You take exception to the suggestion of corruption because it's rampant globally? Does that make it ok?
I absolutely agree that it exists in some form or another in almost every country in the world but it is in the 3rd and developing worlds that it is most prevalent and, more importantly, most adversely affects people's lives.
It is easy to joke about baksheesh, sugar, garlic, facilitation payments or the many other names by which it is known, but it is only when you have dealt first hand with the public officials and politicians who skim from their countries' coffers that you realise just how insidious this practice is. The low life expectancy due to inadequate or decrepit public health systems because the Health Minister and his cronies want houses in the South of France, the ex-cop who shoots dead a bus load of tourists because he was stood down over allegations of corruption (no doubt he upset one of his other corrupt mates so they set him up), the bridge that collapsed because the contractor had to pay so much in kickbacks there was nothing left to build the bridge (and all the quality control inspectors had been bought so there were no inspections), the lack of decent education for the next generation because the schools' budget was spent on porsches and prostitutes. So these kids grow up thinking that the only path to wealth is to become an actor or a politician, hey why not both!
Just my rant, but believe me corruption is the biggest issue confronting emerging economies and it affects all of us
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