This is how you do it, Sam and Clarence.

[momta]

We used to have season tickets to our local University's women's basketball games. This was back in the 1990s, and my husband and I would usually go to the games with a friend of ours.

One night after the game the three of us went out to dinner, and were excited to see a handful of the players sitting at a nearby table. In our enthusiasm, we asked our server to let the women know that we would gladly treat them to dinner. Once the message was delivered, one of them--a starter and one of my favorite players--came over to our table. She thanked us for our offer, but declined, as it was against NCAA rules for them to accept such gifts from fans. We were appropriately embarrassed, but these young women were very kind, and chatted with us for a few minutes before we all resumed our evening.

Now, perhaps Sam and Clarence do not have the requisite training in ethics afforded to college basketball players, but I know of a few women who could teach it to them with class and dignity, and who could then kick their asses in some two-on-two.

[lamp_shade]

1. Thanks for this "food for thought".

[uponit7771]

2. K&R,

[DFW]

3. It's not that Alito and Thomas lack a knowledge of ethics rules

They just figure, "Hey, we're the Supreme Court. We'll just repeal them!"

[Rhiannon12866]

5. +100

Because you're right.

[lapfog_1]

4. As a former federal employee with the responsibility of spending around $10M

of yours (taxpayers) every year, it was drilled into me exactly what I could allow and not allow in the form of gifts (nothing over $25 in value... no trips, pay for my own dinner, no drinks with vendors, etc). At the end of my service I had a very nice collection of coffee mugs. I would always carry a competitors coffee mug into a meeting with a vendor, just to remind them that we had options for what we could buy. I swear that plus always buying a little bit of hardware from a competitor, even if we weren't going to buy more or even use what we bought, saved the tax payers millions of dollars.

As a holder of a clearance, any contact with a foreign national had to be documented, foreign trips were almost out of the question.

I never mixed personal electronic data with US government electronic data. This meant that I carried 2 cell phones and 2 laptops for any trip and at the office.

I was told over and over again about the rules regarding SEBs and FAR regulations.

I never knew that I could simply ignore all the rules and I would never be fired and face prison.

[Pinback]

10. Thanks for that insight.

Those of us who never worked in that sector have little idea of the standards required of someone such a position.

For a time, I worked in a corporate IT job that involved vetting competing vendors for a large-scale company-wide initiative. We had NDAs with each vendor, of course, and were restricted from sharing information with anybody outside the small group of employees and management working on the effort.

It was an interesting process, which we all took seriously (partly because we were conscientious, partly because any violation would result in immediate dismissal and possibly legal consequences). A small taste of what a Federal employee such as yourself experienced on the regular.

I can’t even imagine shredding my integrity to the extent that Thomas and Alito have.

[Lonestarblue]

6. Somehow we have to get rid of lifetime appointments.

The quality of many Republican judges being appointed is such that ethical behavior goes out the door because there is no accountability short of impeachment, and Republicans in Congress have taken the option off the table because they will never impeach one of their own regardless of how egregious—or even criminal—the behavior is.

I think a good start is for Democrats to propose a Constitutional Amendment putting some rules around what “good behavior” means today as well as proposing a time limit for serving on all federal courts. It won’t be approved, of course, because no Republican will vote for it, but the idea needs to become part of a public conversation.

[AllyCat]

8. And Republicans don't know ethical behavior

Right from wrong…and when they DO know right from wrong, they cheat.

[AllyCat]

7. As a HCW, I am not allowed to accept anything from a patient greater than $10 value

If a family brings a big box of treats or food, I am required to share with all working, even if they say “it’s for you!”

As an elected official, I got a box in the mail from an organization for a vote on a non-binding resolution. I had to document everything, donated the themed postage stamp sheet, and give the treats out at a public meeting.

I was okay with this. Otherwise, it doesn’t look good. Favoritism. Outright buys.

[Joinfortmill]

9. 👍

[BSdetect]

11. Despicables have no shame

[czarjak]

12. Told ya. Clarance's perks are chicken feed compared to the White Guy's.