[quote=AN]CAR, seriously, you’ve lost all credibility in my eyes after your first sentence. If you think the level of corruption here is anywhere close to what’s in China or Vietnam, then you’re gravely mistaken. If occupied wall street happen in Vietnam or China, they would disappear. I’d like to see examples of custom officers here taking bribe openly and if you don’t bribe them, they’ll open your stuff for no reason. Custom officers over there will laugh and give back your $20 bribe. I’d like to see examples of city officials taking bribes for approving of projects and taking city general funds for personal use.[/quote]
AN, FIH is correct about our system of corruption being established within the legitimate political system. Not only that, but the kind of corruption that you’ve specifically noted is absolutely going on here.
Do you really believe that city officials don’t take bribes to approve certain projects? How about when they push to build infrastructure that serves to increase the value of specific properties that just happen to be owned by friends, family members, or “connected supporters”? What about when they force a public agency to grossly overpay for a property that belongs to a special friend? All of this, and much, much more, goes on all the time.
And don’t even get me started on the defense industry!
Here’s a list of some of the top lobbyists. This does not include campaign donations, jobs for friends and family members, various unaccounted-for gifts, and the promise of jobs in the very industries that many of the politicians are supposed to be regulating.
Why do you think billions upon billions of dollars are spent on politicians between every election cycle? Why do you think there is such a crowded revolving door between public office and private industry?
Who do you think writes our laws? Our trade agreements? Who do you think determines whether or not we go to war and how the wars will be run? Who do you think chooses the “anointed” candidates in an election? The politicians are simply puppets for the people who run the show. All of this is done by industry and their lobbyists.
Sorry, AN, but you’re just not familiar with what goes on here. The deeper you look into it, the more surprised you’ll be. For every person who gets caught, there are hundreds (or more) who are not. And those who are caught are usually caught only because they are guilty of pissing off the wrong people.
Corruption is rampant. It is how business gets done in politics.
