Just this morning my wife and I were talking about the decline in ethical behaviour these days. 'How can they sleep at night...?"
Soundly. Like babies.
I say 'these days' but as pointed out above, this isn't new. Our 24 hour (millisecond?) news cycle and addictive social feeds have amplified this tremendously. What is missing, in my view, is critical thinking and the ability to appreciate context.
My father was an ethical man; he detested grifters, scammers, and those who grind someone down not because they can't afford the cost, but because they clearly enjoy taking advantage of hard working folks and winning at all costs; this, to my father at least, included their integrity. My Dad called them 'chislers'. For good or ill, this upbringing made me cast a wary eye (too wary sometimes) towards those I perceive as unethical. And boy oh boy there's no shortage of these types in our times. It's hard not to miss. It's even tougher to ignore.
I suspect when some people or businesses see leaders - corporate and elected - behaving like Gekko (or Nero or Caligula, say) and doubling down on deception and lie-fueled greed, they assume it's just fine to do the same. 'I want a piece, too!'.
It's that it has become so acceptable - unquestioned, even - that frustrates me the most. Whether watches or in life, 'buying the seller' is often a sound strategy.
