The lack of ethical structure

THE EDITOR: When the general looked at the dead men on the battlefield, he noticed that many dead bodies together indicated an artillery shell, and individual bodies spaced somewhat apart, were the result of rifle fire. From this information he deduced where the enemy’s artillery was located, and where there was infantry skirmishes.

When we look out at history’s different problems, we can deduce the forces that undermine ethical structures. Murder and robbery are the result of an individual’s lack of ethical structure, but when thousands of people are killed it is the result of a government’s or religion’s, lack of ethical structure. The state of Illinois in the United States of America is a good example. The last two governors of one party were put in jail for taking bribes. Now for twenty years the government has been run by the other party. No one takes bribes because campaign contributions are a part of the representative’s legitimate income.
This, to some extent, is the way it is around the world. Corruption is deep in the system. Perhaps, we can look at the world like a doctor looks at a sick patient.

If the corruption in the body is incompatible with life, the body will die. An international ethical structure might determine if the corruption in a particular nation is incompatible with the survival of the earth, and if so, take measures to correct it. At present we have Iraq, North Korea, and the United States of America. Do any of these countries exhibit corruption that is incompatible with the survival of the earth?

ROBERT W CARLSON
PO Box 5778, Elgin