I'm going to be a lowly employee at a Navy Base. Do Congressmen have to have the same ethics?

[koltin]

PUBLIC SERVICE (EXECUTIVE ORDER 12764)
Do’s Place loyalty to the Constitution, the laws, and ethical principles above private gain Act impartially to all groups, persons, and organizations Give an honest effort in the performance of your duties Protect and conserve Federal property Disclose waste, fraud, abuse, and corruption to appropriate authorities Fulfill in good faith your obligations as a citizen, and pay your Federal, State, and local taxes Comply with all laws providing equal opportunity to all persons, regardless of their race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, or handicap


Don’ts Don’t use nonpublic information to benefit yourself or anyone else Don’t solicit or accept gifts from persons or parties that do business with or seek official action from DoD (unless permitted by an exception) Don’t make unauthorized commitments or promises that bind the Government Don’t use Federal property for unauthorized purposes Don’t take jobs or hold financial interests that conflict with your Government responsibilities Don’t take actions that give the appearance that they are illegal or unethical

Number one in my "Don't" list:

"Don’t use nonpublic information to benefit yourself or anyone else"

Isn't this exactly what Congress does when they pass laws, then buy stocks or property to benefit from that law?

Hello?

[francisco]

If they do they are breaking the law.

[gowan]

If congressmen are corrupt in the ways you mention they should be voted-out of office. Ethics is not something that should vary depending on your rank or status, it is a universal code of acceptable social conduct.