The Village Square

We need to get some tools other than shame

March 28th, 2009

Below is a conversation that occurred more than a month ago. Interesting to see what’s happened since.

KEITH OLBERMANN: The Vice President today warned public officials that if they misuse stimulus funds he will use his position to shame him. Historically, how does shame work as a big political motivator when weighed against billions of dollars?

DANIEL GROSS, NEWSWEEK: If we’re going to have to rely on shame to get people to do the right thing economically, I’m going to go buy some 50 pound sacks of rice and start growing some vegetables cuz it’s going to be a long, long, night. Public officials seems to be uniquely immune to shame… Blogoevich, Burris, David Vitter. But more generally, our culture seems to be about people not having any shame, whether it’s Paris Hilton or athletes who use steroids and then go on to play. So I think we need to get some tools other than shame.

Entry Filed under: Economics Lose the Ideology,Rap on the Knuckles