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I see points on both sides. Corruption has existed as long as lying - since forever. But the scale of corruption is greater than ever before possible, as globa

I see points on both sides. Corruption has existed as long as lying - since forever. But the scale of corruption is greater than ever before possible, as globalization allows moneyed, corrupt, and powerful players to pull up the ladder for entire countries. The Internet and modern transportation means you could move you in a day and your and entire stash in a moment - to whatever end of the earth you choose. It's a big planet. Not so easy for the fleeing nobles of the French Revolution. And here in the States - and my home state of New York in particular - the line between corruption and expected business is very blurry. For example, lawmakers in Albany are allowed to make money on outside income, but what if that outside income relies on your legislation? Obviously that is corrupt (and has seen two prominent assemblymen convicted of felonies recently), but what if a lawmaker the next office over - a respected geologist - consults for fracking firms looking to drill in NY while working with other senators to get Governor Cuomo's fracking ban overturned? I'm sure many people would say yes, but what if instead that same lawmaker consulted environmental groups (for pay) about the risks and dangers of fracking while staunchly siding with Cuomo's moratorium? Is that also corrupt, even if we like that course of action more than the other? Unfortunately, the more these things get brought to light, the more people call for transparency, and the powers that be work ever harder to obfuscate their actions. Even Barack Obama is guilty of this: he came into office promising the most transparent administration in US history, and has since set the record for classifications and federal charges under the Espionage Act (of 1917! As in, more than anyone else during the whole Cold War!). Sorry to end on a bummer. I don't really know how to fix such a system from top to bottom.

marcosdumay 11y ago
Whatever is the correct historic comparison, I don't think there is any top-down cure for corruption. I take peace from the fact that, at least until my country gets into Switzerland level of corruption, it's a known fact that there is room to improve.
- dba7dba 11y ago
  Switzerland? The nation where all those money made from corruption is deposited for safe keeping?
  - marcosdumay 11y ago
    Yes, take a look at their politics. There's a reason they are that rich, and it is not because half a dozen people benefit from international corruption. But if you know of an even better example, great, share it.
    - rm_-rf_slash 11y ago
      >Yes, take a look at their politics. There's a reason they are that rich, and it is not because half a dozen people benefit from international corruption. Well duh, everyone knows that. Switzerland is rich because a hell of a lot of people benefit from international corruption. >But if you know of an even better example, great, share it. Singapore. And possibly Lichtenstein.
scotty79 11y ago
> Corruption has existed as long as lying - since forever. I think rather as long as power over other people. Corruption only exists if some people can decide about other peoples money (resources in general).
- oska 11y ago
  Good point. Hard to imagine much corruption in a hunter-gatherer society. In fact, I think status in those societies was often gained by sharing (e.g. sharing the meat from a kill).

marcosdumay 11y ago

Whatever is the correct historic comparison, I don't think there is any top-down cure for corruption. I take peace from the fact that, at least until my country gets into Switzerland level of corruption, it's a known fact that there is room to improve.

dba7dba 11y ago
Switzerland? The nation where all those money made from corruption is deposited for safe keeping?
- marcosdumay 11y ago
  Yes, take a look at their politics. There's a reason they are that rich, and it is not because half a dozen people benefit from international corruption. But if you know of an even better example, great, share it.
  - rm_-rf_slash 11y ago
    >Yes, take a look at their politics. There's a reason they are that rich, and it is not because half a dozen people benefit from international corruption. Well duh, everyone knows that. Switzerland is rich because a hell of a lot of people benefit from international corruption. >But if you know of an even better example, great, share it. Singapore. And possibly Lichtenstein.

scotty79 11y ago

> Corruption has existed as long as lying - since forever. I think rather as long as power over other people. Corruption only exists if some people can decide about other peoples money (resources in general).

oska 11y ago
Good point. Hard to imagine much corruption in a hunter-gatherer society. In fact, I think status in those societies was often gained by sharing (e.g. sharing the meat from a kill).