While “governmental versus self regulation” sounds reasonable, the Governor speaks about government and business in terms of good versus evil. Luke Skywalker versus Darth Vader. That’s not right. And in my opinion, Harvard had no business awarding Spitzer a national stage to spit polish his image—especially when the stage turns an important discussion into a circus sideshow.

I also wonder if “personal choices” equal “private matter.” My recollection is that Spitzer prosecuted the call-girl industry in an aggressive manner. There is something fundamentally rotten about governing one way and choosing the opposite personal path. It reminds me of “let them eat cake.”

1. Besides Spitzer’s poor “personal choices,” his crusade against Wall Street ensnared innocents and ruined people’s lives and livelihoods while he merrilly took the moral high road. Shame on him.

2. Only government? Puleeze. Financial institutions have made enormous strides at substantial costs to build compliance regimes to ensure ethical and legal behavior. Is the system perfect? Of course not. Is it much improved? Definitely.

Of course, there will always be a need for regulators to enforce rules and laws — the same need as there are for police. However, politicians are not the solution as the escalating costs of election make them beholden to (or at least mindul of) people or special interests.

3. While Spitzer may not be a good guy. our universities should remain a place for open dialogue and debate. If not there, then where? Should Spitzer be lecturing on ethics? Not in my opinion. Should Spitzer be lecturing on governmental versus self-regulation? I think this is sensible. So perhaps this discussion is one of semantics and promotion, rather than content.