7 ms·

A very long and interesting read…a true story of how incessant corruption and incompetence is making my country fall apart daily…but sure, people still continue

A very long and interesting read…a true story of how incessant corruption and incompetence is making my country fall apart daily…but sure, people still continue to vote in the corrupt and inept leaders. I honestly think people largely get what they deserve. We’ve decided to shun competence and embrace corruption…no surprise we’re seeing the results in a failed economy. Really hope the Labour Party candidate wins the upcoming Presidential election, or else we’re f**ed. Even if that happens, there’s still a massive uphill battle because corruption is embedded from top to bottom.

2Gkashmiri 4y ago
> honestly think people largely get what they deserve. >but sure, people still continue to vote in the corrupt and inept leaders. i live in a military state so i don't see much of "democracy". Many years ago, 1986 to be exact, people came out and there was a grassroots level movement for "rights" and people did lots of campaigning and the whole exercise of "elections" but the union government saw that as an attack on their iron grip and the elections were rigged. Since then, we've had elections in the last 20 odd years but EVERYONE in the elections process is inept and corrupt and a "paid shill". it really doesn't matter who we vote (we don't cast votes for that reason) because it is a bad choice vs bad choice. No one wants to "stand up" because the whole system locally and the overlords in the union government do NOT allow anyone who would threaten their control and their control means these corrupt people should remain in power. we've all but given up on this whole thing so yeah. It gets tiring. >We’ve decided to shun competence and embrace corruption…no surprise we’re seeing the results in a failed economy. we have only bad options so it is a pointless exercise "choosing between them" so we decide to forgo the whole sham exercise. well, that is just me so take whatever you can from this
- nisegami 4y ago
  The only language the state speaks is violence. Until you meet them where they are, your people cannot effect change.
  - MathMonkeyMan 4y ago
    Maybe this is true. I'm an American and I know Americans who speak this way, but none of them have ever fought against a corrupt domestic foe. And how often do the violent victors reveal their true ambitions? To be exactly those they deposed.
    - deleted 4y ago
      [deleted]
trabant00 4y ago
I thought a lot about this being from a country with severe corruption problems, although not nearly as bad as yours. I agree that in these situations "people largely get what they deserve" but I don't think the problem is that they vote for corrupt leaders. I think the problem is the people themselves, their culture and values are a lot more corrupt compared to a civilized country. You can observe corruption at every level, not just the top, a fact that you mention as well. Even the poorest people, the ones who are victims of corruption are just as corrupt themselves. They are exploiting any opportunity to steal for themselves and would not change a thing given significant power but only steal more. I don't know if I made myself understood, my point is I don't think this is a situation you can vote yourself out of. I honestly don't know what can be done in such situations.
- pydry 4y ago
  It's neither values or "people getting what they deserve". Nor is it "socialism". Resources are just a curse. When resources dominate an economy like in Venezuela or Nigeria or Iraq or Russia then the spoils get contested and that fighting inevitably leads to unstable governments, authoritarianism, corruption, economic stagnation, etc. etc. The only country to really escape the resource curse is Norway and that's likely coz they were discovered quite late after they had developed a high trust society and were able to manage the spoils effectively and fairly. They're the exception not the rule.
  - trabant00 4y ago
    Eastern Europe (where I'm from) has no significant resources. The corruption is still rampant. So there must be another cause.
    - pydry 4y ago
      Eastern Europe has been routinely contested territory by great powers for the past 1000 years. It's got very unfortunate geography.
      - 4y ago
kwere 4y ago
i read there is now a big divide across religious lines, muslim in the north an christian in the north, with muslim voters being more tribalist and in group biased, resulting in some of the most flashiest corrupt leaders in office, is it real or more like journalistic bias? how common folks deal with political corruption?
- boeingUH60 4y ago
  This is exactly how it is…The Northern people largely vote according to tribe and religion, competence be damned. No surprise they’re the poorest and most decrepit region…yet they keep voting for the same set of nincompoop leaders.

2Gkashmiri 4y ago

> honestly think people largely get what they deserve. >but sure, people still continue to vote in the corrupt and inept leaders. i live in a military state so i don't see much of "democracy". Many years ago, 1986 to be exact, people came out and there was a grassroots level movement for "rights" and people did lots of campaigning and the whole exercise of "elections" but the union government saw that as an attack on their iron grip and the elections were rigged. Since then, we've had elections in the last 20 odd years but EVERYONE in the elections process is inept and corrupt and a "paid shill". it really doesn't matter who we vote (we don't cast votes for that reason) because it is a bad choice vs bad choice. No one wants to "stand up" because the whole system locally and the overlords in the union government do NOT allow anyone who would threaten their control and their control means these corrupt people should remain in power. we've all but given up on this whole thing so yeah. It gets tiring. >We’ve decided to shun competence and embrace corruption…no surprise we’re seeing the results in a failed economy. we have only bad options so it is a pointless exercise "choosing between them" so we decide to forgo the whole sham exercise. well, that is just me so take whatever you can from this

nisegami 4y ago
The only language the state speaks is violence. Until you meet them where they are, your people cannot effect change.
- MathMonkeyMan 4y ago
  Maybe this is true. I'm an American and I know Americans who speak this way, but none of them have ever fought against a corrupt domestic foe. And how often do the violent victors reveal their true ambitions? To be exactly those they deposed.
  - deleted 4y ago
    [deleted]

trabant00 4y ago

I thought a lot about this being from a country with severe corruption problems, although not nearly as bad as yours. I agree that in these situations "people largely get what they deserve" but I don't think the problem is that they vote for corrupt leaders. I think the problem is the people themselves, their culture and values are a lot more corrupt compared to a civilized country. You can observe corruption at every level, not just the top, a fact that you mention as well. Even the poorest people, the ones who are victims of corruption are just as corrupt themselves. They are exploiting any opportunity to steal for themselves and would not change a thing given significant power but only steal more. I don't know if I made myself understood, my point is I don't think this is a situation you can vote yourself out of. I honestly don't know what can be done in such situations.

pydry 4y ago
It's neither values or "people getting what they deserve". Nor is it "socialism". Resources are just a curse. When resources dominate an economy like in Venezuela or Nigeria or Iraq or Russia then the spoils get contested and that fighting inevitably leads to unstable governments, authoritarianism, corruption, economic stagnation, etc. etc. The only country to really escape the resource curse is Norway and that's likely coz they were discovered quite late after they had developed a high trust society and were able to manage the spoils effectively and fairly. They're the exception not the rule.
- trabant00 4y ago
  Eastern Europe (where I'm from) has no significant resources. The corruption is still rampant. So there must be another cause.
  - pydry 4y ago
    Eastern Europe has been routinely contested territory by great powers for the past 1000 years. It's got very unfortunate geography.
    - 4y ago

kwere 4y ago

i read there is now a big divide across religious lines, muslim in the north an christian in the north, with muslim voters being more tribalist and in group biased, resulting in some of the most flashiest corrupt leaders in office, is it real or more like journalistic bias? how common folks deal with political corruption?

boeingUH60 4y ago
This is exactly how it is…The Northern people largely vote according to tribe and religion, competence be damned. No surprise they’re the poorest and most decrepit region…yet they keep voting for the same set of nincompoop leaders.