This article wonders how far the moral rot of Wall Street has spread into other areas of our society. So do I.

I understand about financial incentives. I was in sales, after all. But there is a time and a place for incentives and they must be regulated and overseen. Here are some of my thoughts and experiences regarding greed and incentives.

This article reminds me of an article I read in about 2003 or 2004 concerning a proposal of former Defense Secretary Rumsfeld for the Defense Department. Rumsfeld was concerned the higher level executives in the Defense Department were not responsive enough to making changes and moving programs along. Rumsfeld wanted to institute incentive programs to make management more responsive. Given my own experience with incentives and bonuses, I wasn't sure this was a good idea.

I did not and do not  want Defense program decisions influenced in any way by the possibility that someone will or won't make their bonus. The only concern should be whether the decision is the best one possible for the defense policy of the nation of the whole.

Accordingly, one of the things the next administration should consider is whether any bonus program should be continued.

Similarly, another thing I have been told is the civil service program has been perverted by excessive political appointments. The practice prior to the Bush Administration was the heads of many Federal Agencies were political appointees. The number 2 at the agency was a civil service professional who provides continuity no matter which political party is in charge. I was told under the Bush Administration, this number 2 position has been made into a political appointment. If this is true, I would strongly recommend the old system be restored.

As I have written before, we have a free market economy fueled by greed and that greed must be regulated. Human beings, being human, are tempted by greed and some are unable to resist that temptation.

In one situation I was in, my sales reps were not allowed to negotiate prices and the computer system would not allow alteration of prices.  Exceptions were allowed, however, for certain groups with preferred relationships. Those exceptions were not well known. I had a rep once who discovered one of those exceptions and was using it to give himself an unfair advantage. He was a smart and capable rep, but he gave in to this temptation. Once discovered, the company and I were forced to terminate him. The rep forced himself out of a $60,000 a year job by his own greed. Again, that's why I say greed must be regulated.

Here's a link to an excellent article.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=95013900&sc=emaf