Listen to the people

Dear Editor:

I find accountability to be an ethical concept on governance. As such it deals with responsibility and answerability associated with account-giving. In other words, accountability is acknowledgment and assumption of responsibility for actions, decisions and policies within the scope of a position. This entails the obligation to report, explain and be answerable for resulting consequences.

Based on this premise, accountability is therefore an account giving relationship between individuals. It cannot exist without proper accounting practices. "The absence of accounting means the absence of accountability."

Ethical accountability relates to improving both personal and organizational performance to enhance professional expertise. By advocating effective environment for people and organizations cultural development can be sustained. It is unethical to plan an action for social change without excavating the knowledge and wisdom of the people responsible for implementing the plan of action and of the people whose lives will be affected.

Political accountability is the accountability of the government, civil servants and politicians to the public and to legislative bodies such as congress or senate. Voters do not have any direct way of holding elected representatives to account during their term elected for. The legislative body holds their own members to account by internal or independent inquiry, usually held in response to an allegation of misconduct or corruption.

We need to listen to the voices of the people we don't so often hear. Thank you.

Kathy Jones

Jim Thorpe, Pa.