Your Take: Government Corruption

Normally, I'd post this recap a solid week after I put the question to the readers. But somehow, discussion political corruption and Christmas didn't mix well in my mind (think coffee and stirfry, bleck). So here it is.

A week and a half ago, I asked you fine readers just how corrupt you thought politicians are. Here's what I heard back.

Nicole, in Iowa left a comment:

"OK, so my two cents, since I actually am from IL. I've talked to people from all over the nation about the Blago case, and there are two mentalities. Anyone who isn't from IL says, zomg, this is horrible, I can believe someone would do this.

Everyone that I know from IL? Oh, hey, the sky is still blue, and pig shit still stinks.

Honestly, the amount of corruption depends on the politician, and the location. IL(Chicago specifically) has a long history of all sorts of political fraud. It's why this story doesn't shock me one bit. Take this case to backwater Montana though, and I think that the people living there wouldn't know what hit them."

Dr. Joe, in Oxford OH also commented:

"After taking a full semester course on the interrelations between business, law, and ethics, there is one overarching lesson I have learned--We all have a little larceny in our hearts. No matter how well we mean in our actions or intentions, everyone is at some point tempted to commit an act that is unethical or unjust. While many of us choose to resist this temptation most of the time, it is natural that at some point, the bough will break, and we will put a thumb on the scale or artfully bend a rule to our or a friend's advantage.

The decision to do this or not depends greatly on the environment around the situation, and the consequences surrounding the action. If a meter maid taking a bribe stands to lose his/her job to help a stranger, it probably won't happen. But in Illinois politics, where corruption is common, and you have to play the game to get ahead, it's certainly a lot more probable that the ethical core is slightly altered to fit the new arena. The great challenge is to tackle a poor environment, and work to change it. Not an easy task. "

Teresa in Boston clicked the comment link (edits mine for clarity):

"I know this might not be the most positive of the feedback but each case is so different it really depends on the players involved for me to [decide to] get angry at a guy walking free from his 472347238 DUI, [or to get upset when an official takes] a $20 or $50 bill slipped to someone to let something they caught doing pass/slide.

I see "higher ups" getting caught for horrid crimes (ENRON) but it is way after the permenant damage is done I often ask myself who the fuck is policing these people??? Now...I am not a fan of any shape or form of a big brother but some sort of watchful eye is needed. Human is to weakness as money is to greed and when people come into power they shall seek [more] until they are full. (Usually a person in power just wants more power so this is just a cycle really.)

Corruption is pretty rampant today (in the largest and smallest sense)."

Veronica from Chicago chimed in on the comment page:

"I tend to wonder whether this kind of politics always existed and is just coming to light right now, or whether it has just gotten worse in the more recent future ..."

And Jameel in Cincinnati left a comment on my Facebook import of this post (I trimmed out portions for brevity...definitly go read the full version on Facebook):

"I've recently, due to extenuating circumstances, come under the unfortunate direct demographic of both Michael Savage and Sean Hannity. Sean Hannity, because he's such a genius and a great American, has said repeatedly on national radio, to everyone insane enough to listen, that he doesn't know any comparable example in American history of politics and business and government being as corrupt as they are today.

Does the Gilded Age not ring any bells? Everyone in the country that had any authority was corrupt in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. [...] I think corruption today is exactly as bad as it was over 100 years ago. The government is not rampant with corruption and dishonorable behavior. You're not getting anything but a court date if you try to slip a meter maid $20, or walking free from repeat offenses.

However, unfortunately, I do have first hand experience with the legal system, [...] but the legal system isn't corrupt so much as it is bull crap. The legal system in regards to non-felonious and civil matters serves no purpose but to perpetuate a cycle of non-tax income for local governments. [...] If you are a repeat offender on misdemeanors like DUI, the law technically puts you in jail for however long. In the time I've spent in court, though, I've seen repeat DUI offenders, repeat non-licensed offenders, people without insurance, who have well established histories of the same offense, get off with nothing more than a veritable slap on the wrist, zero jail time, and minimal fees.

Btw lol at American Gangster reference, twas a good movie."

And that's all she wrote, folks. Thanks for your thoughts and thank you even more for taking the time to share them on my blog! Tune in next week for another chance to throw your two pennies at me.