Accountability in its most basic form means to hold someone accountable for their actions. It doesn’t mean to pass the buck or walk away from a mess you have created just because you don’t know how to fix it. Accountability is for everyone, the kindergarten teacher, the CEO of a large corporation, medical professionals, individuals in the financial sector and motorists on the highways. No one is immune and no one should be able to blame others for something that was clearly their responsibility.
Individuals like Bernie Madhoff who stole millions of dollars from investors are being held accountable and paying for their crimes. What about our government officials responsible for the events in Benghazi? Just because we elected the majority of them into office doesn’t give them immunity. Doctors who make legitimate mistakes during a diagnosis or a flawed operation should still be accountable for their actions. In some cases, when it was an honest mistake, a punishment fitting the crime should suffice.
In today’s litigation happy society, even an honest mistake can ruin a person’s career. Many people are afraid and unwilling to admit their responsibility in an event because they believe they are going to be railroaded by someone who holds a grudge and is hell bent on revenge. If a person is honest enough to own up to their actions and accept their part in the problem, give them some credit. Just as no one is perfectly innocent, there are no true saints out there either. If you are determined to make someone pay for a wrong they have committed, it would be a good idea to make sure you don’t have any skeletons willing to jump out and bite you in the behind.
Accountability in the business world is important for many reasons. Confidentiality, security and guaranteeing a client the best job possible are all part of doing business. Upholding your end of the bargain makes you a reputable businessman. It also makes you accountable. A person who is willing to take the risk and admit they made an honest mistake, are usually the same ones willing to do everything possible for the benefit of the people they serve.
Accountability in government is dramatically different. Most politicians feel they are accountable only to themselves and don’t give as much as a second thought to the constituents who put them in office in the first place. They set pay raises for themselves that last far beyond the time they spend in office and then get upset when individuals who have worked all their lives want to know why Social Security is growing broke.
If it were up to me several things would happen within our government:
- Politicians would vote according to the wishes of the constituents in their area.
- Political parties would be eliminated
- People would be forced to run on their own merit.
- They would only serve ONE 4 year term.
- They could only be re-elected after sitting out of office for 2 consecutive terms.
- They would pay social security benefits just like everyone else.
- They would only get paid for the time they spend in office $100,000 per year.
- Any money they made during their time in office would be taxed as additional income (this includes book royalties, speaking fees and any other money they would earn outside the government confines.)
- Their spouses would get no compensation, except for expenses paid to attend functions with their spouse.
- They would have to make their own living arrangement and drive personal vehicles.
Politicians have lost sight of what accountability truly means. They don’t care about the citizens of this country and they surely don’t care for our military when they continue to slash their benefits.
Accountability should begin with the average individual and end with the highest ranking members of political office. What is good for one must be good for all. If we teach our children to take responsibility for their actions and punish them for the mistakes they make, shouldn’t the same be done to adults as well, especially the leaders of this country?
Accountability means acknowledging the mistake and doing whatever it takes to make it right. Don’t walk away from a problem and hope it goes away, look at the situation and fix it. If it’s your mistake, it’s your responsibility. You can ask others to help, but do your part in cleaning up your own mess.