Corruption is a disease, not a wound that we can just stitch up. There are long-term consequences to short-term increases in corruption: The 'market' (so to spe

Corruption is a disease, not a wound that we can just stitch up. There are long-term consequences to short-term increases in corruption: The 'market' (so to speak) selects for skill in corruption, not for economically productive skill; the talented and innovative get pushed aside by the corrupt. In addition, those in power don't come from a background or framework of hard work and innovation - they don't care about or understand those things; those in power develop proteges similarly skilled in corruption and have a vested interest in maintaining a power structure built on corruption. Many on HN have a vested interest in success resulting from hard work and innovation. You want to imagine that there's a free, mostly meritocratic market and that you can earn your success. You want to believe in the American Dream and Land of Opportunity. Those things didn't happen by accident or providence; generations worked very hard to provide it, and the only thing that will preserve it is us (and improve it - we should give something better to the next generation, just like our ancestors did). There's nobody else who is coming to save the day for you. That's the hope of democracy. The best news is, it's worked out really, really well in the past.