How Confucian teachings can help our government today

Book III. 16          The Master said, “The gentleman understands what is moral, the small man understands what is profitable.”

I believe that this selection is one that the government of today needs to understand. More and more, during the news there is a story about how some politician is being "influenced" by businesses and corporations to swing legislation in their favor. This selection directly addresses that problem. Those who accept bribes from corporations are "small men;" they only see the profit and disregard morality. In my history class last year I learned about an award given to politicians when they had to make a decision that was unpopular, but was right in the long-term. In my opinion, no such award should exist. In my opinion, politicians should realize when they are running that they might have to make tough decisions that might lose them further elections. In my opinion, politicians should place the well-being of this nation above their own popularity. This relates directly to the quote because, in most cases, popularity translates into profit for many politicians (mainly in the form of campaign donations). Those that make the tough decisions in this nation are the "gentlemen," who may lost popularity or profit, but have done what is right. Those that are dictated by greed and who place profit over morality are the "small men."