Most Americans would acknowledge that it is wrong to lie, cheat, or steal. However, it seems that a large percentage of Americans, though acknowledging that lying is wrong, would lie to avoid significant inconvenience, to avoid significant expense, to avoid looking bad, or to gain something of value. It would seem that very many Americans, while acknowledging that stealing is wrong, would avail themselves of a windfall opportunity, if there was little chance of being detected, to get something for nothing, even if the “something” clearly did not belong to them. It would seem that most Americans, while admitting that cheating is wrong, would cheat if something is at stake that they consider important – a title, a prize, a passing grade, qualification for admission to a prestigious university. Even though public office probably was envisioned by our Founding Fathers as a temporary period of public service expected of those who are capable of serving well, it is now pursued as a career by persons who seek to be as well materially-rewarded as possible. Those seeking such rewards from public office routinely yield to the interests of those willing to reward them, to the detriment of the public good. I quickly note that we all see in the news, almost every day, encouraging examples of integrity and courage, contrary to the patterns I have just described. But remember, for something to be news, it must be at least a little unusual.

It would be easy to romanticize those present and past “primitive” homogeneous societies that provided that constellation of values of which honor, integrity, and courage are central. There are “downsides” to the homogeneity, the feeling of belonging, and the deep and strong values provided by the tribe or clan. There may be a shared vision of the destiny of the group that is pursued at the expense of other groups. Reinforcement of the traditions and myths of the group may be manipulated to the advantage of self-serving leaders. The willingness to set aside considerations of self for the good of the tribe, clan, or nation can assume fanatic proportions (as we observe in the case of Japan before and during World War II).

Clearly, we need a carefully chosen middle path. My first thought is liberal education. If liberal education curricula existed at all levels, concurrent with specialty training, all citizens might be well enough versed in history, literature, and philosophy to think in terms of the long-run and the greater good, even while serving in a narrow, specialized role in a narrow, specialized organization of employment. More and more, we see the concepts of education and training so confused that “institutions of higher learning” tout mere training (important as that might be) as “education” and appeal to the prospective student in terms of how much more in annual compensation a graduate may expect, as compared to a non-graduate. Nothing is mentioned of the great increase in capacity for enjoyments and satisfactions that an education provides, nor how much better equipped the individual with a liberal education is to perceive the good and the right, and to satisfy the obligations of citizenship. Educational experiences that might also be broadening, while not education in a formal sense, might be two years of mandatory national service after high schools (of which military service might be only one of many options), or international travel for the young person before immersion in a career. But these thoughts on education may be unrealistic – shoveling sand against the current. Help may be already at hand, in another form.

We may be experiencing a windfall or breakthrough in the form of the present critical economic crisis. It is just such an event as this crisis that can shock people to a broader and longer vision. The loss of employment or the threat of the loss can force the individual to look for broader meanings and patterns, to look at history, and to think ahead in terms of the common good. The Great Depression of the 30’s caused a good chunk of a whole generation to “think outside the box” (the small box to which I referred in my opening sentence) – to be frugal, to save, to exercise restraint in consumption, and to take seriously the responsibilities of citizenship. Farmers who had been concerned mostly with short-run revenue often became, if they recovered, conservationists. Individuals who had been merely self-serving found common cause with others and, in many cases, developed true sympathy where previously they had little. No longer did people take good times for granted, but, instead, acted mindfully of consequences in the future for their children and grandchildren. People who were victimized most by the protracted economic crisis found common cause with each other. I hold out hope that we will reap an unexpected reward from our present suffering and that we will become a better society for it.