I automatically bring ethics into this discussion because I try to be a decent human being and actually care about the society I live in.
To me that seems like a non-sequiter.
There is no reason to suspect that the optimization (with respect to whatever objective you desire, e.g. total happiness) of a large, complex, chaotic, system (such as a society) can be best achieved by using 'ethical correctness' as the only criterion for decision making.
At least, that's my opinion. I hope that doesn't make me an indecent human being.