Quality of Governance = Q = P
± V
± E
± T
± A
Selfishness encapsulates what many refer to as
the seven deadly sins (greed, envy, sloth, pride, lust, wrath, and
gluttony).
We have laws, and the U.S.
Constitution, but those are not sufficient, without also sufficient
levels of the following 5
components (see below) which determine the
levels of Responsibility and/or Corruption (to varying degrees), which = Quality of Governance = Q = P
± V
± E
± T
± A
Where:
- (1) P = Power =
force required to enforce the laws,
discontinue abuse, ensure consequences, punish abusers, and discourage
abuse and dishonesty; but unchecked and unbalanced Power without sufficient Education,
Transparency, and Accountability breeds Corruption,
or worse;
- (2) V = Virtue =
the source of moral and ethical
judgment; a sense of right and wrong; a sense of caring. A good
conscience and Virtue is not merely knowing what is right or wrong, but
caring enough to do what is right, and provides the motivation to seek
the balance of Education, Transparency, Accountability, and Power
required for any successful society, government, or organization;
- (3) E = Education
= an understanding of the
importance of this simple formula: Q = P
± V
± E
± T
± A,
and part of that Education is
the firm understanding of human nature, in which humans have a
fundamental desire to seek security and
prosperity with the least effort and pain, and that some will resort
to
dishonest, unethical, illegal, or despicable methods for
self-gain; it is also the firm understanding that we will get our
Education, one way or
another (i.e. we only need to choose whether it's the smart way, or the
painful way);
- (4) T = Transparency
= visibility and
simplification of cleverly over-complicated processes to reveal and
identify abusers, reduce opportunities for abuse, and
discourage abuse and dishonesty;
- (5) A = Accountability
= consequences needed to
encourage law enforcement, encourage ethical behavior, and discourage
abuse and dishonesty;
More emphasis is needed on the 5 components above, which should be as important (if
not more
important) than the U.S. Constitution and the Laws of the Land.
Many abuses could be reduced or
eliminated with more common-sense Transparency,
Accountability, and Education.
Factoring in Human Nature