THE CHRISTIAN WORK ETHIC NEWSLETTER
August 2005
Several weeks ago, I received a traffic ticket for driving 51 mph in a 35 mph zone! I immediately paid the $150 fine and I admit it hurt!
Shortly thereafter, I began receiving letters from attorneys. The basic message they communicated was, for a fee, they could help me avoid some penalties associated with my traffic violation. One stated, "In most cases I can negotiate with the District Attorney to eliminate or reduce any insurance points that will result from this traffic citation, and protect your driving privilege by having the charges against you reduced or dismissed".
Give me a break!
I am sorry but I broke the law! Shame on ME! I should not have been traveling in the "fast lane"!
When a law enforcement officer issues any kind of citation, there should be NO WAY for an individual to go around the law and escape the consequences for his or her behavior. Yet, our legal system permits such conduct which I view to be totally unethical and demeaning!
This is a perfect example of why many workers in the legal community have such bad reputations!
All of this reminds me of the "good ole boy's club" syndrome: I know the district attorney or I know the judge and for $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$, I can take care of you!
I view this to be rotten as hell and resent receiving such communication from any attorney.
In the meantime, I have taken a copy of the certified check used to pay my fine and placed it under the speedometer of my automobile to remind me of the consequences of speeding. I am using this technique to help me change my behavior so I can become a safer driver. After all, should that not be the positive result of a law enforcement official issuing a speeding ticket?
S T O P !!!!
WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH THE CHRISTIAN WORK ETHIC?
Like some attorneys who help clients avoid their responsibilities, many managers also allow their workers to perform unsatisfactorily without facing the consequences. Shame on these managers!
When individuals (including employees without a work ethic) know they can avoid the consequences, they will not change their behavior and will continue to perform unsatisfactorily. After all, what incentive do they have to improve ? ? ?
Can you imagine an attorney who professes to being a Christian worker and, yet, is willing to devote his or her time to helping people avoid penalties for breaking the law ? ?
In case any of my readers have any doubts concerning the significance of this subject, consider the following true story: Once upon a time, there was a young man who continually received fines for speeding. His behavior became so bad, he hired an attorney to avoid losing his license. Several weeks later, he was speeding and was involved in a terrible automobile accident in which another person was killed! Although the young driver survived, he was confined to a wheelchair the rest of his life because his injury resulted in permanent paralysis.
Do you suppose if he had changed his behavior instead of paying an attorney to help him avoid the law, the situation described might not have ever occurred ? ?
Unfortunately, this same story is being repeated every day of every year in this country because somewhere there is another lawyer who is devoting his time to this cause instead of spending more time on cases which deserve to be pursued!
WHAT A SHAME!
Very truly yours,
Jim Hogsett, President/Founder; Worker Ministries and Writer for Guideposts Magazine