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As I watched Marion Jones publicly admit, after several years of
denial, that she had in fact lied about the use of performance
enhancing drugs, lied to prosecutors, and sincerely was sorry for her
misconduct. This comes at a time in sports when some of the top
performers in baseball are under intense heat to reveal the extent of
their cheating.
All this publicity is good, because it focuses on the moral choice of
cheating or not cheating. And the public disgrace that goes with
cheating.
It gives me the opportunity to expose much greater cheating that
the public is not aware of. When the United States decided to let China
have the open access too our markets that other friendly nations
enjoyed, they promised not to do certain things that would allow
companies there to pay slave labor, and agreed to rules of conduct in
the agreement; such as the government wouldn’t juggle the cost of their
currency to undercut US prices; the government wouldn’t provide money
so that companies would be able to undersell American producers, to
provide safe, quality products, etc. (read more).
Lest anyone accuse me of China bashing, I greatly admire all
the economic accomplishment China has made in bringing 400 million
people out of poverty over the past 25 years. But I admire only that
progress that was made without cheating.
But like the anger I
feel against athletes who cheat, I am much more angry when it is the
policy of another nation to sign an agreement they will play by the
rules, and immediately proceed to avoid compliance, lie about it, do
everything possible to cover up, etc.
My sympathies lie with all the competitors of Marion Jones who were
prevented from getting the wins, the glory, and the payoff they might
have gotten.
Similarly, how would the salaries of other baseball players be
different if some superstars hadn’t cheated their way into hundred
million dollar contracts? The damage done by cheating in sports has
probably been spread over a few hundred athletes.
The damage that has been done to America- beyond lead painted
toys, poisoned dog food, and contaminated foods are but one important
consequence of cheating by many Chinese companies with the complicity
of the government. But the financial damage to US industries, the lost
jobs and broken homes—that will be the story told when the extent of
cheating by some, repeat some of the companies that fill the shelves of
Wal-Mart, and other big box stores.
One of the great consequences of globalization in the intrusion of other nation’s ethical standards into our society.
With this hazard in mind, I would suggest, it is more
important than ever, that we as individuals act and we insist upon
rigorous standards of ethical performance of those who would bear the
title of leader: political leaders, business leaders, and those jocks
making all the big bucks!
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