NCJ Number
58372
Journal
Center Magazine Volume: 11 Issue: 6 Dated: (1978) Pages: 44-49
Date Published
1978
Length
6 pages
Annotation
THIS ARTICLE ARGUES THAT A GRASS-ROOTS PROGRAM, SPONSORED BY BUSINESS LEADERS, IS NEEDED TO CONVINCE BUSINESSMEN THAT AMERICA'S REGULATORY LAWS, AND THE GOVERNMENT BEHIND THEM, ARE LEGITIMATE.
Abstract
DRAWN FROM TESTIMONY GIVEN BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON CRIME OF THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, THE ARTICLE ASSERTS THAT BUSINESS EXECUTIVES BECOME HABITUAL CRIMINALS BECAUSE, LIKE TERRORISTS AND OTHER EXTREME RADICALS, THEY DENY AMERICAN INSTITUTIONS. ALONG WITH THIS RECKLESS DISREGARD FOR LAW, THEY ALSO HAVE A POWERFUL VOICE IN DETERMINING WHAT THE LAW SHALL BE, AND HOW IT IS INTERPRETED AND ENFORCED. STUDIES OF CORPORATE MORALITY HAVE REVEALED THAT CORPORATIONS HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN PRICE FIXING, ILLEGAL ALLOCATION OF MARKETS, FALSE ADVERTISING, BID RIGGING, SHAREHOLDER FRAUD AND OTHER ASSORTED WHITE COLLAR CRIMES. ESPECIALLY REVEALING IS THE FINDING THAT YOUNG MANAGEMENT GOES ALONG WITH THE QUESTIONABLE PRACTICES OF THEIR SUPERIORS. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT THE WHITE-COLLAR CRIME PROBLEM IN THE U.S. STEMS DIRECTLY FROM THE DIVISENESS AND MULTIPLE MORALITIES THAT HAVE EVOLVED OVER THE YEARS. THE ARTICLE RECOMMENDS THAT EITHER A CONGRESSIONAL OR PRESIDENTIAL COMMISSION ON WHITE-COLLAR CRIME BE ESTABLISHED. THIS COMMISSION'S AIM WOULD BE TO STIMULATE AMERICAN BUSINESSMEN TO DEVELOP A NATIONWIDE SENSE OF COMMUNITY WHICH WOULD MAKE WHITE-COLLAR CRIME UNTHINKABLE. THREE ELEMENTS ARE ESSENTIAL TO DETER WHITE-COLLAR CRIME: 1. HIGHER ETHICAL STANDARDS IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ITSELF 2. FORMULATION OF PRESSURE GROUPS BY VICTIMS OF WHITE COLLAR CRIMES 3. STIMULATION OF BUSINESS LEADERS TO DEVELOP, ENFORCE, AND PUBLISH ETHICAL CODES. (MJW)