Steven Mintz, aka Ethics Sage, Has Been Interviewed by Multi-Media Outlets For His Views on the Ethics of Politicians Who Say One Thing to the Public About Safe-distancing during the Pandemic But Don't Follow Their Own Advice.

Steve Mintz was interviewed last week by KTVU FOX News in S.F. about the Mayor of San Jose, CA who was caught traveling to spend Thanksgiving with his family just as he told his constituents to practice safe distancing during the holidays.

Prior to that, Mintz was interviewed for a similar story where CA Governor Gavin Newsom was caught, without a mask, at an upscale restaurant in Napa Valley having a nice dinner with friends all the while he was telling Californians to wear masks in public and practicing self-distancing.

There are additional examples as well. The mayor of S.F., London Breed, was caught dining at the same upscale restaurant as Newsom after giving similar warnings to San Fransicans.

In Texas, Austin’s mayor, Steve Adler, went on vacation to Mexico with family in November as he urged people to stay home amid worsening coronavirus caseloads in Texas, at one point recording a video during the trip in which he told residents back home that now was “not the time to relax”.

The one thing in common is the inevitable apology by the public officials after news broke of their activities. Actually, all they were apologizing was for getting caught.

The ethics of these incidents can be summarized in the following way.

• The optics of these situations is terrible.
• The actions of these public officials is, at least, hypocritical.
• The explanations after getting caught are hollow.
• They've lost all credibility with the public.
• They've failed in their ethical responsibility to serve as a role model for constituents.

Ethically, the actions of these public officials can be summed up this way: Just because they have a right to do something, that doesn't mean it's the right thing to do.                                                                                                                                                             

Steve has also been interviewed by CTV for his views on the ethics and leadership of President Trump and the book about it published by Bob Woodward.

To interview Steve Mintz for his views on these and other political matters, contact him at: steve@ethicssage.com.