RESPONSE TO DISCUSSION QUESTION

Nice. You know the judge who ruled against the Mexican girl is likely to be the next Supreme Court Associate Justice.

Professions require a set of norms such that all members of that profession aspire to perform at the highest level. These norms or ethical behaviors don't make us smarter in our field of expertise. It is not that. Codes of ethics are standards; they are value expressions. We need these codes in the absence of coercive policies that punish aberrant behavior. But it is nearly impossible to codify every possible situation. Is it illegal to lie to a citizen applicant regarding the status of an application? Probably not. Unethical? Probably so

One avenue for you to explore is the American Society for Public Administration. I encourage you to participate. It's code of ethics is a value statement http://www.aspanet.org/ASPA/Code-of-Ethics/ASPA/Code-of-Ethics/Code-of-Ethics.aspx?hkey=5b8f046b-dcbd-416d-87cd-0b8fcfacb5e7

One aspect of "values" is how our professional training and the standards of performance attached to this professional training manifest themselves in our practice. What is true is that most students do not have epiphanies regarding performance through their education. They tend to filter education through their own life, and the years of experience that bring them to this point. That is, the student who enters this masters program as a scoundrel will probably be a scoundrel at the end of it.

I have worked with all sorts of people and taught all kinds of students. I had a student earlier this year who I would call a libertarian. He stated often how much he distrusted all levels of government and basically believed that all of us are self-serving, incompetent and corrupt. I questioned why he even wanted a degree in public administration. It seemed antithetical to his value set. His answer? To enhance his career. OK. That's one reason.

Now I was taught in a program of enlightened public service in the interest of the citizen. Not all my classmates bought this model. I did. Why? Because I believed it anyway, as I have a framework of service to others. I came into the program that way, and left it convinced.