M9 Gautam

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1) It was a tough decision to choose one supervisor who motivated me because I had two leaders who inspired me too improve, as a workers and person. The most current of the two is a former store manager at Walmart here in Fairbanks, now the GM at Cold Spot, “Timbo.” Timbo was a guest speaker in my International Business class last semester so I thought too write about some of the traits he demonstrated as my former boss. Timbo was very people first oriented, the customers and associates come before the bottom line, which is why he doesn’t work at Walmart anymore. As a manager, Timbo lead by example. The former store manager came from the humbling bottom of the store position ranks, dedication to hard work and adaptability allowed his ascension. He recognized it took a team to get him where he is and where the store needs to be so we were treated like a team. Working for Timbo felt like working with him, as Hawthorne improved productivity by giving a voice to the employees, Timbo listened to feedback and genuinely cared. Empathy and understanding are two of the many ingredient in elevating moral. Bosses are everywhere, but leaders like Timbo are hard to find. I took a couple traits from him and I even improved a couple others with him influence. It was a pleasure, if I owned a dog I’d visit him more.

2) This was also a tough decision because there are so many. Sometimes I learn from other peoples mistakes, even if they don’t think it is a mistake. I can stick with Walmart for this part too. Some bosses rule by fear and demands instead of respect and teamwork, using their position to demonstrate the negativity of egoism. This particular former Co-manager and I butted heads a lot, most because his demands involved self-interest and lack of knowledge. As the front end manager my style focused on the customer and front end employees, while he focused on himself. A know it all of all trades, he wouldn’t except input and made changes to plans that we constantly corrected later. He was unapproachable and many avoided prolong interactions with him. I learned from him the results of not treating others with respect, unaware narcissist isn’t ideal for moral building. He ones overestimated his perceived retail power, approving something only state law power can do, and after he fired me for me calling out his mistake. After he approved an expired state license he was let go because it wasn’t a store policy he broke, it was a law. I became a lead at Lowes where I continued to practice customer service and he moved to Florida. That full story taught me to never give up my ethics, it did cost me a job but stuck to my job instead of compromising. I learn from the ghost of supervisors past, even the bad ones.

M7 Gautam

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1. Chapter 7’s introduction, “The Environment,” gave insight to the severe damage the human way of life has caused our planet. Oil drilling, coal mining, fossil-fuel production, chemically intense agriculture, nuclear waste, and even mega-farming is destroying our oceans, land, air, and ozone. By contaminating the very atmosphere, human production has created a greenhouse effect that has contributed to global warming. This chapter’s introduction lets me know we’ll be the death of us.

2. Dr. Craig Idso, founder and chairman of the Center for the Study of Carbon Dioxide and Global Change, introduced a video titled “Unstoppable Solar Cycle; Rethinking Global Warming.” and summarized “Why Scientist disagree with Global Warning” by climate change author and former adviser to the Heartland Institute, Dr. Robert Carter. Dr. Idso’s video describes the history of earths many climate change, warming and cooling periods are part of a recurring pattern for Earth. The Sun also has cycles that contribute to the temperature and cycles on Earth. The summary of Dr. Carter’s book concludes that there still isn’t sufficient evidence that greenhouse gases are behind the increase in global temperatures. Policymakers should resist lobbyist and avoid government organizations that can exaggerate data for political and financial self-interest, and seek independent research because so much data is conflicted by agendas.                                                                   https://www.heartland.org/publications-resources/publications/why-scientists-disagree-about-global-warming

3. (1) – What environmental responsibilities do we have to the rest of the world?

Whether climate change is a result of human evolution or an anger sun I think it is indisputable that we have a responsibility to preserve the environment. There’s much more the government can do. “The Environment” mentioned the Clean Water Act and Clean Air Act as groundbreaking laws, the latest update/amendment was 1990. Congress should strengthen the EPA and update certain environmental laws. Environmental responsibility starts with the individual, “Assuming Personal Responsibility for Improving the Environment” by Hope Babcock writes that traditional sources of energy and individual behavior are the leading factors of environmental issues. The government spends on repairing current damage but spending to educate the public may help prevent future damage. There isn’t a single approach but the citizens that working together and combining methods of conservation is our responsibility. https://scholarship.law.georgetown.edu/facpub/942/

3. (2) – What obligation do we have to future generations?

