The most interesting news this week has been about resignations of high level bureacrats for relatively low-level crimes. We are not talking about officials taking bribes or giving away state secrets – we are talking about two things everyone[1] does: getting naked with strange women and lying on one’s resume.
Credible Lies
The dean of admissions at MIT resigned a few days ago. She admitted that she had lied on her resume 24 years ago to get the original job at the university.
Now, most of us have fudged a detail or two, but this gal invented two or three degrees. after dropping-out after only a few semesters in school! This is real creativity…. and balls.
I think if someone can get away with a lie about credentials, then there is no foul. Who got hurt? The poor overeducated candidate who didn’t get the job? At the stage where the interview is with the hiring manager, qualifications don’t count. The fictitious degrees got the MIT gal in the game, but she scored the points herself. The losers didn’t get the job because the hiring manager didn’t like them as much. Period.
It makes you wonder how many people, if forced to take truth serum, might admit to a fabrication of the truth that got them started on the road to success. The pompous among us will say that “Integrity is important.” But that is just horse shit: the fact that some “unqualified” people can actually excel at a job they were not “qualified” for, shows us that the vetting system is flawed. People who can demonstrate those flaws should be revered, not castigated.
I say that lies are important social lubrication. They often make interactions go smoother. Imagine a world where the absolute truth reigns:
How do I look: “Actually, you look a bit haggard.”
Nice to meet you: “Really? I was a little bored.”
Here’s that report you asked for, Boss: “Bend over the desk again and let me gaze at your lovely breasts.”
Have a nice day: “I’m late because of traffic, the kids are all sick with the flu, my wife is tired of my shit, I have nagging rectal itch, the boss thinks I am a procrastinator, I have a hangover, none of my friends will talk to me, and I just discovered a lump on my left testicle. Have a nice day? [expletive deleted]
DC Call Girl Ring Investigation.
The head of the Bush administration's foreign aid programs, abruptly resigned Friday after he was “outed” by the D.C. Madam during an investigation into an alleged high-priced call-girl ring.
I admit that I was one of those who was willing to forgive Bill Clinton’s on-the-job dalliances ( I consider in-office bj’s from zealous interns as just one of the perks that goes with the title of “The most powerful man in the world”).
Abrogation of trust is one thing, fibbing about one’s sex life – even under oath – is somehow on a different plane.
Heck, I am willing to give a “pass” to anyone who can get their work done, and still feels in the mood for hot naked sex. Unless it can be found that he gave away state secrets or was using the power of his office in a corrupt manner, how were American citizens hurt by this factotum’s “massages”? Perhaps it is seen by some to be an embarrassment to the administration - I don’t think so.
It will be interesting to watch the reaction of people who (like me) were eager to exempt Bill Clinton from the lied-under-oath accusation. I hope I don’t see them hurling self-righteous stones at the other guys’ glass house.
But seriously, maybe this guy’s abrupt resignation - should be the model for all public figures who find themselves caught “with their pants down.” At least this saves us the hassle and psychic energy of the usual he-said, she-said disinformation cycle.
The real criminal – who should be burned at the stake - is the Madam who is snitching on her clients to stay out of jail. That is truly an unforgivable abrogation of trust.
---------------------------
[1] Well, almost everyone. Those of us who haven’t done it in real life have probably "sinned in our hearts".
No comments:
Post a Comment