I love the language in the conclusion of today’s editorial “Holding McDonald’s Accountable” in the New York Times. Assailing McDonald’s dodging responsibility for wage negotiations at the franchise level, the Editorial Board concludes:

Self-interest is something McDonald’s understands. Enlightened self-interest is something else entirely.

You could substitute a number of power brokers for “McDonald’s” in these two sentences, and it would make consummate sense: “the Gun Lobby,” “the coal industry,” “the House Majority,” the American Bar Association, the Chamber of Commerce, and others too numerous to name.  The critical term here is “power,” because these “power brokers” use no criterion but the preservation of their power to shape their policies.  Rarely do such institutions address the notions of “fairness,” “preponderance of evidence,” or “humanity” to address social problems. It is much easier to decide a question based on”Will this give ground to the enemy?”

In fact, the preservation of power has become so commonplace in public discourse that appeals for “fairness” or “humanity” are quietly scorned to silence. Does anyone actually give away power for the benefit of the less powerful? Does anyone believe in the public good or noblesse oblige today? Are these so archaic that they cannot factor in any decision-making at the highest levels of power?

People who work in service professions are often driven by noblesse oblige, “the moral obligation of the highborn to display honorable or charitable conduct” [Random House Dictionary]. Not all of them, of course. But many teachers, nurses, social workers, emergency responders, mediators, public defenders are driven by the needs that surround them in their jobs.  Not surprisingly, most service professionals do not advance to positions of power, because they have been heedless of their own advancement.  And the notion of “highborn” does not apply to most service professionals, because they may have been born to the lower strata of society. But they see themselves as “highborn,” because they have ascended to a place where they can help others.

But in the higher strata where the power brokers live, the notion of “noblesse oblige” has become as archaic as it sounds. No one gives away power, unless there is a considerable return. In fact the conservation of power is almost as inviolable as the conservation of matter. It is always maintained, even if it shifts into different budget categories.Probably the best example is the current Congressional session, which has resolved to inaction, given the lack of political benefits offered by current legislation. If we can’t enhance our power, we won’t legislate, is their motto.

I have always loved the expression “noblesse oblige” because it sounds as charitable as it is.  I have to admit the French have the perfect word for it. And normally I wouldn’t give the linguistically chauvinistic French credit for anything about their language. But really, it’s only fair. They say it beautifully. It would be a shame for such an expression to die from disuse.