When Politicians Take Responsibility

Former South Korean president Roh jumped 100 feet from a cliff to his death, the consequence of a corruption scandal arising from his administration. There seems to be something within Asian cultures that fosters a sense of personal responsibility for one’s deeds, even amongst those in authority. Following the crash of a Japan Airlines flight in 1985, the airline president offered his resignation, even though he had no causal connection to the accident. This is an interesting contrast to the mindset of Western politicians and business leaders who will look for any scapegoat – no matter how far down the organization chart – to take the blame for wrongdoing. Thus was Army Specialist Lynndie England and Lt. William Calley singled out for war crimes – for which they were, indeed, responsible – at Abu Ghraib and My Lai. Neither Dick Cheney nor Robert McNamara had to suffer the legal consequences of policies for which they bore responsibility.

What a contrast between a Dick Cheney – who continues to wow the GOP/conservative circuits with his defense of torture – and President Roh who, in his suicide note, declared that “too many people are suffering because of me.” Shall we await the day when top American political leaders jump to their deaths from tall buildings to atone for the “suffering” others have experienced because of them? There’s no need for defenders of the political classes to fill the streets with people carrying safety-nets to await such an event. There will always be others to blame, even if they be conscripted – as we are seeing from current economic travails – from the victims of governmental policies.

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12:41 pm on May 23, 2009