4 ms·

While this is true (that diplomatic immunity poses problems with some diplomats heavily abusing it, while there doesn't seem to be a good way to punish them for

While this is true (that diplomatic immunity poses problems with some diplomats heavily abusing it, while there doesn't seem to be a good way to punish them for it), it at least is a phenomenon that can be seen as a cost to bear for a greater good: protecting representatives of other countries from becoming targets of a sort of "state-organized bullying" by the officials in power, which often makes it possible for these representatives to enter foreign states in the first place and which thus can be seen as a mutual agreement that fosters peaceful diplomatic exchange between countries. For these weird PBA cards, I can't see any positive effect for society as a whole that could be brought up in their defense. This is clearly a form of institutionalized corruption, pressed into a handy credit-card format, and it is unworthy of a country like the United States.

goialoq 9y ago
What country _is_ it worthy of? Think carefully about the implications of your answer.
- watwut 9y ago
  "What country _is_ it worthy of? " For any country that is weak and unpopular currently.
- Slartie 9y ago
  I was thinking along the lines of "a country that makes no secret of the fact that the ones who happen to have power due to their status in society (whether based on their wealth, social influence or whatever else) are free to use this power for their personal benefit without regard for any ethical concerns and especially without regard for the well-being of others". Such a hypothetical country would be worthy of corruption, as corruption would be a perfectly reasonable and expected part of their inner workings. But...I don't find any real existing country that fully matches this description. There are countries in which this unbounded "rule of the powerful" practically exists, but they all try to sugar-coat it, which effectively makes them unworthy of corruption.

goialoq 9y ago

What country _is_ it worthy of? Think carefully about the implications of your answer.

watwut 9y ago
"What country _is_ it worthy of? " For any country that is weak and unpopular currently.
Slartie 9y ago
I was thinking along the lines of "a country that makes no secret of the fact that the ones who happen to have power due to their status in society (whether based on their wealth, social influence or whatever else) are free to use this power for their personal benefit without regard for any ethical concerns and especially without regard for the well-being of others". Such a hypothetical country would be worthy of corruption, as corruption would be a perfectly reasonable and expected part of their inner workings. But...I don't find any real existing country that fully matches this description. There are countries in which this unbounded "rule of the powerful" practically exists, but they all try to sugar-coat it, which effectively makes them unworthy of corruption.