The term <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Situational_ethics&quot; target="”_blank”">"situational
ethics"</a> derives from a particular theory of a priest named Joseph
Fletcher, but it is more generally understood to mean dealing with
ethics in terms of a particular situation and particular goals
(ends-oriented ethics). In other words, it is ethics that allows for
different rules in different circumstances, but also for self-serving,

Most people define "ethics" in a way that doesn't really fit into the
scheme of government ethics, which focuses on conflicts of interest.
Even <a href="http://www.cityethics.org/definitions&quot; target="”_blank”">the definitions
section</a> of this website defines "ethics" as "a major branch of
philosophy that involves analysis of right conduct."<br>
<br>

<a href="http://www.cityethics.org/content/stamford-ethics-controversy-involving…; target="”_blank”">I
recently wrote about a situation</a> in Stamford, CT in which probable
cause was found based on a policy declaration rather than an
enforceable ethics provision. That situation appeared to involve a
misunderstanding, with a unanimous ethics commission finding probable

Four current attempts at ethics reform show the incredible variety of
approaches and ideas of what government ethics is.<br>
<br>
<b>Prohibiting County Employees from Contracting with the County</b><br>
According to <a href="http://www.westhawaiitoday.com/articles/2010/10/12/local//local02.txt&q…; target="”_blank”">an

Over-reaction to an alleged ethics violation can be as bad as
under-reaction. In Bergen County, NJ, after one of seven <a href="http://www.co.bergen.nj.us/freeholders/default.html&quot; target="”_blank”">freeholders
</a>(the county council), at his first meeting, voted to continue to
keep county funds in a bank owned by the parent of the company he works for, an
ethics complaint was filed and then the county administrator called on

I chose to specialize in local government ethics because this is where
it all starts. This is where the individuals who become our
representatives experience their first unethical environment, become
team players, learn the rules of the game, and begin to feel a special
entitlement.<br>
<br>
One good thing about election time is that we sometimes get the back stories of
individuals running for higher office. We get to see how they started. One such individual is Carl

<a href="http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/DN-d…; target="”_blank”">The
Dallas <i>Morning News</i> on Wednesday</a> ran a fascinating article about
Dallas County's district attorney. It caught my interest because he was
accused of a conflict of interest, but accusing this district attorney

There's a lot to learn from the chief of New Orleans' emergency medical
service's past conflicts of interest, which have only recently become
public. Despite the compassion one must feel for the official, the
conflicts were poorly handled by her and by the former mayor and his administration.<br>
<br>
According to <a href="http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2010/09/post_363.html&quot; target="”_blank”">an

<br>
There's a new twist to the ethics mess in Stamford, which I described
in <a href="http://www.cityethics.org/content/stamford-ethics-controversy-involving…; target="”_blank”">a

<b>Note:</b> This blog post was posted on September 22, and I accidentally deleted it. This is a reposting.<br>
<br>
What
is recusal? More to the point, does the act of recusal require merely
inaction,
or action, or action and words? This has become an issue in the city of
Santa
Fe, but it is important to establish a definition for the purpose of
government
ethics.<br>
<br>