The independent real estate appraiser is being driven out of the business by the same forces that borrowed billions from the taxpayer in the form of a bailout, speculated in an over-leveraged derivatives market, and swallowed each other up after years of mismanagement. Why should anybody care? Because the housing recovery is dependent on transparency that we have not seen in more than a decade. Public Trust Betrayed: The Truth Behind the Real Estate Appraisal Industry emphasizes that there must be transparency and objectivity in the mortgage and evaluation process if we are to solve the current credit crisis and what we must change in the financial industry to prevent another economic meltdown. As a result of fraud, conflicts of interest, over-valuations, and lax underwriting standards, the entire lending industry must be examined and changed if any meaningful housing recovery is to be accomplished. 'Appraisal issues played a major role in the housing boom and bust. To get an insider's view of that historic and horrendous cycle -- and the troubling reality of where we are now -- read this book.' --Ken Harney, Syndicated Columnist, Washington Post Writers Group 'This is one man's story about the deceptions he saw in the home appraisal market, deceiving homeowners and lenders alike. It will open your eyes.' --Jane Bryant Quinn, author of Making the Most of Your Money NOW Author James Manning gives the reader rare insights into the pressures being placed on today's real estate appraiser in an easy-to-read format, a folksy delivery, and with real-life experiences sprinkled throughout.

In this "meticulously researched" account (New York Times Book Review), a Pulitzer Prize-winning author examines the dangers of a failing public health system unequipped to handle large-scale global risks like a coronavirus pandemic. The New York Times bestselling author of The Coming Plague, Laurie Garrett takes on perhaps the most crucial global issue of our time in this eye-opening book. She asks: is our collective health in a state of decline? If so, how dire is this crisis and has the public health system itself contributed to it? Using riveting detail and finely-honed storytelling, exploring outbreaks around the world, Garrett exposes the underbelly of the world's globalization to find out if it can still be assumed that government can and will protect the people's health, or if that trust has been irrevocably broken. "A frightening vision of the future and a deeply unsettling one . . . a sober, scary book that not only limns the dangers posed by emerging diseases but also raises serious questions about two centuries' worth of Enlightenment beliefs in science and technology and progress." -- Michiko Kakutani, The New York Times

The Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis presents the full text of the January 2001 staff report entitled "Public Trust and Government Betrayal," written by Christopher Phelan. The text is available in PDF format. This paper offers a simple model of government reputation that consists of characteristics of policy outcomes in less developed countries. The characteristics are governments that betray public trust and public trust that is regained only gradually.

School Corruption: Betrayal of Children and the Public Trust is an exposé of corruption in public schools and related agencies. It shatters the complacency and silence of the pervasive corruption found in school districts throughout the Nation. Dr. Armand A. Fusco provides a detailed look at the rationale for the three levels of corrupt acts: cheating and deceit, waste and mismanagement, and fraud and stealing. Find out how and where shameful and deplorable corrupt acts have been committed in each state and school district as Fusco delves into some tough questions: Why does corruption and 'political correctness" lead to poor student achievement, disgraceful school outcomes, and failing schools? How does inept school governance allow corruption to flourish with such ease? What is the most important question that is never asked of an applicant for superintendent of schools? The harsh reality is that corruption has become a natural part of the educational landscape, but it's hidden from view by walls of denial and self-protection. Only by accepting the challenge of a new beginning can trust be restored so that the devastating impact of corrupt acts on the education of children, and the violation of the public trust, will become a thing of the past.

The world over, integrity quotient in those bestowed with the responsibility to lead others is on a free fall. History is replete with many leaders betraying the trust bestowed upon them by their citizenry. Many a time, most people have found themselves flouting oaths of office even when they pledged to abide by certain ethical practices, the constitution, other laws, rules and regulations. Those who belong to diverse religious faiths have faltered too even though they have sworn not to do certain things in life. There are those who even fail to remember their marriage vows and have turned out to be very untrustworthy.The author - Prof. Jacob. T. Kaimenyi intends to appeal to those who wantonly destroy public trust with minimal regard to its negative consequences. The book is also meant to prick the conscience of all those people who have taken different oaths and have sworn to abide by certain rules and regulations, that they should do so without wavering at any time. It a must read for all leaders at the family, communal, national and international levels.