Why Transparent Ethics and Norms Matter

[15yds4gibberish]

I already hate myself for this because it gives oxygen to something that has been discredited many times - But it ain't ever going to die, and it ties together a lot of themes on this, the obscene side of the board so here goes:

All president’s and vice president’s have family and friends whose jobs might be impacted by policy.  That’s why we ask them to observe transparent ethics processes and norms:

First, we ask that presidents and VP’s divest from personal holdings.  Biden did this.  Trump did not.

Then we ask presidents and VP’s to disclose tax returns and financial records to ensure transparency.  Biden did this.  Trump did not.

We ask presidents and VP’s to observe laws and norms against nepotism in government by not hiring family members.  Biden observed those laws and norms.  Trump refuses to do so.

Even after all of the above, sometimes questions still arise.  Some things Presidents and VP's can’t recuse from and will impact their own financial interests or family and friends – Things like tax cuts, foreign policy, military action.  So we ask them to observe the norms of process in order to bolster legitimacy.  By working through places like the State Department, relying on interagency recommendations.  This creates reassurances that decisions are being made in the national interest and not personal interest.

What Trump has done is refuse to divest from his business, refuse to disclose tax returns and financial documents, handed his children government jobs, and then circumvented regular process.

Because Biden observed all ethics rules and norms, and was acting on behalf of the US with international support – A position reached through a transparent process – We can have confidence in his actions, even in situations in which someone identifies a possible conflict.

This is why presidents and VP’s have voluntarily observed these rules (at least most of them have and usually).  Because they know they may need it to preserve political legitimacy. 

[HSFBfan]

20 minutes ago, 15yds4gibberish said:

I already hate myself for this because it gives oxygen to something that has been discredited many times - But it ain't ever going to die, and it ties together a lot of themes on this, the obscene side of the board so here goes:

All president’s and vice president’s have family and friends whose jobs might be impacted by policy.  That’s why we ask them to observe transparent ethics processes and norms:

First, we ask that presidents and VP’s divest from personal holdings.  Biden did this.  Trump did not.

Then we ask presidents and VP’s to disclose tax returns and financial records to ensure transparency.  Biden did this.  Trump did not.

We ask presidents and VP’s to observe laws and norms against nepotism in government by not hiring family members.  Biden observed those laws and norms.  Trump refuses to do so.

Even after all of the above, sometimes questions still arise.  Some things Presidents and VP's can’t recuse from and will impact their own financial interests or family and friends – Things like tax cuts, foreign policy, military action.  So we ask them to observe the norms of process in order to bolster legitimacy.  By working through places like the State Department, relying on interagency recommendations.  This creates reassurances that decisions are being made in the national interest and not personal interest.

What Trump has done is refuse to divest from his business, refuse to disclose tax returns and financial documents, handed his children government jobs, and then circumvented regular process.

Because Biden observed all ethics rules and norms, and was acting on behalf of the US with international support – A position reached through a transparent process – We can have confidence in his actions, even in situations in which someone identifies a possible conflict.

This is why presidents and VP’s have voluntarily observed these rules (at least most of them have and usually).  Because they know they may need it to preserve political legitimacy. 

Biden son got government jobs as well