I was recently working on a business idea: a web design company that would serve small business, non-profits and local government. I would serve this niche market with skills that I learn in my day-to-day work as a county web designer and at home in my own learning in the field.
I thank God that things ended the way they did, and early:
In late 2003, when I went to work for the National Guard at the Kansas Headquarters (STARC/JFHQ), I was asked to build a web for them. That job whetted my appetite for web design and introduced me to standards. I had two bosses while working there: one on the traditional/M-Day side and another on the full-time side. When my M-Day boss retired to enter the private sector, he was hired to work for a group of women’s health practitioners. Since I had been building the two sites for his organization and the state medical site, he asked me to put together a site for the practice he served.
Of course, being the entrepreneur that I am [laughter here], I accepted. I did not get far into it before I realized that I might be helping to advertise abortion services. So I asked if they did. No, they are not like that was his response. Which I am inclined to believe. So, I got back to work. Then it occurred to me that I had learned some time ago that there are normal birth controls pills that cause conceived eggs to be unable to implant on the wall of the uterus, they are referred to in some cases as abortifacients. I did not bother to ask, because there is debate on that. I politely declined to continue to provide them services. He was agreeable.
This should have been a sign to me that this kind of work (under normal circumstances) is wrong for me. But I went on. Government web craft seems to be fine. It has served me well so far. They generally stay out of junk like that, well, maybe not. But certainly private enterprise has no scruples as a rule. So many places are willing to do too much for a dollar. They are willing to remain open on the Lord’s Day (nearly all businesses). They are willing to lie and do what they can get away with (Walmart). They are willing to sell idols (so many grocery stores). They sell pornography (gas stations) or leverage as much flesh as they can to sell their “intimates” (J.C.Penney). They kill innocents (certain obstetricians).
It is hard to get away from all of that. And web design is not like so many businesses, in that we don’t provide the kind of necessities that plumbers and grocers provide. We often provide marketing or advertising support. As a result, we help companies to promote their grievous sins for gain.
As time goes on, we see more and more of that even in the public sector. And I don’t know what to do about it. However, I do know this: I cannot continue to work in the private sector with my current understanding of the nature of promotion. I would love to hear your comments on the subject.
I think you have to be careful when deciding not to do something because it inadvertently supports something that you don’t support. I don’t see the world as black and white. I think there is a spectrum of good and evil that the majority of people and businesses reside on at different times. Everyone somehow supports everyone else by participating in society. By working for the government, aren’t you in affect supporting all of the policies upheld by that government, including Roe v. Wade and Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell? This might be a little far down the slippery slope, but these are just my thoughts.