You bet they are.

Can't produce bottom-line results? "You're fired!" Just ask Carly Fiorina recently ousted as CEO of computer maker Hewlett-Packard.

Break the law? Expect to be prosecuted, convicted and jailed. Bernie Ebbers, the former CEO of Worldcom, found that out yesterday. So did Martha. And Ken Lay, Richard Scrushy and Jeff Skilling are soon to follow.

How about simply shady dealings, not an outright breach of the law. Maurice Greenberg of AIG recently resigned, as did the head of Putnam Investments and FNMA.

The business media has been full of the sanctions against the few business executives who have moral or legal lapses. And America's business community is stronger for it.

Contrast this with the pathetic performance in the public. Where are the sanctions for poor performance, for lying (oops, thats' a standard tool of the political art), dissembling, incompetence or outright fraud?

I guess it starts right at the top. What were the consequences of President Clinton's pecadillos and his subsequent lying to his Cabinet, the courts and the American people. George Holt's lying, evasions and half-truths don't seem so bad in comparison.

We probably still teach our kids that those who hold public office should be held to a higher standard than everyone else. The truth is just the opposite.

And we are all the weaker for it.