When we compare ethical behavior in our current business market to that of 10 years ago, the difference is quite obvious. Within the last 5 years we've witnessed numerous scandals amongst the worlds largest and wealthiest corporations. Many of these unfortunate acts of deception were the fulfillment of greed and thirst for power. Each individual in the business profession assumes a level of ethical and moral responsibility. Business owners of large corporations portray their company's moral expectations of each employee through a code of ethics. Sadly, we've seen this code broken by the employees of some of the world's leading corporations.
Worldcom brought great promise to Mississippi; the establishing of such a company in a small Southern state like Mississippi started an economic boom that we are still enjoying today. The Worldcom scandal ruined the lives of many people who had their life savings in the company's stock. Mississippi was proud to be the birthplace of such a reputable company, it was unfortunate to find out that some of our own citizens were involved in "cooking the books" and eventually sending the company into bankruptcy.
Xmas tree in Madison Sq., N.Y.C. (LOC)
Xmas tree - Madison Sq. N.Y. (LOC)
Madison Sq. (LOC)So many other corporations have been guilty of lying and deceiving the public- Enron, Arthur Anderson and Tyco, to name a few- and all of these individuals involved have one thing in common, greed. Ethics have taken center stage in business recently. Employees now question the loyalty of big time corporate employers. With the economy in it's current state, what is needed now more than ever is trust and honesty, especially from those in powerful positions.
Recently three prominent businessmen in Madison County have been getting the attention of our local news media. These three men, by the names of James Butler, David Richardson and Don McGraw were indicted last year for a 1999 fraudulent...