Friesen argues ethics beat metrics

Ron Friesen, a Marysville resident and retired music teacher, asserts that contemporary society has replaced ethical standards with financial metrics to determine human value.

In an opinion piece published on October 31, Friesen argues that the current focus on money and efficiency creates a dystopian environment where people are valued only by their economic output.

He states that money should only matter insofar as it meets human needs and helps individuals thrive. Friesen contends that the current systems fail to achieve this goal.

The author identifies religion, capitalism, and the current form of democracy as the primary drivers of this shift. He argues that the major world religions of Christianity, Islam, and Judaism are currently based on a belief in human depravity rather than infinite value.

Friesen suggests that this theological foundation leads to religious decay and extremist beliefs. He calls for a new Great Awakening that recognizes the infinite value of every person as a source of ethical leadership.

Regarding capitalism, Friesen describes it as theoretically amoral but currently immoral in practice. He notes that the system defines making money as good and losing money as bad.

He criticizes the legal framework that allows corporations to take money legally. Friesen points to the healthcare system as an example of an unethical but legal structure focused solely on metrics and money rather than patient care.

The author argues that government currently serves corporations first and people second. He compares the current power dynamic to the age of monarchs and nobility, suggesting that modern robber barons are in charge.

Friesen proposes a model of Moral Capitalism that prioritizes human value over personal gain. He believes this would fix the problems inherent in the current system.

The piece highlights the tension between efficiency and ethics. Friesen argues that metrics are often tied to efficiency, which drives corporate thinking to do the least to get the most.

He cites Boeing’s experiences with its MAX airplanes as proof that efficiency is not ethical when safety is compromised. He also notes that healthcare systems based on efficiency lead to unethical treatment of patients.

In education, Friesen argues that a focus on reading and math metrics does not promote critical social or life skills. He states that these scores are only indicators of larger goals that society fails to recognize, thereby depriving students of a full education.