Removal of corruption in public office

I don't think so, let's get the greedy out of public office and replace them with people whose motivation is improving life for the country's citizens.

Best ras

huggiebear, you are on to something.

Once upon a time I was a contract US MAIL carrier. That is, I delievered the US MAIL just like a USPS employee. However, I did it for less than 1/2 the salary of the USPS employee and none of the cost in benefits.

If the USPS contracted out all the mail delievery a first class stamp would cost about 25 cents, maybe less.

The thing that keeps government from saving even more money by the private contracting of government services is the Public Employee Unions and their influence on the legislative process.

It is true that businessmen are greedy. However, free enterprise and competition keep costs in check far better than government regulation of its employees.

The only time private services to the government cost as much as having the government do the work themselves is when there is collusion between the contractors and government representatives, be they legislators or managers. This is against the law and can be dealt with.

I can assure you that the vast majority of people who have contracted to do work for the US government did not find it to be lucrative.

What makes the news is the exception, not the rule.

To chime in on the USPS ... they say they are losing so much moeny because of the internet yet package shipments have increased over the past three years. Ebay, Ubid, Amazon, Abes and other mega online giants are shipping thousands of packages a day, with 60% of them going the USPS route. If they are losing money, someone needs to do a serious audit.

Makes you wonder about it all
As much as i hate it look at the severance packes some CEO's have gotten and how much some companies loose funny how they are still in buisness cause most of the tiem the losse is they just did nto make what they thought they were going to so they never made as much money as they thought so they must of lost it.

Yes, that would help; it would be a great idea to bring Democracy back to the US.

The current American system is a theocracy; government by the rich for the rich. The various names this theocracy is given is just part of the smokescreen as they can fool us lesser individuals as long as they properly indoctrinate us in how wonderful the US is and how lucky we all are to live here.

Best ras

I might buy that the current US system is an oligarchy, but a theocracy? Come on, to be a theocracy there would have to be an official state religion.

True, you could say the almighty dollar is worshipped in the USA, but it still is not a religion. This is not a theocracy.

My mistake, the government is an Oligarchy sorry about that.

Best ras

It is sad, but I can not disagree about the USA becoming an Oligarchy. Good observation there, gnosis.

I believe it; I wonder what it would take to create a system which would make the human race proud instead of ashamed.

I am convinced all humans are basically good; I'm going to have to get back to work on my book and see.

Best ras

Yes it would be good; by the way I failed to mention that the people running for higher office should also have to have an IQ of 145 or higher.

The reward these people would receive would not be wealth but just the satisfaction of doing well for others.

Best ras

gnosis, did you know that sociopaths are much more likely than the average person to have a high IQ? Yes, even 145 or higher.

Unfortunately, many very high IQ people become elitists who not only look down on mere lessor mortals but view them as sheep to be shorn. I have known a few of these high IQ people.

If there was such a requirement for high IQ to run for office, I absolutely promise the smartest bunch of crooks to ever steal a country would be in office in no time.

Basically, the intelligence requirement should be that if you are smart enough to get nominated, you are smart enough to run.

The notion of a super high IQ as a requirement to run for office makes me shudder because of the reality of the high IQ people I have known.

Now, if you can find a way to figure an Objectivity Quotient along with an Honesty Quotient, then I might go along with a requirement for only high IQ, OQ, and HQ candidates.

LOL; IQ, OQ and HQ now there is a grand idea I like it. I did not know 145 was such a high IQ, a bit above the average though.

No these political officials should be completely prevented from becoming crooked as all their assets had to be closely monitored. They would only be permitted to possess what the average American has. They would live on the salary of the average American and if they desired a raise we would all get one.

This monitoring would not only apply while they were in office however; it would continue through their lives and even things such as books they wrote would have all the profits go to road repair or pensions and such.

Best ras

The normal curve for IQ has a mean of 100 with a standard deviation of 15. This means an IQ of 115 is one standard deviation above the mean. This would be the 86th percentile. An IQ of 130 is 2 standard deviations above the mean or the 98th percentile. An IQ of 145 is 3 standard deviations above the mean. This only occurs something like one in about somewhere between 8 and 10 thousand individuals. An IQ of 160, 4 standard deviations above the mean is really only about as far as meaningful IQ measurement can be made. Higher IQ scores are really a lot of guess work.

Lack of understanding of all this is part of the reason why keepers of records don't like to release IQ scores.

Thank you for the information Red; I did not know there were that few people with an IQ over 145. What I did was just select an individual I knew the IQ of, thinking none dumber than him should sit in any public office.

Best ras

Look above for how we would prevent corruption in high office.

There would have to be control over dishonest corporation so I think it is a good idea. The corporation would not be run by the government but sold on the open market. All profits for such a sale would go to beautify the country and plant trees and parks etc.

Corporations which were seized would in that fashion not profit any one individual so crooks could not get away with confiscation. By the way all relatives and friends of government officials would also have to be very closely monitored. If any relatives were found to profit from dishonest officials they would also have to be properly punished.

Your idea about records being available over the internet is marvelous.

Best ras

Thank you manong; no business should be tax exempt, churches are just other businesses and need to pay their dues to society like every one else.

Are you also telling me that people that can't make any profit in any way are no better when they get into office?

Best ras

Getting into office means acquiring great power and influence, two necessary requirements for amassing great wealth. Once in a while politicians are asked to declare their SAL, statement of assets and liabilities and it is a well know fact that not everybody are honest in their declarations and still declarations show astronomical increase in the assets which is only the tip of the iceberg. Corrupt people have ingenious ways of circumventing the law. Properties acquired and businesses started are named under their relative's or friend's name and some under fictitious names.

When the judiciary and law enforcement agencies are corrupted, one loses hope in fighting corruption. Who will police the police? Who will judge the judges?

I totally agree with the doctrine of US style democracy but under the present circumstances, I would rather prefer a benovolent kind of dictatorship. A father figure who has a strong political will to effect changes.

Yes manong; democracy is a wonderful idea and if it arrives in any country we'll all be better off.

The way I see it the problem goes beyond our systems and rotten people. It would be easy to get away from candidates spending money on their elections so that is not the problem.

The situation you describe does seem hopeless, yet I do not think so. As I said; all people are basically honest. The only way I can forese to fix the problem is a major change in the philosophical/social beliefs society hold as true.

Best ras

I admire your optimism and trust of the human nature. Having said what I said above, I tend to look at the silver lining. You are right. Changes in people's philosophical thinking and world view can effect change, it may only take time but it can happen. For a certain idea to sink into the collective consiousness of the masses may take a generation or 2 but it can be done.

Cheers.

That reminds me; I have to get back to work on my book.

Best ras

Of course it can work; or do you mean that we can't even get to the advanced stage of the ancient Romans?

Yes the Romans had periods of corruption but also periods where they were led only by the best. Don't just look at the countries in which such measures fail; look for those countries where restrictions succeed in curbing corruption.

Best ras

You have to punish the person offering the bribe as well as the person accepting the bribe.

The dog eat dog world is the present we have received from those that will not obey rules. I'm tired of watching others push and shove, time to get civilization.

Best ras

Playing chess, what is his rating?

Something has to be done all right and if it is not bold it will be doomed to failure.

The rich and the poor never have enough money; that to me is poetic justice!

Best ras