The Ethics of Governance – YJ Draiman

The Ethics of Governance – YJ Draiman

When we have a set of principles, of values, which we have been learning for many years, we organize our life following this structure, and then we try to apply that frame of mind to practical situations in our life. But often, we find ourselves in a sort of uncomfortable position because the moment we try to apply our values to this very present practical issue, we feel that the situation is not as clear as we would like, that we can not tell very clearly which is the best possible alternative. Often, it is not a choice between good answers and bad answers, good and evil, but maybe between two good things or two bad things. We would like to be much surer about our decisions. 
When this happens in government, it is even worse because the whole society and beyond is affected by your decision. You are not dealing with your own life. You are dealing with many millions of lives at the same time. Maybe things will never be the same again in the future because of your decision. Hence, ethical decisions in government are; How do you apply your theoretical values to practical decisions where you do not have pure answers and when the whole life of your society or community will be affected? 

You have more or less the same system dealing with the problems in government. You need all the facts. The facts can be the symptoms or the problem. You never know which is it at the instant you start analyzing the problem. Thus, you get the facts, and afterwards you try to make some sense of them. You have some theories or hypothesis of what is causing the symptoms. In addition, you try to implement the course of action. Only after you have consulted with your advisers, you want to have as much input as possible.
You also have to deal with the problem in ethical terms. The ethical approach is the Utilitarian. You have to balance how much good and how much evil you produce with your actions. If the good outweighs the evil, you should do it, as it is a sort of balance. The second is based on the concept of rights. There are some basic human rights that you have to respect. You are not allowed to affect those human rights in order to produce positive affect in your society. The third one is founded, on the concept of justice or fairness. We have at least three different concepts about justice. You can have distributive justice in which you try to distribute all the goods of the society according to the needs of the people. However, you can also have the concept of contribution. In this case, you are not receiving on the base of what you need but on the base of what you are contributing to society. In addition, you have the compensation concept. In this circumstance, you have the right for compensation if you have losses or harm done due to others. The fourth major ethical approach is a foundation on virtues. The question is not what I should do, but what kind of society would I like to have in the future. How are my actions going to contribute to that future? In addition, you have the common good, the concept in which you are doing things that are equally good for everybody in your community.

The sun is an asset to everyone, we have to know how to harness its rays within us and warm the heart.
Should the sun warm only the individual heart, to skip on others, on the community and the nation?

It is predicated on the individual’s personality, the compassion, the treatment of his fellow person, to the community and the nation.

YJ Draiman

http://yjdraimanformayor.com

To lead Los Angeles Government as Mayor, you must earn the trust of the people

To lead Los Angeles Government as Mayor, you must earn the trust of the people

Government is abandoning, or even overlooking, the great significance of its domestic policies – Power to the people - VOTE

However, it is important that those who hear and read this message should in no way confuse that approach with any thought that our Government is abandoning, or even overlooking, the great significance of its domestic policies. (This seems to be the case)
The social and economic forces, which have been mismanaged abroad until they have resulted in revolution, dictatorship and war, are the same as those, which we here are struggling to adjust peacefully at home.
You are well aware that dictatorships--and the philosophy of force that justifies and accompanies dictatorships--have originated in almost every case in the necessity for drastic action to improve internal conditions in places where democratic action for one reason or another has failed to respond to modern needs and modern demands.
It was with far-sighted wisdom that the framers of our Constitution brought together in one magnificent phrase three great concepts--"common defense," "general welfare" and "domestic tranquility."
More than a century and a half later we, who are here today, still believe with them that our best defense is the promotion of our general welfare and domestic tranquility.
Our constitutional rights are abused and ignored - it seems money is KING and the hell with everyone else.
Nevertheless, Special Interests and Corporate America has taken over our great nation.
We are in the worst economic crisis since the depression and a diminished world power with dire consequences to our citizens.
Why are we not exercising our rights "Government by the people for the people" and not the select and privileged.
Violence begets violence.
It is up to the citizens of this great nation to vote for the leaders that are concerned with all the citizens of this country - not only the elite.
YJ Draiman for Mayor of Los Angeles 2017