Mayor Rob Ford’s Ethical Issues

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Enlightened Self Interest
Hobbes’ Theory
Contractarianism
Ethics of Care
Conclusion
References

Introduction

Rob Ford, the Toronto Mayor has been involved in various controversial incidents which have portrayed him negatively. Through his actions, he has shown that he is not committed to pledges he made to Toronto residents when he was sworn into office. He constantly sets a bad example to the public and this has turned him into an object of ridicule across the country. This paper will use different ethical theories to describe Mayor Ford’s lack of moral and ethical standards and how this situation has impacts on his leadership abilities.

Enlightened Self Interest

Using the enlightened self –interest theory, Rob Ford has demonstrated that he is not ready to serve the people of Toronto in a diligent manner. His actions show that he is not willing to safeguard the interests of Toronto residents despite the faith they had in him in the past. In addition, the social contract theory asserts that people should be more willing to accept some limits to their own personal freedoms to benefit the whole society. Surprisingly, Rob Ford was videotaped in public while consuming drugs yet he holds the highest position of responsibility in the city (Jones, 2014). Therefore, this shows that he uses his power negatively without caring about how his actions reflect on his own integrity as a leader. He is not fit to execute the functions of the office of the mayor and this has made him lose the support of other civil leaders who work with him.

Hobbes’ Theory

Thomas Hobbes argues that people should be ready to make sacrifices so as to encourage other people to do actions which are morally right. This argument compels leaders in different organizations to keep promises they make to people they lead without failing. However, Rob Ford’s behavior contrasts Hobbes’ theory because he has demonstrated that he lacks the moral values needed to execute mayoral responsibilities effectively. Furthermore, Ford has also demonstrated discriminatory tendencies towards gay people by refusing to permit the hoisting of the gay pride flag on top of city hall in solidarity with the gay community (Vissier, 2014). Therefore, the mayor has shown that he does not care about principles of equality as described in Hobbes’ theory and this makes him an ineffective leader. More importantly, he has shown that he lacks a strong moral foundation needed to lead the people of Toronto effectively.

Contractarianism

The theory by John Rawls focuses on the principles of tolerance, justice, fairness and equality. According to Rawls, people are more inclined to favor rules that allow them to get primary goods easily such as healthcare, acceptable freedoms and equal opportunities to make a living (Kheel, 2008, p. 57). However, Mayor Ford has demonstrated that he has does not respect these principles and he is not willing to use integrity as a basis through which his competence as a leader is measured. Ford has also shown that he is not accountable for his actions and he perceives people who disagree with him as enemies. Even though he claims that he is taking care of people’s interests, he has shown on more than one occasion that he is not ready to act as a respectable senior public officer. Therefore, Ford does not respect the principles of justice, tolerance and equality and this makes him an unsuitable leader.

Ethics of Care

The ethics of care requires a person to use his own instincts to respond to various situations without being influenced by specific moral codes (Slote, 2007, p. 67). This theory insists that people make their own choices freely and they need to give more consideration to the defenseless that may get harmed by such actions. Ford holds a position of responsibility and many young people in the city of Toronto view him as a role model. He is a public figure not only in the city but in the whole country yet his character portrays him as a person who does not care about his public image and reputation. If he adheres to important principles highlighted in the ethics of care theory he can become a better leader. He needs to be more attentive, responsible, competent and responsive to the wishes of city residents to improve his approval ratings. For instance, he uses inappropriate language in public and this shows he does not respect the position he holds.

Conclusion

Mayor Ford’s actions reveal that he lacks the moral capacity to execute his duties effectively. His actions have shown that he lacks the moral character and good judgment to continue serving as the mayor of Toronto. His actions have shown that he lacks the moral character and good judgment, which are essential leadership qualities a mayor should have. He is unwilling to follow the law and this makes him a bad role model to young people living in the city and other parts of the country. As a result, Toronto residents need to find ways of removing him from office so that they can elect a more honorable mayor.

References

Jones, A. (2014).Police describes Rob Ford crack video in newly released document. Edmonton Journal. Web.

Kheel, M. (2008). Nature ethics. New York, NY: Rowman & Littlefield. Web.

Slote, M. (2007). The ethics of care and empathy. New York, NY: Routledge. Web.

Vissier, J. (2014). Rob Ford not backing down from controversy says he can see ‘no reason’ to put up pride flag to support gay rights during Olympics. National Post. Web.

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