Corruption and Corruptability

I found an article from the World Bank that is pretty good. You can read it here but I want you to pay attention to something written right under the heading, “Agenda for Further Research.”

The author drops this little nugget of gold, “If the costs of corruption are so high, why don't governments get rid of it? A possible answer is that once a corrupt system is in place, and a majority of people operate within that system, individuals have no incentive to try to change it or to refrain from taking part in it, even if everybody would be better off if corruption were to be eliminated.”

We look at our current Liberal Government. We could argue that there is a system of corruption in place. We cannot assume when this started. It may have started in the 90’s, it could’ve started in the 80’s and, really, it could have been at any time in our history when corruption began to creep into our institution. All it takes if for it to get in and it takes a while to remove.

I am not saying that the corruption talked about for the most part in the article is the same corruption in Canada. Nor I am saying, however, that the majority of those in our Federal Government – those in the Liberals especially – are corrupt. I don’t believe that to be the case. I think that all parties have MPs who are good or evil. However, when the top level leaders, those who are to be trusted by the people, do corrupt actions, the entire party must be brought to surrender because that is necessary for trust to remain in the institution.

Check out this article here. It is from the CBC but it has some very interesting points surrounding Canadian corruption. When you read it, think about what you read of Mr. Mauro – his conclusions – and look at how they are reflected with what Brian Stewart has written. The same themes seem to flow through both.

One of the other things that should be mentioned is another answer to the question in bold above. Why is there corruption in Canada if the costs are so high? I think we can answer this by saying, the costs, unfortunately, in Canada are not high. This has been proven many, many times. And if the Liberal Party of Canada is re-elected to another term, whether minority or otherwise, I think it will show that this country does not punish corruption.

My hope is that the people of the Great White North will realize that corruption should be punishable and there should be a cost. It is my hope, but failure is my fear.