couldn't agree more
A lack of integrity and personal responsibility is epidemic. It's not just in IT, and I don't even think it's particular to our time -- though the greater facility of communication and dissemination of information and ideas in modern times may be part of the reason that the societal influences that encourage self-centered rejection of personal responsibility are able to affect so many.
The reasons people do things like deal dishonestly with their clients, employers, employees, and consultants are likely closely related to the reasons people do things like go on shooting sprees, have an extra baby or two to improve their ability to leech off welfare, and cheat on their spouses. A hint to the sort of motivating factors in society that lead to this bad behavior rests in a recent study that shows that people who do not believe in free will are more likely to cheat (in games, on tests, on their spouses, et cetera). Postmodernistic perspectives eliminate much of the sense of responsibility from oneself, as do the nanny state, many modern practices of psychology and psychiatry, and anything else that tends to infantilize the individual -- or, worse, deprecate the concept of individuality itself.
I believe individualists are more likely to take responsibility for themselves, contribute to a better world in a personal and meaningful manner, and deal honestly with others, than someone sold on the ideologies of collectivism, paternal authoritarianism, and social parasitism. I find it difficult to believe that anyone who really examines the underlying psychological principles of the matter could honestly come to a significantly differing conclusion -- which makes sense, since someone coming to a significantly differing conclusion would very likely be subject to the very societal motivating factors that lead to greater dishonesty in dealings with others that I described above.
Hm. I'm probably way off-topic by now. This is just a subject that has been on my mind quite a bit lately.
