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I thought Bill Clinton should have been kicked out of office for cheating – for laughing at morality and making a mockery out of the presidential office.  I truly believe that the moral atmosphere in America would be different today if he had been banished from public service.  If there is a moral standard in existence today, I just can’t relate to it.  I am bewildered when I read about crimes relating to cheating and I try to rationalize the punishments that are handed down.

Georgian Newt Gingrich was reportedly having an affair with a woman on his staff while he was heading Bill Clinton’s impeachment.  Now Gingrich is running for former President Bill Clinton’s office.  Shouldn’t the President know the difference between conduct and misconduct?

The Atlanta papers have been filled lately with news reports concerning a cheating scandal in the Atlanta Public Schools.  The cheating was so widespread, we are told, that it took place in 44 Atlanta schools and involved 178 teachers.  That’s more than a cheating event.  It’s a cheating movement.  It’s even being called a cheating culture.

Teachers are losing their jobs because they doctored students’ answers on state competency tests.  So, they are losing their jobs, but Clinton was allowed to keep his and Newt Gingrich could get the job next.  What’s up with that? 

I find it ironic that teachers, presidents and politicians have shared the news and the gossip columns lately because of blatant disrespect for the rules.  Cheating is humiliating, disrespectful and deceitful.  But it is also commonplace in today’s culture.

It seems that we as a society have accepted cheating…on taxes, on standardized tests, on spouses…as normal and admissible behavior. No one has the right to act as the moral police, but it is up to each of us to govern our own behavior.  Humiliation hurts.  Disrespect is painful.  Deceitful acts can lead to disastrous events.

Crime and punishment are based on the laws of society, but the laws of morality are vague, somewhat unenforceable and prone to each person’s interpretation.  I imagine a moral standard that preserves dignity and respect for us all.  It would be based on, not doing the right thing, but on doing the best thing.  That’s a little different than … do unto others what you would want them to do unto you … or … don’t do unto others what you don’t want them to do unto you.  This moral standard would be based on the best outcome a person could identify. 

It would mean asking ourselves  … not … what do I want to do? … but … what should I do?

Susanne Katz is a divorce coach with Mt Vernon Counseling, coauthor of A Woman's Guide to Managing a Mid-Life Divorce, an arts and living columnist for Atlanta Jewish News.com.  She is also a regular on ShareWIK.com.

More Susanne Katz here. 

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