Congresswoman Jackie Speier imparted wise words concerning ethics to the Skyline College community on May 1.

School President Regina Stanback-Stroud introduced the student who invited Speier to our college, Monica Diliberto. The Kappa Beta Delta leadership team vice president gave a brief description of some of Speier’s accomplishments, and then shook her hand as the congresswoman graced the stage.

Speier was asked to speak on business ethics, and she approached this topic by giving 12 commandments. However, her advice was useful to any student hoping for wisdom.

“Thou shalt be steadfast to your moral principles as much as you are to your finances,” Speier proclaimed. She talked about Bernie Madoff, who embezzled more than $65 billion dollars from his investors.

Speier recounted the importance of doing good in order to do well. She explained that Hershey’s Kisses had a charitable start and ended up being quite profitable.
Another key point for Speier was making sure balance is maintained between work-life and home-life. She revealed that even President Obama eats dinner with his family every night. Her own experience as a single-parent was quite humbling and helped her to relate to students.

“Thou shalt create value, not just wealth,” Speier said. She explained that passion needs to be a driving force, not income. in a different commandment, she expressed that some of that value is democracy. Through worship of democracy, businesses stand to gain freedom as well as wealth.

Speier was fiercely proud of her district and the accomplishments of its businesses, including Genentech and Youtube, which have both created whole new industries.
“Thou shalt always look yourself in the mirror after you’ve made a decision and ask yourself: Is this good for America?,” Speier said. She explained that Transportation Security Administration contracted a company in Southern U.S. to manufacture their uniforms, whom then closed their continental factory. This company then outsourced their contract to their Mexican factory, which the American public did not take kindly to.
Speier wanted students to consider their legacy and their future employees. She explained that See’s Candies has been in business for decades and keeps their employees by being kind to them and respecting them.

“Thou shalt question the saddest quote,” Speier said. Challenging something that doesn’t sound right can be difficult, but rewarding. This investigative mindset can illuminate wrongdoings as well as new pathways to profit by getting down to the bottom of the matter. “Remember what you’re mom told you. If it looks too good to be true, it probably is,” Speier said.

“She was very much a San Matean when she spoke; it didn’t sound like ‘I’m just a politician looking for votes,'” Skyline student Richard Porter said. “She instilled pride in the county for those who don’t know what’s already here; talking about Genentech and talking about Electronic Arts down in Redwood City.”

Speier then answered questions, starting with one posed by Stanback-Stroud concerning the bankers in the financial crisis who never were charged with criminal activity. Speier explained that the Stock Exchange Commission had destroyed most of its own power as an enforcing body and that too many brokers and financial regulators were concerned with profit instead of safety.

When Speier went to her UC, Hastings College, her tuition was $700 dollars, adjusted for inflation would be about $2,700 dollars. She explained that even though tuition can be as high as $45,000 dollars, student loans can be ruinous. “Do not take private loans,” Speier said. She explained that student loans can rival the costs of a first mortgage.
An anonymous question about off-shore production of Apple products (which rudely referred to the Jonestown massacre Speier endured in 1978) delved into the difference between being a brilliant leader and an enlightened leader. Speier explained that Steve Jobs is credited as a great man, but disliked his lack of philanthropy.

One question addressed the contrast between prison costs to the state of California and school tuition costs.The ethics of withholding luxuries such as air conditioning were considered, but she admitted that recidivism was really the main problem with our prison system. She explained that rehabilitation was the most effective way to diminish costs incurred by prisoners.

“I wanted to ask her a question but didn’t get a chance. ‘How is it that the government is pushing for student loans.. but shouldn’t we push for a more accessible way, it’s understandable that we’re still gonna pay for it, but getting people into student loans, it’s still gonna get them into debt,” Skyline student Jackie Monrroy said.

“I really liked the idea of her trying to persuade young ladies to enter the field of politics and engineering,” Skyline student Ian Mackenzie said.

“I think we took [Speier’s lecture] for granted, because for one, it was not a packed house,” Porter said.

Speier seemed eager to be talking to her young constituents. “I get invited, I come!”

This article was updated to fix formatting errors. 5/8/2013 1:09 p.m.