In the state of Illinois, ethical standards are pretty simple really.

They are simple because apparently those involved with the state hold such low standards that they are willing to put out a mandatory ethics test to all state employees that should just be matters of common sense.

In Illinois, apparently it is of the utmost importance to stress to employees of the state that it is wrong to accept bribes and to not take gifts when there is a conflict of interest involved.

Now it may be that states across the country laugh at the reputation Illinois has garnered over the years as the corrupt state, but this test reaches a new level in some eyes.

“Honestly, when I first took a look at what was being done, I thought it was a joke,” Wisconsin State Senator Jeffrey Plale said. “I mean, it’s not a bad thing to familiarize yourself with ethics laws because there are so many nuances that folks may or may not actually pay attention to, but if somebody is hell-bent on lining their pockets, is it really realistic to think that a simple test will stop them from doing what they are doing?”

Plale went on to explain that, most likely, the answer to that question is no.

“It seems pretty basic to me to think that stealing is bad,” Plale added. “I think the more times you try to regulate ethics, you set up traps for those who unknowingly step into things that trip them up.

“Instead of having to take tests about those things, people should just know that it is common sense. I don’t need a test to tell me that bribes are bad or that conflicts of interest exist.”

Granted that Illinois’ past, especially in the governor’s seat, has been troubling to say the least but this effort by Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich seems to be missing the mark.

The test seems to be more about getting the word out that he is trying to do something to make ethical standards higher in a state that struggles with the issue.

But to push every state employee, including those employed by every state university, to take a quiz that should insult their intelligence doesn’t really enforce anything of substance to stop the problems Illinois has had in the past.

In fact, many of those problems may be hard to get past entirely considering that every state runs into the same sort of problems.

“It’s easy for me to sit up here in Wisconsin and say something about the ethical issues in Illinois, but it’s unrealistic to think nothing is happening here,” Plale said. “We’ve had issues here one of my former colleagues is in prison but most of the elected officials that I’ve met from a bunch of different states are ethical and good people.”

But how can simple tests or even the most stringent ethical standards really stop those who want to bend the rules? Some of these ethics laws seem to break things down to a point that nothing is acceptable anymore.

“Ethics laws are so stringent up here that I can’t even accept a cup of coffee from a lobbyist,” Plale said. “To think that a cup of coffee will sell my vote to a lobbyist is ridiculous.”

He may think it’s ridiculous, but apparently he isn’t from Illinois.