to me it's a red flag....definitely. there's no need to brag about how honest you are, if you simply are...
Seems to me there are 2 basic philosophies in this world:- 1. How much money/power is there in it for me ? or 2. Is it right or wrong ? Looks like Madoff & company belong to category 1
I agree with the idea that when someone promotes a position, the degree to which they promote it is an inverse correlation to the actual truth. People tend to give themselves away by hiding behind their words. For instance, someone who obsesses about security and has to have a lock for everything and constantly worries that he may be stolen from--is probably a thief. Obstreperous preachers like J. Swaggart come to mind as well.
If something is salable and noteworthy, then it does not need promotion. For example, a popular bar oftentimes does not need promotion. People simply show up and line up outside because of its reputation. Whereas a bar where no one shows up oftentimes needs promotion. These promotions are oftentimes in the form of radio commercials where you hear them tell you how you can have so much fun and get so many women by coming down. The reality is that the bar isn't popular and the exact opposite is true. You wont get anything by coming down. The people who engage in self-promotion about values are really trying to say that although they are crooks you should trust them anyway. The true question is what do you say when you are at a job interview or really trying to promote your firm? There has to be a certain degree of self-promotion expected when you are essentially trying to sell yourself at an interview However, I have found that many things said at the interview table oftentimes do not come true later on. If a person said he has never been late to work or will follow your every word, I can almost guarantee that they will be late and engage in a degree of insubordination in 3 months time. So it boils down to reputation and references. Don't forget Madoff had many good references too. Who can you trust? No one.
any time someone in business starts talking about ethics, my alert goes WAY UP, why do they need to build my CONfidence? they dont call them CONfidence men for nothing in our state, the guy on the 'Character Counts' TV ads turned out to be the biggest crook in the state, leaving half built homes all over the place. tried to get laws changed to build a casino too so smug on those ads, just knew he'd steal the paint off your car if it wernt stuck on
It may be coincidence but - there is big law firm in Chicago that had a big connection with Obama My contracts in professor in law school in the late 80s - I am pretty sure - was partner at that firm. In my first class on my first day of law school we were offered this advice from that professor... When someone says you can trust me - translate that as saying I am going to fuck you as hard as I can the first chance I get. He reiterated -- trust me means fuck you. ------- Trust is earned. As reagan said trust but verify. My other favorite - I was told by a former touring pro golfer --- never take a bet the other guy sets up.
David Friehling wrote an article in the accounting magazine "The Trusted Professional" exhorting colleagues not to cheat. Friehling was Madoff's accountant.