Congress Sets a Record!

"An honest man's the noblest work of God." - Alexander Pope

Once again the Gallup pollsters have revealed the occupations and professions held in highest (and lowest) ethical esteem, and considered most (or least) honest, by the American people. The most ethical? Nurses at 89%, up from last year’s 85%. As volunteer hospital chaplains, Diane and I join most Americans in giving nurses high marks, especially today as they work tirelessly on the front lines in the battle against the nasty virus from China. MDs, who rose from 65% to 77%, came in second, also no doubt due to their efforts in combating the pandemic. Grade school teachers, pharmacists, and police officers followed the healthcare folks as the only professions viewed as ethical and honest by more than 50% of Americans. 

As an ordained, permanent deacon of the Catholic Church, I fall into the “clergy” category and am somewhat disheartened by the support of only 39% of Americans (down from last year’s 40%). I suspect this unexceptional ethical rating results from the less than heroic public statements and attitudes expressed by so many Christian clergy who seem to find it a real challenge to apply the Gospel to the issues facing the American people. Given time, the people eventually recognize hypocrisy for what it is; hence, the mediocre ethical rating.

Of course the bottom feeders who lurk among the lowest ranks are no real surprise. Lawyers, big business execs, advertising spin doctors, and car salespeople fought it out in the ethical basement. I cannot entirely agree with such low ratings because I have known many among these professions and occupations who are honest, highly ethical people. But I suspect most Americans are influenced by the exceptions that make the headlines. The same can probably be said for the clergy.

 

But the biggest loser was Congress! Yes, indeed, our representatives and senators in Washington dropped from last year's 12% to a new low, an abysmal 8%, where they found themselves in a tie with the car salespeople. In truth, and I’m not exaggerating here, I would rather be represented by a random collection of 535 car salespeople than our current crop of Washington Swamp denizens. Given the choice, many Americans would probably agree with me. The poll, of course, offers us just another reason to support term limits. 

Here’s a table with the results, straight from Gallup: