4 ms·

Something similar, to a lesser extreme, exists in Egypt. I believe this isn't an issue of security but an issue with the profits telecoms make on international

Something similar, to a lesser extreme, exists in Egypt. I believe this isn't an issue of security but an issue with the profits telecoms make on international calls. Telecom Egypt is sustaining significant losses due to VOIP and I assume it must be the same with Ethio Telco.

mjwalshe 14y ago
Yep that is why in third world coutries the PTT minister is a highly desireable job - lots of opertunities for diverting cash to ones swiss bank account.
- yread 14y ago
  Thank God it only happens in third world countries! We sure know better than these savages
  - rfrey 14y ago
    Cleptocracies exist. Systematic diversion of state and aid resources to personal accounts is a real and persistent problem in many parts of the world. To not acknowledge that out of fear of appearing neo-colonialist is, I think, misguided. Certainly North America and Europe (I assume that's what you meant by "we") have corruption issues, especially with deferred bribes in the form of industry appointments, and contract money flowing to well-connected companies. But that's decidedly different than seeing large percentages of tax revenue ending up as personal property, or state industries like telecoms being awarded as personal fiefdoms to cronies, who then use revenues like a piggy bank. "Political correctness" is not a dirty word in my vocabulary -- I usually see it as sensitivity or tact -- but censoring our appraisal of corrupt governments because there are elements of corruption in the west, out of fear we'll be accused of hypocrisy or colonialism, is not helpful.
    - mjwalshe 14y ago
      well shall we say south of the border there was lots of Qustionable conduct "Hem Hem" - though Argentina expropraiting Telefonicas assets gave me a good laugh.
  - GoodIntentions 14y ago
    >> third world countries like Canada. regulatory capture + an effective duopoly means I get to pay for gold plated service and actually get telcom services that the rest of the world laughs at.
  - mjwalshe 14y ago
    Well The USA's botched derglation and mobile where the caller pays are another example of messed up telecoms.

mjwalshe 14y ago

Yep that is why in third world coutries the PTT minister is a highly desireable job - lots of opertunities for diverting cash to ones swiss bank account.

yread 14y ago
Thank God it only happens in third world countries! We sure know better than these savages
- rfrey 14y ago
  Cleptocracies exist. Systematic diversion of state and aid resources to personal accounts is a real and persistent problem in many parts of the world. To not acknowledge that out of fear of appearing neo-colonialist is, I think, misguided. Certainly North America and Europe (I assume that's what you meant by "we") have corruption issues, especially with deferred bribes in the form of industry appointments, and contract money flowing to well-connected companies. But that's decidedly different than seeing large percentages of tax revenue ending up as personal property, or state industries like telecoms being awarded as personal fiefdoms to cronies, who then use revenues like a piggy bank. "Political correctness" is not a dirty word in my vocabulary -- I usually see it as sensitivity or tact -- but censoring our appraisal of corrupt governments because there are elements of corruption in the west, out of fear we'll be accused of hypocrisy or colonialism, is not helpful.
  - mjwalshe 14y ago
    well shall we say south of the border there was lots of Qustionable conduct "Hem Hem" - though Argentina expropraiting Telefonicas assets gave me a good laugh.
- GoodIntentions 14y ago
  >> third world countries like Canada. regulatory capture + an effective duopoly means I get to pay for gold plated service and actually get telcom services that the rest of the world laughs at.
- mjwalshe 14y ago
  Well The USA's botched derglation and mobile where the caller pays are another example of messed up telecoms.