I see corruption (an undoubted feature of modern day life) as being made much easier to practice due to how we now live in this technologically connected, materialistic world.
Of course the stain of corruption has always been on the hands oh humanity - its been part of the human condition (a disappointing part sadly) since time immemorial - but it is only now, through the immediacy of communications and the availability of sophisticated technology, we see how corrupt behaviour – especially as practiced by those in authority – can allow catastrophic consequences to develop (intended or not) the results of which can have a devastating effect on not only individuals but on nations.
To ask what can be done about it is to pose an almost unanswerable question (I say almost as there usually is an answer to be found to any problem should a sufficient number of open minds combine to seek it) as, in this interconnected world, the ready availability to see how others live, what access they have to materialistic things, to hear them declare their opinion or simply to see how they behave is sufficient for many to be motivated, sometimes without thinking, into trying to achieve the same (perceived) benefits they observe - whether or not crimes (moral or otherwise) have to be committed or sharp practices engaged upon the assist in the realisation of their desires.
Taking the point of the OP, should we look towards political corruption, or corruption in public life, the answer to fight it may be easier to find, but it does not necessarily lie in the wholesale sacking of parliament or civil institutions – it may well be easy to rid ourselves of those we consider to be corrupt or useless and to redress any imbalances in evidence but, should any such action be taken without very clear alternatives being already in place, then we can only but invite trouble, as chaos will always prosper in a political/civil vacuum.
I believe the means to tackle corrupt behaviour in public life already exists in many of the institutions we have a habit of criticising – we simply need effective regulation to be used (without fear or favour) to bring people, groups and institutions into line.
Needless to say had we an effective, independent, fearless and dedicated print/broadcast media the task would be much easier to address as there is a very real need for searching questions to be asked – and continue to be asked – until such times as answers are found which indicate whether or not the problem being examined is being dealt with properly to the point of resolution. Without that facility, there seems to be a tendency for many of those people who seek to lead us or have influence in the institutions of the nation, to take the chance and resort to practices many of which will eventually fall far short of being either acceptable or honest.
The opening shot of my campaign would therefore be the establishment of a capable media outlet charged with asking real, practical and well researched questions and setting a course to garner interest across the social strata of this country through quality and dedicated investigative reporting – the larger the motivated group demonstrating their concerns about this as a result, the more weigh their opinions will carry.
Nothing will happen until people get off their arses and start putting pen to paper to actively ask those questions and, more importantly, nothing will ever change until those very same people begin to think about the practical realities of life, on a national level, and leave the faff to the mouth-breathers, content to accept whatever comes their way – as long as it requires a zero amount of effort to deal with it or understand it.
Eyethangyewall.
Author
Topic: Corruption (Read 2937 times)