March 2, 2006 

WRTA

 Brown Shoes Diary 

Looking for a Word or Phrase

The following situation is entirely hypothetical.  I repeat, it's hypothetical.  Maybe it could happen, but I'm not suggesting it did or will.
 
Suppose a U.S. Congressman uses an earmark to help one of the companies in his district land a lucrative contract.  However, an employee of the company (let's call him John Q. Taxpayer), is a conservative Republican and is very unhappy with the use of earmarks by Congress.  So Mr. Taxpayer sets up an appointment to see his representative.  At the meeting, Mr. Taxpayer explains how earmarks reward special interests at the expense of "the general welfare" of the nation.  The Congressman objects to his constituent's complaint about Congress's use of earmarks and believes the constituent is calling him corrupt.  The Congressman then belittles his constituent, calling him names, and ushers him out of his office.
 
Unhappy with the disrespect, the insults, and the outright hostility shown him, John Q. Taxpayer writes a letter to the editor about his ordeal and it is published by the local newspaper.  The Congressman is outraged at this action and calls Mr. Taxpayer's employer to complain about his constituent's exercise of free speech.
 
Now, it seems to me that the Congressman in this hypothetical episode is obviously a pretty big cry baby and a pretty big jerk.  But what is the point of his calling Mr. Taxpayer's employer to complain?  There's some sort of intimidation implied here, don't you think?  Isn't the Congressman's behavior at odds with the proper conduct of a public servant?   Doesn't he owe his constituent the right to free speech without fear of retribution or intimidation?  The Congressman has sworn to uphold the U.S. Constitution after all.  And why exactly is he complaining to Mr. Taxpayer's employer?  Does he expect the employer to discipline Mr. Taxpayer in some way?  Is such discipline a quid pro quo for current and future earmarks? 
 
If this were a case in a business ethics class, the focus would be on the employer.  What does he or she do?  Stand up for the God-given rights of the employee or cater to the vindictive whims of the Congressman in order to safeguard current and future work for the company?  But I'm just wondering in this hypothetical episode, what the proper description is of the Congressman's behavior.  Can anybody help me out?  Did I mention, this is strictly hypothetical?
 
Please contact me at zoiprof@atlanticbb.net if you have any ideas or comments. Thanks for reading.
 
The opinions and ideas expressed in this essay are those ONLY of John D McGinnis and should not be considered representative of WRTA.com, any institution with which McGinnis is associated, or anyone else.  He can be contacted at zoiprof@atlanticbb.net.

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