Ethics and Integrity in Guerrilla Government

Applying Ethical Decision-Making Models to Guerrilla Government

Definitions

Ethics is the study of values and how right and wrong action is defined (Cooper, 1998).

According to Fleishman (1981), outlined in O’Leary’s book, a person with integrity, genuinely, wants to do the right thing in all situation evidenced by the steps they take. The conflict may arise because there is no one code of conduct for society, therefore, the person is left to their own devices and moral fiber to figure out the steps (O’Leary, 2014).

Dobel (1999), reports integrity is a balance between personal moral commitments and capacities, obligation of office and political judiciousness. The person has the ability to use a self-conscious reflection, honesty and avoids

According to Cooper (2009), objective responsibility is a person’s responsibility to someone, or a collective body and include responsibility for tasks, subordinate personnel, and the ultimate goal achievement. The Guerilla Government had accountability to their supervisors and to the public and an obligation to perform their assigned duties and follow instructions.

The Guerilla government in the EPA Seattle office had a responsibility to the elected officials

Via compliance with the law. The expectation as a public servant/administrator in government, is that you will follow the instruction of those in authority and the laws governing your organization. However, they also had an obligation to their department (EPA) and its design, and to the best interest of the public, to the environment and their life long work and careers.

The dilemma begins when the Regan Administration decided that they were above the law, and were going to go against the grain and do things their way without regard for the seasoned employees, the environment and or the

Office of Government Ethics. (2000), “Public service is a public trust, requiring employees to place loyalty to the Constitution, the laws and ethical principles above private gain” (p.5). Ethical issues outlined in the “Guerrilla Government in EPA Seattle Office” violated the number one principle of ethical conduct and several others as outlined below.

Ethical and Legal Violations

The appointed regional directors had no regard for the law and appeared to violate all fourteen Principle of Ethical conduct for Federal Employees (U.S. Office of Government Ethics (n.d-a). The directors were not enforcing laws that mandated the cleanup of hazardous waste, exempting other companies, waiving litigation proceedings that were mandated by law, releasing confidential information to competing contractors, extorting political and financial gains for elections, that clearly crossed the line of their responsibility to the EPA administration and while outwardly lying to Congress.

The appointed regional directors, attempted to strong arm and change the culture of the EPA Seattle office evidenced by the abuse of authority, the blatant legal violations and the disregard for the seasoned employees that helped build the organization by threatening, demoting and firing competent