Introduction
Ethics play a huge role in everyday decision making, it
determines whether the decisions we have made are right or wrong in our own
minds and in the perception of others.
A business or organisation that operates under specific
ethical standards would do so in order for employees to build a healthy
relationship with one another as cultural ethics may be involved, ethical
standards is used to build a better working environment within the organisation
and improve the relationship and perception with customers (Encyclopaedia, Britannica, 2014) .
The use of certain ethical standards can also be
found within politics, the way New Zealand’s prime minister and it National
lead government promise to lead New Zealand. |
| Figure 1. Logo's of the different political parties in New Zealand. Retrieved from
|
The Politics
John Key is the prime minister of New Zealand and is now
sitting his third term in office, he has been leading New Zealand since 2008
where he took the leader role from ex-prime minister Helen Clarke and began a
new era of the National led government (wikipedia, 2014) .
John Key and the National led government make promises to
the New Zealand citizens of all classes that would better society and the
economy. Such promises consist of reduction in taxes, reduction in the wage gap
with Australia which in return will reduce the number of New Zealanders flying
“across the ditch” and many more promises made by John Key during his “My
commitment to you speech” as he addressed the nation (Scoop Parliament, 2008) .
In this case John Key is demonstrating the use of
“Utilitarian Ethics” as these promises are made on such basis that it will
maximise the greatest good for greatest number of people (Unitec Institute of Technology, 2011) .
These promises made by John Key also display’s
the use of social responsibility as the government has assumed an obligation
towards society  |
| Figure 2. Few examples of the commitments made by John Key. From New Zealand National party. Retrieved from https://www.national.org.nz/news/news/media-releases/detail/2008/10/12/speech-my-key-commitments-to-you |
 |
| Figure 3. Billboard of John Key with slogan that implies fixing the debt New Zealand owes to the GDP. From Scoop, Parliament. Retrived from http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1110/S00223/john-key-unveils-new-election-hoardings.htm |
The problem is not John Key fails to deliver on his
promises, there may be substantial obstacles preventing the prime minister and
his government from delivering on his word, but how we can trust this prime
minister, there may have been a miss-hap or he could be feed the nation false
promises in order to gain votes.
There is no known specific code of ethics within the
government or parliament therefore there is no accountability; we strive on
what we are told (A.Gillespie, 2012)
Alexander Gillespie a Law professor at Waikato University
states parliament need a legal code of ethics/conduct which will decrease
corruption and increase accountability and to ensure trust back in our
politicians (A.Gillespie, 2012) .
A similar strategy was proposed in the U.S all for the same purposes with one of the headings labelled “Take Responsibility” where our government could impose this within New Zealand’s code of ethics as false statements have been made and no evidence suggests that John Key has taken responsibility for his broken promises (B.Weinstein, 2008)
 |
| Figure 4. Example of code ethics for government. From ICMA. Retrieved from http://icma.org/fileimages/full/~legacy~/documents/icma_code_of_ethics_(1998).pdf |
A similar strategy was proposed in the U.S all for the same purposes with one of the headings labelled “Take Responsibility” where our government could impose this within New Zealand’s code of ethics as false statements have been made and no evidence suggests that John Key has taken responsibility for his broken promises
 |
| Figure 5. Graph showing economic growth and debt to the GDP during each prime ministers time of leading New Zealand. From Change NZ. Retrieved from http://www.changenz.co.nz/ |
The Conclusion
 |
| Figure 6. Political quote. From The People Project. Retrieved from http://www.thepeopleproject.com/political-people/political%20quotes |
John Key has made his promises which have persuaded the New
Zealand citizens to vote for him to lead New Zealand as prime minister and
prompt a National led government. The promises made demonstrated utilitarian
ethical practices as he set out for the greater good of a country, hoping to
lead New Zealand out of an extreme debt the country is in and provide economic
growth. But when personnel fails to deliver, one should be made accountable and
take responsibility. Ethics play a huge role in politics which is why there
needs to be a legal code of ethics/conduct in parliament so we ensure trust in
our politicians and that corruption is depleted from our democracy.
Works Cited
A.Gillespie. (2012,
September 20). The New Zealand Herald:Legal code of conduct for politicians
needed. Retrieved October 03, 2014, from
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10835171
B.Weinstein.
(2008, April 17). A Campaign Code of Ethics. Retrieved October 03,
2014, from
http://www.businessweek.com/stories/2008-04-17/a-campaign-code-of-ethicsbusinessweek-business-news-stock-market-and-financial-advice
Encyclopaedia,
Britannica. (2014, October). Retrieved October 05, 2014, from Encyclopaedia,
Britannica: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/194023/ethics
Scoop Independant
news. (2011, November 17). Retrieved October 03, 2014, from Scoop Independant
news - Parliament:
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1111/S00331/nationals-growing-list-of-broken-promises.htm
Scoop Parliament.
(2008, October 13). Retrieved October 01, 2014, from Scoop Parliament,
Independant news:
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0810/S00265/john-keys-my-key-commitments-to-you-speech.htm
Unitec Institute
of Technology. (2011, April). Ethics, Values, Social Responsibility and
Sustainability. Auckland, Mt Albert, New Zealand.
wikipedia. (2014,
Septempber 22). Retrieved October 05, 2014, from Wikipedia, The Free
Encyclopedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Key
You show some understanding of ethics overall. Politics is a rather difficult topic to scrutinise but your views are backed by some good research. You tend to use different formats of referencing...use APA only. You get 14/20.
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