On May 8, 1965, United States President Lyndon B. Johnson issued Executive Order 11,222, which instructed agencies to establish “standards of ethical conduct for government officers and employees.” President Johnson stated that “every citizen is entitled to have complete confidence in the integrity of his [or her] government.” While a worthy goal, the basic obligation of public service stated above is undermined when government employees engage in illegal activity or are influenced by private interests.

For example, American taxpayers have witnessed a series of corporate mega-mergers that have transformed large government contractors into a small universe of formidable lobbying and influence-peddling machines. Insider deals have become so pervasive and entrenched that even Congress is rarely able to insulate itself or stem its power.

Integrity in the public and private sectors is under assault today more than it has ever been since the Project On Government Oversight (POGO) was founded over 26 years ago. Institutional corruption in both the public and private sectors demoralizes hard working public and private sector workers, undermines confidence in the democratic process, and exacerbates distrust in our society. For example, the United States has been shaken by scandals involving corporate giants and their executives, high ranking government officials, Members of Congress, and government lobbyists.

In theory, the U.S. government is predicated on equal opportunity, a system of checks and balances, and a government of the people. In reality, however, the U.S. government has transformed into an institution that caters to powerful private interests. A complex system of laws, regulations, and oversight structures comprised of the federal government, the media, non-governmental organizations, corporations, and American taxpayers are supposed to ensure good government and corporate practices. Yet even with that complex network of oversight, corruption and other misconduct pervades public and private sector dealings.

The U.S. has an extensive system of anti-corruption measures including:

• Three independent and equal branches of government

• Free elections

• Government investigators, auditors, and prosecutors

• A campaign finance system

• Ethics offices

• An open Congress

• Public participation in agency rulemakings

• Non-governmental organizations

• Media

• Taxpayers

Within that framework, the U.S. prides itself on its disclosure of campaign contributions and spending, lobbying disclosure requirements, a transparent court system, public congressional hearings, full and open competition for contract awards, a contractor suspension/debarment system that prevents irresponsible contractors from receiving future government contract awards, a bid protest process that permits certain contract awards to be reviewed by an independent third-party, and the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), which provides public access to government information. Additionally, the public is urged to use those processes to learn more about the government to share its ideas about government actions and voice is pleasure or displeasure during local, state, and federal elections.

Despite all of those access points to the government’s activities and operations, the U.S. still struggles to address the culture of corruption that has permeated American society.

The United States might meet the literal requirements of United Nations and other international and domestic anti-corruption programs, but it has a long way to go before becoming an anti-corruption and public participation leader. The U.S. still struggles with corruption, a demoralized government workforce, and public apathy. A large percentage of American would say that more government deals are made in back rooms than in the public light around Washington, which reinforces the motto, “its who you know rather than what you know.”

One reason for its failure is the problem of the proverbial “fox guarding the hen house.” Simply stated, those who are in power and who influence policymakers are the same people taxpayers must rely on to improve the ethics system and promote a good government agenda. For example, a regulation to promote a “zero-tolerance” policy on trafficking in persons has been proposed by multiple U.S. agencies, but yet the regulation’s requirements are too difficult to monitor and enforce. The government has done very little to protect trafficking victims by holding offenders accountable. Additionally, the U.S. has a law that fights against government fraud, but each year the law is subject to numerous attacks, despite returning over $18 billion in taxpayer funds to the government that would have lined corporate and individual pockets.

But do not allow the failures in the United Stated to deter Hondurans from creating a better government model. The proposal for a Congressional Committee on Public Hearings is a wonderful idea that should be adopted. That progressive thinking should permeate all governments, the U.S. included, to create governments that are open, accessible, ethical, and a genuine voice of the people rather than special interests.

This is not merely a sentence in a speech, but a mission that we at POGO promote daily. In a perfect world, POGO would be out of business and Danielle and I would have to find other jobs. Unfortunately, the world is not perfect and therefore governments, the media, NGOs, and the public will have to keep pressuring our respective governments and private sector entities to implement effective, open, and honest systems.

As United States Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes advised many years ago, “Men must turn square corners when they deal with the Government.” That principal is vital to promoting integrity within our government, not merely for those who deal with the government.