In the wake of the Tennessee Waltz scandal, local governments have been called upon to shore up and codify their ethical standards, lest the state step in and do the shoring and codifying for them. This experiment in self-regulation is good news for Memphis’ ever-progressive City Council which has long understood that a regressive list of “Thou shalt nots” is no substitute for aiming high and pursuing your goals in an aggressive, proactive manner. The council’s guidelines already contain the disclaimer that its rules “are not mandatory but aspirational in character and represent ethical standards which every city official and employee should strive to follow.”
Heartwarming, ain’t it?
