The Ethical Barometer

News & Events

Goldman To Pay SEC $550 Million: Chump Change

The SEC announced the Goldman fine with fanfare.  But the amount Goldman Sachs will ante up for its role in the Abacus mortgage fund was small potatoes.  Howard Chen, a banking analyst, had the best take on Goldman’s lack of remorse and unlikely damage:  (1)  He observed that there would be no management changes at Goldman; and, (2)  ”We do not anticipate any material long-term impact to the firm’s client franchise.”  Mr. Chen is right, of course, but those who step in line with his conclusions are the chumps. The tale (more…)

Scrushy Asks for Early Release: Let Him Out

Richard Scrushy, the former CEO of HealthSouth who was acquitted of the criminal charges  related to his role at that company but later convicted of bribery, has asked for an early release from prison based on the U.S. Supreme Court decision on “honest services fraud.”  The Barometer says, “Let him out!”  If you give him freedom, he will spend.  (more…)

Ethical Dilemmas

The Dent in the Door

If you put a dent in the door of the car next to you but no one saw you do so, would you leave a note for the owner of the other car? The Barometer’s students often respond, ‘What do you mean, like  a meaningful note or can I just look like I am writing one?”  What if you were the driver of the car with the dented door and left a note on the windshield of the culprit car?  If you were the culprit, would you respond and ‘fess up? The Barometer’s door was dented by the rather long doors of a new Ford Mustang on graduation morning at ASU’s Parking Structure I.  The Barometer left a note on the windshield (more…)

The Rebuilt Car and the Accident

He was a young car-hop at the time.  The 17-year-old witnessed a salesman at the car dealership sell a woman a “new car.”  But the young employee knew that the car was not new; it had an engine that had been rebuilt and had also had some fairly extensive body work.  He was worried. Should he tell someone?  He needed his job but he knew it “just wasn’t right.”  He watched as the saleman handed the keys to the car over to the proud owner.  He took a few steps toward her.  He was going to tell her and let the cards fall where they may. (more…)

Featured Books by Marianne Jennings

The Seven Signs of Ethical Collapse

Never trust the people you cheat with. They will throw you under the bus.

A Business Tale: A Story of Ethics, Choices, Success

Meet Edgar P. Benchley. Charitable people tend to call him a nerd. Others use less subtle descriptions. If you hear Edgar chatting to himself, don't be alarmed. He has an invisible friend who's kind of a cousin to Harvey from the old movie of the same name with Jimmy Stewart.