Standards of public service; whose call is it?

Corruption and incompetence are the two greatest stumbling blocks in efficient and effective government. Were public servants held to a higher standard of conduct in the discharge of their duties, corruption and incompetence would be minimized in proportion to the height of the bar.

The bar is currently set at its default height of compliance with the law, the lowest standard of acceptable conduct. The height of the bar is set by elected officials; in complete disregard of the expressed wishes of those whom they represent.

The School Board of the Albuquerque Public Schools has been asked to raise the bar; and they have refused. Although they compel students to hold themselves accountable to a higher standard, a widely recognized, accepted and respected code of ethics; they refuse to hold themselves accountable to the same standard.

Forgetting for the moment that the standard is rightly set not by the board but by their constituents; they do owe us some manner of explanation as to why they are setting such a low standard for themselves. After all, they are the senior role models for six thousand teachers and other employees, and for 98,000 of our sons and daughters. And within the next few months, they will ask voters to trust them with a half a billion tax dollars.

They have an obligation to defend their decision to reject accountability to a higher standard of conduct.

They have not so far, defended their decision. They can not and will not because their position is indefensible. They have fallen back on the defense of powerful people defending indefensible positions; they simply ignore the question.

The media in general and newspapers in particular, have an (unenforceable and often ignored) obligation to keep voters informed on issues germane to their informed participation in democracy.

If you agree that some kind of explanation is appropriate and that the media have some obligation to investigate and report it; please make your feelings known.