Rich or Poor: Question Free Offerings
Who wouldn't want to find themselves as the recipient of a free offering of money, goods or services? It would seem to just about anyone who were offered such free items that to not accept them would be rather strange, or outright foolish. Why would you not accept such a gift from the world around you? Well, there are many politicians, businessmen, police, judges, and other assorted public figures that might understand all too well why this choice of rejecting a gift is a wise one."Why is this person/organization offering me free money/gift?" is a question that most public figures have to ask themselves on a nearly daily basis. For such people, the offering of free money is usually an immediate warning to turn and run. This is because the offer of money is far too obvious an ethical and/or legal breach. Why then would other gifts not be so cut and dry? This is a little more difficult to get around. For example, a businessman who accepts a free trip to visit a potential partner might have no ethical problems. However, if a businessman accepts a trip to Tahiti to meet a business associate, fully aware that the business deal cannot proceed, as the particular contract has already been filled with another company, an ethical problem arises.
Politicians can find their situations even touchier as far as the issue of free money or gifts of some kind go. This is because they are supposed to be looking out for the best interests of the people who elected them, and the welfare of the populace in general. To accept an offering of free money, free travel or free anything could be seen as potentially "buying" the vote or support of the particular politician. The average voter might, justifiably, ask the question, "Why is elected official X taking money from corporation Y when he/she should be working for me and the rest of our community?" Such questions can lead to a direct impact come election time, and can even result in criminal procedures.
Perhaps one of the most illustrative examples of why someone would not take a free offering of gifts can be found in ancient Greece. In the city-state of Sparta, which reached its height around 500 BC, all of the inhabitants were to be on a fairly egalitarian economic level. This was a tradition that extended to the two kings that ruled Sparta together. Should one of these kings accept free money or other items this was seen as a potential corruption of the pure Spartan ideal of one unified Spartan state. This is to say that for me to have more than you placed me on a separate footing from you. To the militaristic state of Sparta, this had far too much potential for undermining the fighting might of the Spartan warriors. One king who was suspected of accepting the offering of free gifts and money was actually exiled.
So the next time you wonder, "Why doesn't anyone present me with some kind of offering of free money? I would take it in a second," think about what your position would be to receive such an offering. This is not to say that no one will ever make you an offering of free things, but that if it comes out of nowhere, as opposed to being from a loved one, think about what strings might be attached to it. Free money could be nice, but, unfortunately for most of us, rather unlikely.
Contributing National Payday Staff Writer
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