Question by Michelle: National Security question – for an online business ethics class?
I’m in an online class for business ethics and am having trouble finding any references to this question we have. We are having an online debate via a discussion board and have been assigned roles. My role is a Republican Senator and this is the question posed:
Should national security issues be outside the realm of ethics and differentiated from the issues that arise concerning privacy in a commercial setting such as your place of employment?
If anyone can help me out that is Republican, I would appreciate it. I would also appreciate serious answers only. This debate will start in just over 2 weeks. Thanks in advance!
Best answer:
Answer by JAMES H
No National Security issues should not be outside the realm of ethics nor should it be differentiated from the issues of privacy. First let start by stating I am a Republican and know many Republicans. They including myself are not fearful of a Republican taking away our right of privacy. We are afraid of the Government infrenging upon our rights to be secure in our property and person. First I must answer this question by stating nowhere in the Constitution is stated there is a right to privacy. You have a right to secure in your person, property and papers. This right can only be taken away by a writ or warrant issued by a court and of course with the proper probable cause.
Second if you are an employee in a business this right does not apply. The Constitution only applies to the Government not to an individual or business. You must understand that as an employee you are using company phones, computers, space and equiptment. Therefore all that is done, stored or view via those mediums can be subjected to scruitny by the Company.
The same applies to a Business which is doing business to a Country which is contuary to the National Security of this Country. Using the Home Land Security means of investigation even a wire tap must be approved by a Judge.
If I were you I would first start with the US Constitution pertaining to the search and seizure docturne. Next I would check out the Home Land Security Bill ending with Court Rulings, and the issues concerning international commerce.
Give your answer to this question below!
XPig
June 17, 2012 at 11:23 am
Keeping in mind one of the key planks in the Republican platform is national security:
Should national security issues be outside the realm of ethics?
Of course they should. The importance of national security far exceeds questions of ethics. If forced to apply ethical restraint approaches ONLY in regards to the US national security, the country leaves open a back door for terrorists to strike. Terrorists are not held to an ethical standard. To require the US government to hold such a standard clearly leads to a mismatch – a mismatch I would not support. The US government must be allowed to use whatever means necessary to protect this great country & for all we stand. When the choice is between an unethical option that maintains national security v. an ethical option that could result in a government overthrow, I will always support whatever is necessary to save the United States & her people.
Should national security issues differentiate from the issues that arise concerning privacy in a commercial setting such as your place of employment?
Of course they should. Whereas the importance of privacy as protected in The Constitution cannot be neglected , privacy is not now nor ever will be as important as national security. A lack of adequate security will result in destruction of the US including The Constitution we all recognize as so dear. National security is far & away more important that personal privacy & thus, it deserves to be held in a higher esteem. The privacy we as citizens have come to enjoy, respect, expect, yes, even demand, will be worth nothing when terrorists overrun the country. Privacy will NOT exist when a lack of national security results in the overthrow of the US government by a terrorist organization.
Privacy is tantamount to the American people but I am certain the American people will support a surrender of some privacy to save the United States & her people.