advocate for strong moral conscious and commitment to oaths around core values such as "liberty and justice for all".)

There are differences between good officials who do what is right and corrupted officials (and decision-making supporters) who do what is wrong. The study below found that moral commitment is negatively associated with corruption. Thus, those who have certain beliefs of a higher value are much less likely to engage in corruption, take bribes and by extension protect corruption. When we pick leaders, put people in positions of authority, or make decision it is important to understand that we have greater responsibility to all of our community members and not just the activities of our friends, groups, religions, races, politics, or clans.  Moral Commitment and Corruption. 

*This is a hypothetical philosophical thought experiment for learning purpose on hate and corruption so take with a grain of salt. We will write in a positive ending where the whole gets more effective and in alignment with stated missions/oaths/values.. It has discovered 5 stages that ranged from default in justice to community resilience. Freedom of religion and speech where covered in prior writings and its importance in encouraging higher critical thinking.