23 Jul 07
Originally posted by zeeblebotCayman Islands is one place. I lived and worked there in the finance industry. there for about 10 years. The banks are only now (about 3 years now) starting to investigate sources of funds and now tend to refuse 'fishy' money.
i wonder where they're stashing all that cash ...
23 Jul 07
Originally posted by PalynkaLet me clear this up for you and Bosse. I did not mean to imply that ONLY AFRICA has corruption. Its only in Africa most of the countries have such blantant largescale corruption. I notice Bosse spoke of corruption in China and corrupt officials being executed. Cant seem to remember that happening in Africa. Hence the term blatant ... its a accepted way of life in Africa. In other parts of the world if you are caught there are dire consequenses.
Sorry, I missed the context. I didn't realize that Raj said "only African countries". Of course that's a ridiculous statement...
23 Jul 07
Originally posted by Bosse de NagePersonally, no. I don't think being educated is relevant in having greasy pockets, only that people in positions of power are more likely to be educated (belonging to powerful families, for example).
Do you think that there is a link between education and corruption? You have to be quite educated to perpetrate white-collar crime, I think.
If anything, the correlation is spurious in my opinion.
23 Jul 07
Originally posted by Rajk999Makes you wonder how is it that only African countries have such blatant large scale corruption.
Let me clear this up for you and Bosse. I did not mean to imply that ONLY AFRICA has corruption. Its only in Africa most of the countries have such blantant largescale corruption. I notice Bosse spoke of corruption in China and corrupt officials being executed. Cant seem to remember that happening in Africa. Hence the term blatant ... its a accepted way of life in Africa. In other parts of the world if you are caught there are dire consequenses.
Do you retract this statement then?
23 Jul 07
Originally posted by PalynkaThe best thing now is to allow the Africans to develop in their own way.
Makes you wonder how is it that only African countries have such blatant large scale corruption.
Do you retract this statement then?
Stop all interference, both politically and financially, since such interference merely results in maintaining the staus quo , leaves their corrupt rulers in power, and reduces the population to the role of starving beggars.
23 Jul 07
Originally posted by AlcibiadesCan you explain futher why you think this would be best ?
The best thing now is to allow the Africans to develop in their own way.
Stop all interference, both politically and financially, since such interference merely results in maintaining the staus quo , leaves their corrupt rulers in power, and reduces the population to the role of starving beggars.
I tend to strongly disagree.
23 Jul 07
Originally posted by Rajk999If you look closely, I started to contribute this thread by defending that corruption is a very serious problem in Africa, one of the most important ones actually. So I was agreeing with you, in some way. But then ATY pointed out that you had said "only African countries" and I couldn't agree with that statement.
Would it make you feel better ?
OK .. statement withdrawn.
And it does make me feel a little better that you don't think that way and it was just a communication problem. The world is a better place when less people think the way I thought you did.
23 Jul 07
Originally posted by PalynkaEducated people tend are more aware and knowledgeable. In additon they are more likely to have decent jobs and an acceptable standard of living. The point is when you are struggling to feed yourself and your family the last thing on your mind would be corruption.
Personally, no. I don't think being educated is relevant in having greasy pockets, only that people in positions of power are more likely to be educated (belonging to powerful families, for example).
If anything, the correlation is spurious in my opinion.
23 Jul 07
Originally posted by Rajk999I agree. But Bosse was asking about the relationship between propensity to commit the crime of corruption and education. At least that's how I read it.
Educated people tend are more aware and knowledgeable. In additon they are more likely to have decent jobs and an acceptable standard of living. The point is when you are struggling to feed yourself and your family the last thing on your mind would be corruption.
23 Jul 07
Originally posted by PalynkaOk so we agree that Africa has a very serious corruption problem. Whether or not it is the worst region in the world for corruption is irrelevant to this thread.
If you look closely, I started to contribute this thread by defending that corruption is a very serious problem in Africa, one of the most important ones actually. So I was agreeing with you, in some way. But then ATY pointed out that you had said "only African countries" and I couldn't agree with that statement.
And it does make me feel a little better t ...[text shortened]... ation problem. The world is a better place when less people think the way I thought you did.
I sometimes like to say things in stronger language than necessary so that people will respond and say something.
So lets concentrate on WHY ? and HOW it can be dealt with.
I say the solution lies partly in :
- widespread education (should automatically lead to population reduction)
- foreign investment to provide jobs for locals
- creating institutions run by donor countries to manage and monitor funds and grants so that money does not go directly to govt coffers.
23 Jul 07
Originally posted by Rajk999I don't have any solutions for "Africa". I think that a country-based approach would be preferable, considering the number of completely different cultures and economies. This means I would have to study each country to propose a solution.
Ok so we agree that Africa has a very serious corruption problem. Whether or not it is the worst region in the world for corruption is irrelevant to this thread.
I sometimes like to say things in stronger language than necessary so that people will respond and say something.
So lets concentrate on WHY ? and HOW it can be dealt with.
I say the solut ...[text shortened]... tries to manage and monitor funds and grants so that money does not go directly to govt coffers.
23 Jul 07
Originally posted by Rajk999From whose perspective are we talking? Cleaning up that corruption from the perspective of an American is quite different from how to do so from the perspective of the Nigerians.
Ok so we agree that Africa has a very serious corruption problem. Whether or not it is the worst region in the world for corruption is irrelevant to this thread.
I sometimes like to say things in stronger language than necessary so that people will respond and say something.
So lets concentrate on WHY ? and HOW it can be dealt with.
I say the solut ...[text shortened]... tries to manage and monitor funds and grants so that money does not go directly to govt coffers.
24 Jul 07
Originally posted by Rajk999The Iraq war has been one of the largest 'corruption events' in history with the US being a major participant in the corruption.
Makes you wonder how is it that only African countries have such blatant large scale corruption.
US politics could correctly be described as 'large scale corruption' with the candidates with the most money usually wining and the majority of their funds being essentially bribes. Making it legal doesn't mean it isn't corruption.
In Zambia, a large proportion of the corruption involves foreign companies, governments, and aid agencies which are usually fully aware of, or active participants in the corruption.
Also most of Africa is poor and not well educated and both factors breed corruption. I notice also that on the site quoted earlier in the thread the worst rated African countries are ones experiencing civil war.