Accountability

what it is and why it underlays everything

In today’s world it seems that everyone wants something to happen, or their opinion to be heard and considered valid. Unfortunately they also seem to not want much vetting, fact checking, etc. We see this in our politicians, corporations, government, the list goes on and on. What we don’t see is real accountability.

Definitions of accountability by context; personal-an obligation or willingness to accept responsibility or to account for one’s actions (Merriam Webster).

In ethics and governance, accountability is answerable , blameworthiness, liability, and the expectation of account-giving. Wikipedia as source.

In leadership roles,[2] accountability is the acknowledgment and assumption of responsibility for actions, products, decisions, and policies including the administration, governance, and implementation within the scope of the role or employment position and encompassing the obligation to report, explain and be answerable for resulting consequences. Wikipedia as source.

Whatever topic we chose, the church, white supremacy, racism, empire, real accountability appears to be the last thing anyone wants. I have found this to be especially true in self development. You can’t grow if you can’t be true with yourself, AKA accountability.

Accountability is the core of most self help programs, the scientific method, and so much more. As we call for a fairer and just society and the change required to get there you can’t have excision (the act or procedure of removing by or as if by cutting out) without accountability. Someone or something has to pay in one way or another to make due for whatever the sin or violation may be.

We have so many examples of excesses allowed by having no real accountability; Joe McCarthy hunting “communists”, Nixon’s secret bombings of Cambodia, Reagan and Iran or the Sandinista, Bush/Cheney with Iraq, Trump with everything, the Catholic church sex scandals. I could go on forever but my fingers aren’t strong enough to type it all!

The biggest problem here is that no one seems to care any more. Never call them out. Watch them stack the courts for years, but yawn at the decisions that follow to cover their asses. And maybe worst yet is our fake politeness where no one, as used to be said, “calls a spade a spade” anymore.

Please note my usage by definition; To address or describe the true nature of someone or something, even if it is unpleasant. The term originated from a translation of an ancient Greek phrase, but is considered offensive by some due to the later use of the word “spade” as a racial slur for a black person. No offence made to anyone of color. From The Free Dictionary.

I had to re-visit this brief piece since almost three years has passed since writing it. Between the most un-accountable presidency in my brief 69 years, and then taking 15 rounds to appoint a speaker of the House, wow! Lawyers getting disbarred for filing ridiculous motions, corporations intentional profiteering, producing their highest ever in a year profits, hiding behind “inflation”. It just never ends.

To end this I recommend that everyone consider accountability as the principle requirement for change in any given situation.