Only the state of North Carolina, America’s banana republic, could possibly come up with the concept of a government “ethics board” that operates in secret. A more cynical invention is hard to conceive.

Contrast the drive to keep the public in the dark about what government officials are to up with the stance taken by the Founding Fathers. Yes, this is quite a stretch. Even putting our current batch of small-time scammers and demogogues in the same sentence with actual patriots is jarring to the senses. But the comparison shows just how cowardly today’s supposed leaders really are.

The Founders stood up to swear an oath to principles and invoked their “sacred honor” in doing so. They knew that nothing was so valuable to a man as his reputation, his standing with his peers, and the opinion the broader community had of him. Honor is a public concept and is incompatiable with secrecy. The honorable man wants his deeds and words spread far and does not fear how he might be perceived.

Then we have Raleigh in 2007. Small little men like former judge Robert Farmer, scurrying around in the shadows. His title may say ethics board chairman, but Farmer is merely a flak-catching for the ongoing criminal conspiracy that passes for state government. An honorable man would refuse to hold a post that required him to keep secret the sanctions public officials and government employees bring upon themselves.

Secret sanctions are not sanctions at all. If the public does not know about ethicial lapses, if the community cannot judge a person dishonorable for their deeds, Farmer’s clubby little star chamber only works to protect the reputations of those who do not deserve it.

Accordingly, anyone remotely associated with the creation and operation of this farcical “ethics board” should be assumed to hiding something and not worthy of the public’s trust. Or honor.