Corruption in small populations (like our Congress)

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

Corruption seems to flourishes among smaller populations, where just a few bad apples really can spoil a whole barrel. (Sorry for the cliche, but everyone once in a while you realize WHY a cliche is a cliche) A few corrupt people CAN manage to convince the unblemished that corruption is an accepted model of behavior among the small population.


Upon first encountering corruption in your group, you have choices to make:

*Join in, because everyone does it and it's accepted behavior in the group
*Don't join in but don't condemn either - no rocking the boat,these are your friends and co-workers after all
*Don't join in and but condemn openly at the same time and make a conscious effort to change the consensus of what is acceptable
*Don't join in AND blow the whistle on people so that they receive a swift and terrible punishment that serves as a detriment not just to the small population but to any outsiders who might be observing

Let's examine corruption of public officials.

They live in a small population by definition. They are truly the "elite" - people that have been chosen by a larger group to look after the common welfare and make decisions on their behalf. There is probably no greater trust in our society. And, so often, we find that trust violated. We find that some representatives of the people are able to put the welfare of the population behind the welfare of themselves and often family members. Good old-fashioned GREED is most often the fueling factor with Power as the propellant.

Who can forget Abscam with the happy representatives stuffing wads of bills in their suits? The ill-gotten gain may be large or it might be small. It might be cash in a brown paper bag or it might be a future lobbying position in an industry one is currently regulating. Or perhaps a cushy job for a spouse or son or daughter. But, no one is giving out the cash or jobs for nothing, are they? It's the quid for the other quid.

A representative can even be corrupt independent of outside influences. Examples would be Earmarks that benefit family members or legislation that enriches industries or companies that you or your family have an interest in.

*******************************************************************************************************************************
Rhode Island Segue (skip if you like)

If anyone would like some entertaining (in a ghoulish way) and informative reading about public corruption I strongly encourage you to go the website of the Providence Journal and read the Special report there on Operation Dollar Bill, a public corruption scandal that involved hospitals, Blue Cross, and CVS among others and that took down much of the leadership of the Rhode Island statehouse and a few highly placed executives to boot. Read everything!! It's a great case study of corruption in action and let's you see all the ins and outs of how a legislature can benefit their friends and punish their enemies.

Little Rhody is famous for the width and breadth of their public corruption. I know I've posted about it before, but I keep seeing it as a miniaturization of things that are going on in a national level. They are the Pee Wee league, but they are playing the same game as the Majors. *****************************************************************************************************************************

My friends, there is something wrong and deeply troubling. Our small population of elected representatives is clearly corrupted.

I offer as prima facie evidence #1 that they voted on a Medicaid Prescription Drug Act that FORBADE negotiating a reduced price on prescription drugs based on volume as EVERY OTHER COUNTRY does. Why would they have a vote like that, that clearly is to the benefit of an industry over the benefit to the citizens?

I offer as prima facie evidence #2 that they ignore legal subpoenas that they themselves have issued and have made no effort of enforcement.

I offer as prima facie evidence #3 that they passed a bill that essentially condoned and pardoned the illegal acts of companies that surveilled American citizens without warrant.

I offer as prima facie evidence #4 the fact that they will NOT open impeachment investigations of a President, A Vice President, an Attorney General, A Secretary of State and others who have committed a MULTITUDE of illegal acts that have been widely reported under the guise that doing so would be "divisive".

Now, under the weight of all this, I have to conclude that if they won't "throw the bums out", then they are bums themselves. The whole barrel, my fellow Americans, is spoiled.









(Edited to delete contest and other irrelevant asides. I really was trying to be serious with this post and then I ruined it with my whoring for readers with my joke fake contest. I apologize.)

[The Straight Story]

1. Just the word itself or a variation of it (ala adding 'tion' at the end)

:)

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

3. The word and all it's variations.

I LIKE people who pay attention to the details!!!

(Although that was how I was going to deny you the prize later, by claiming that you hadn't read the fine print):P

[The Straight Story]

5. Hmmm, all variations eh - how about synonyms like these

:rofl:

Sense 1:
corrupt, pervert, subvert, demoralize, demoralise, debauch, debase, profane, vitiate, deprave, misdirect
change, alter, modify
Sense 2:
bribe, corrupt, buy, grease one's palms
pay
Sense 3:
defile, sully, corrupt, taint, cloud
mar, impair, spoil, deflower, vitiate
Sense 4:
corrupt, spoil
modify

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

6. The judges have ruled against synonyms

Although they certainly would have been useful when I was writing the OP. (note to self - SYNONYMS!! That's the ticket.)-

[Hawkeye-X]

2. Zero.

Corrupt != Corruption.

[The Straight Story]

7. Even then 2 I believe and 1 in the title as well

:)

[w4rma]

4. …

13, including variations. 3 root words. :)

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

8. I deleted my contest and I'm sorry.

I was actually serious about the subject and content of my post and then I ruined it by making the title a joke and trolling for readers in a totally non-serious way. Thank you for bothering to read anything I post at all and thanks to those who responeded before the edit.

[cobalt1999]

9. Human beings are naturally selfish and corrupt

Any group of people given an opportunity to profit with little perceived risk will take it. There are INDIVIDUAL exceptions, but once you get even a small group where the risk/reward equation works, human beings will take advantage.

We are not a noble species.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

10. You're right! Especially about risk/reward

This Congress has basically said that it's all reward because there is no risk that you will be punished.

If an administration can get away with the stuff this one has, why would anyone feel that the boundaries couldn't be pushed even further?