Corruption... is it an Individual sickness or a National disease?
By wysecom
@wysecom (346)
South Africa
January 9, 2012 1:05am CST
Every year, the list of corrupt countries is published either based on reality or perception. The panel of judges have their personal bones to pick with these countries without loosing sight of the expectations of their sponsors.
Either a country in the Far-East wins the uncoveted trophy or one in Africa takes the gold as the most corrupt. EU has a serious corruption problem as discussed in their last meeting which nearly cost Greece their place. Italy, Spain, etc are wobbling in the same mud but they are never rated as corrupt.
It seems that when a country plays ball with the major world economies, answering yes to everything, such a country is not-corrupt but immediately the country starts bargaining, their image descends with the corruption tag.
But most of the monies from corruption are found in US and EU banks. For corruption to be effected, there must be at least two parties involved. Who started corruption and who corrupted who? Is it a whole country which is corrupt or the individual involved in it? Has this global disease touched your country in some form? Have you ever sufferred a loss or been inconvenienced by corrupt practices?
To me, it seems corruption is everywhere but is it an individual sickness or a national disease?
Talk to me.
5 responses
@jeanneyvonne (5501)
• Philippines
9 Jan 12
You opened a very big can of worms in this discussion. Some of your questions are pretty much rhetorical - it's very hard to pinpoint where it all began and how will it end. The only thing the counts now is the present and how governments and society are trying to do with corruption. Its very ideal to do this noble piece of work but it's very hard, complicated and somebody will be trying to cover their bottom.
Truth is, every country has corruption in one way or another. It lurks in the shadows. For some reason, people complain about it but usually ignore it. There is always something lacking and it never goes away (if that is even possible).
Personally, it is national disease becuase it is involved with the system of governance. It involves a lot of people whether they admit or not, and it also takes a lot of people to get rid of it and make sure it never comes back.
@wysecom (346)
• South Africa
11 Jan 12
If every country has corruption in someway, how come some are rated as the worst and others the best in corruption? Or are some corruption better than the others i.e. are ther worst forms of corruption; if so, which ones should be indulged in?
It shouldn't be hard to pinpoint the origin of it. eradicating this practice should not be hard either. Could it mean, from your write-up that even the most honest government worker is still corrupt? But corruption is not only in government circles.
Nothing goes away on its own; things have to be pushed away and corruption is one of those things or have come to accept it as a way and part of life?
Not everybody is corrupt, or .....
@jeanneyvonne (5501)
• Philippines
12 Jan 12
Two things. Ranking in any context is always subjective, even with substantial information. My top ten of anything would not be exactly your top ten of the same thing. It's like surveys - the guy who paid for the surveys pretty much get what he wants. He might just want additional information to confirm his interests.
I don't assume that all the people in the government are corrupt. It's a disservice to the people who really want to do public service. However, most of the prominent people in politics are. They are the ones who mostly holds the purse strings and usually use their clout.
I still held the belief that corruption exits becuase of the syustem. Clean the system and you might have a good go at eradicating corruption.
@urbandekay (18278)
•
9 Jan 12
Of course, the law never made a man a whit more just but good, just laws and a balance of powers reduce temptation, thus corruption is both a vice of the individual and the culture.
all the best urban
@wysecom (346)
• South Africa
11 Jan 12
Upon which definition are you basing your opinion? I have never known you to be vague in your arguments.
Come to think of it, corruption is an English word, could it be that corruption started fron the British land and moved through its former colonies to the rest of the world? In my native language, words like corruption, bribery, fraud, embezzle, etc do not have a 'word' rather a lengthy winding explanation.
where then did corruption emerge from?
@urbandekay (18278)
•
12 Jan 12
I think corruption starts as soon as language starts.
Please clarify, what exactly is vague in my post
all the best urban
@megamatt (14292)
• United States
11 Jan 12
I say it is an international, a global disease, and the cause would be...well since the beginning of anyone being in power. The problem is that there are a lot of people who start out with the best intentions or what they assume to be the best intentions. Of course, even the best intentions really can get twisted and turned to a rather awful direction.
Corruption starts out innocently enough every single time, before it rather turns to something. It does seem to be just something that goes along with having the power to govern people. There are just a lot of people who just cannot handle that great responsibility that does in fact come with great power. There are people who start off small, and I think that getting away with corruption small doses is actually more damning when you think about it. They start doing more and more and its off to the races.
@wysecom (346)
• South Africa
11 Jan 12
You have exploded the whole topic to the global dimension, I don't know if I would be able to anchor it but will try. If corruption goes with governance, I can see the relationship between governance and management; therefore, corruption could be found wherever authority has been given to someone to rule and lead others.
Where do we start in the campaign to eradicate this evil monster? Do you then think that fighting the smaller eruptions of corruption could put a deterrent stitch against corruption in bigger dimensions? Could checks and counter-checks produce some effects? Have you seen a government which has really fought and won the battle against corruption? If the people engage in the fight, would there be success?
@moneylots87 (521)
• Indonesia
9 Jan 12
Oh my... My country is the worst from all around the world for corruption! *thumb down* And its both individual sickness and national desease here! *confused* I hate my country! :(
@wysecom (346)
• South Africa
11 Jan 12
Which is your country, Vietnam, Nigeria, or where?
You cannot hate your country for having corruption tagged on it. Are you corrupt and should I hate you for that reason?
What effort have you made to change the system in your little way? What do you think can be done to undo the evils of corruption? Do you think the next generation is already affected or recruited into the club?
@rubbershot (173)
• Kenya
30 Jan 12
Corruption has existed since time imemorial. It is every where, and touches us everyday, from bribing to get service to bribing for a contract.
