The Battle of Ethics and the Economy

On my most recent morning visit to the local Panera Bread Co. I got my customary bagel and coffee and handed the cashier my coffee card to be stamped. She responded Panera no longer accepts those cards. As long as I have been going to Panera they have always offered the coffee card. A customer collects a stamp for each coffee purchase and then redeems the card for a free cup of coffee after 8 stamps.

A sign of the recession? A promotion that had finally run its course? No, according to a customer in line, the rubber stamps Panera used to validate a coffee purchase were now being sold on ebay for about the cost of a large cup of coffee forcing Panera to pull the promotion.

My first reaction was disappointment in those few people who ruin minor benefits for us all. But how is this different from downloading free music from illegal sites on the internet? Or getting a free Kentucky Derby program by showing a signature Visa card even if it's a borrowed one that has already secured five other "free" programs? How about taking all the toiletries from hotel rooms including the occasional hand towel? It's not any different. What is different is the societal shift of what is considered fair game. Even if ethics and the law are violated, "Take care of me first" attitudes are eroding trust, respect, and the foundation of our economy.

If the system can be beat easily, as a society we justify our actions with such phrases as: It's a no victim crime. Big business expects to lose money on the promotion. Not one gets arrested over stealing a hand towel.

I am seeing justifications getting more elaborate, I am watching people feel more comfortable performing these type of actions. I believe there is little difference in the decision between stealing a hand towel and getting medical care you never intend on paying for. There is little difference between the decision to shrink the size of your burgers and charge the same to outright fraud of Ponsi scheme investment programs. The difference is only in the commitment.

If we are going to right this economy, and put America back to the top of producing nations, we need to make a basic shift in our mentality. It's time to get back to building a foundation of hard work, ethics and respect. Our business, government and local leaders need to lead the way convincingly to gather a momentum of followers. As long as we are a country of "Take care of me first" attitudes we will never restore what we once had.