The Need For Accountability

Posted by Lorren on September 26, 2008

Right now I’m watching the debates on Tivo, so if I have any comments while I’m watching it I’ll comment here.

John McCain called out a need for accountability. Eisenhower was ready to resign if his troops failed to have a good day at Normandy. That is accountability. CEOs running their companies into the ground and escaping with golden parachutes… that is not accountability.

Barak Obama had a remark early on in the debate where he wanted people to be able to invest without risk…

Now, I might not have a great deal of money, but I do know a little something about it. ANYTHING you do with money is a risk. The stock market is inherently risky, because companies will do well, and companies will do poorly. You can’t guarantee it. Keeping your money in a CD or savings account is risky, because you generally will lose money that way due to inflation. Keeping money under your mattress is also inherently risky, because robbers can come and take it away, or your house can catch on fire.

Accountability is important. Unfortunately, in order to be accountable, you need a moral code. Many people seem to be without it nowadays.