9.4 Public Trust

“…That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed…” THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE “If men were angels, no government would be necessary.” MADISON, FEDERALIST 51 Power requires consent. The entire American civilization, not only American government, is built upon the belief that just powers (that is, all powers that are morally right and fair) come from the consent of the governed. The public rules. Taken more broadly, leaders who find themselves in powerful positions have an obligation to the public at large. Even private companies are subject to scrutiny. Because men are not angels (to borrow from Madison), the public, the news media, watchdog groups, and the courts take an interest in the actions of organizations and the leaders who head them. (See Deepwater Horizon spill, BP. See $182 billion bailout, AIG. See crash, ValueJet flight 592, etc.) America expects its organizations and leaders to honor the public trust. Deepwater Horizon The actions of a private company, BP, lead to a major disaster called “Deepwater Horizon.” An offshore oil rig exploded. For three months, oil flowed unabated, affecting the US Gulf Coast region. As a result of the massive disaster, BP lost the trust of an outraged public.