Tragedy of the future Commons! It’s a conflicting human trait to want the best for our future generations while also grabbing our piece to the pie before it’s gone. This article from Tempest Media believes the obligation to save the future is an old statement that is about the present. With more trash in the water than boats and more space junk orbiting Earth than satellites, this generation is cleaning up for the one prior just so the one after us can even exist. https://showcase.tempestamedia.com/do-we-have-an-obligation-to-protect-the-environment-for-future-generations-aid-22840/

4.   Who should pay the cost for protecting the environment — those responsible for causing the pollution or those who stand to benefit from protection and restoration. Explain your position.

Those responsible for causing pollution should pay the cost for damaging the environment, taxes and penalties haven’t been sufficient enough. Every environmental issue created by the toxic production explained in “The Environment” has a solution that would reduce or eliminate the pollutant, cost is the reason for continuing so incentives/rewards for compliance can be added with penalties for violations. The cost for protection the environment is priceless, unless we move to Mars, and should be shared by the residents that enjoy living on Earth. While paying may mean fines or taxes mostly, pay-ing attention to our own behavior such as; taking public transportation, recycling, and using energy sparingly is how we can pay for renting this planet.                                                                    https://www.quora.com/Who-should-pay-for-environmental-protection

*Dont wait until Earth Day to fill a yellow bag!!

M6 Gautam

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https://www.thoughtco.com/martha-stewarts-insider-trading-case-1146196

Not even the world’s most famous homemaker could escape the lure of corporate corruption when profit is involved. Dec 2001, Martha Stewart was involved in an insider trading triangle with the ImClone Systems CEO and her broker from Merrill Lynch. ImClone, a biotech corporation, was unable to get approval by the FDA of a large product which ended up dropping the publicly traded company’s stock price 16%. Before the information of the disapproved drug was made public, the former CEO sold $5 million in shares. Martha Stewart was informed of the disapproved medication and shares being sold, from the ImClone CEO by her broker with Merrill Lynch 2 days before it was made public, and was able to act on the insider information before the public. The tip Martha Stewart got allowed her to sell all her shares which saved a lose of $51,200. Martha ended up serving 5 months in federal prison, fined 4 times the amount she avoided losing in stocks, followed by 2 years of supervision. Oddly enough the public view of her is better than ever, this exposure didn’t weaken her current audience, and expanded the demographics of her brand.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A33838-2004Mar5.html

Gautam M2

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As a former soldier, salesman, and retail manager, I have experienced each of the normative theories of ethics at some level in my life. Utilitarianism environments have been my favorite, and if somehow balanced with Prima Facie, I feel the ideal moral doctrine can be created. Even though each theory of ethics has different logical points, they are not equal.

As I said, I use to be a salesman. I worked at an auto dealership here in Fairbanks for 2 years. This is were I experienced my least favorite theory of ethics, Egoism. I meet plenty of individuals with stronger than average self interest motivations but this was an industry that produces and celebrates egoism, hedonism in the form of money.

It’s hard to pick a particular situation, moment, but I can simply summarize my experience in the world of car sales. Unlike hourly and salary work, commission wages can really bring out the greed in people. Having seen what people will do when money is the goal, I debate egoism is even a theory involving ethics. I always looked to balance morally helping customers while also paying my own bills, every time I affected the profit margin to make a deal I was meet with major conflicts from the sales managers. Over my 2 year career I managed to sell the 2nd most units in both years.

Despite my success, my good will toward customers consequentially brought on many arguments about my customer focused approach, I wanted my customers to get a good deal if I knew I could do that I’d make both sides happy. Egoism tends to justify their own self interest even if it negatively affects others, I wasn’t willing to financial hurt people and it was the sole reason I was pasted over for a finance manager promotion to an administrator that was in the inner circle formed in sales. I ended leaving to take less money as a Walmart supervisor and the Admin worker that beat me for the finance manager job did terrible and quit. I had opportunity to rise in that field but the high level of self interest is a little much for someone that enjoys success that doesn’t hurt other people. Dealerships are a hard environment for someone that doesn’t prioritize a larger pay check over the financial well being of a customer, and I’m looking for a life that doesn’t challenge the morals and set of ethics I have set for myself.

Gautam – M1

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Development of our personal ethics begins right after birth, and starts to take shape by learning family customs and behavior. As we age, we are pressured to conform to certain social etiquette’s that are created by religious and legal platforms that form society. From these social norms, and reactions to life experiences, we develop a set of moral principles that guide us through many life situations. Our personal code of ethics spurs our judgement, self interest, and character. There are many influences that change and challenge of ethical behavior. Morals are based on how we view life, they are forever changing and adapting too perception of new experiences.