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Most Effective way to Reduce Corruption?
Most Effective way to Reduce Corruption?
Does anyone know the most effective way to reduce corruption? Tell me your ideas, even if you have to invent an entirely new government to accomplish it. At current, I estimate that 70% ( possibly higher, but based on personal experience ) of all governments are corrupt by measure.
What is the point in being required to type "in my opinion" after every paragraph? I am writing it, who's else's opinion would it be? So why is it relevant to type "in my opinion" to begin with?
Re: Most Effective way to Reduce Corruption?
Shoot them all?
Re: Most Effective way to Reduce Corruption?
Spooky!! That was the first thing I thought when I read the title of this thread.Hundovir wrote:Shoot them all?
I must be telepathetic..or maybe telekenetic..or telephonic....
Topic. I honestly feel that Scotland has a pretty transparent government and that the UK govt is not too bad either. Of course it could be better, but I have yet to see a country less corrupt that the UK.
Maybe I'm just stupidly naiive, though.
"It's hard to put a leash on a dog once you've put a crown on his head"-Tyrion Lannister.
Re: Most Effective way to Reduce Corruption?
A quote by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis has been used a lot recently in this context: “Sunlight is said to be the best of disinfectants”. In other words, make certain those in power can’t hide what they're up to. It might not make them less inclined to corruption, but it’ll stop them acting corruptly
Re: Most Effective way to Reduce Corruption?
Yes, a lot more public scrutiny of what goes on in the "corridors of power". However I'm not convinced that enough are all that bothered. It's all a bit too much effort to keep tabs on them isn't it?
"What, I'm supposed to something more than just vote for them? Can't I leave the rest up to them?"
getreal You don't mean "telescopic" do you?
"What, I'm supposed to something more than just vote for them? Can't I leave the rest up to them?"
getreal You don't mean "telescopic" do you?
Re: Most Effective way to Reduce Corruption?
That's the word I was looking for! I am most definatly telescopic!Hundovir wrote:Yes, a lot more public scrutiny of what goes on in the "corridors of power". However I'm not convinced that enough are all that bothered. It's all a bit too much effort to keep tabs on them isn't it?
"What, I'm supposed to something more than just vote for them? Can't I leave the rest up to them?"
getreal You don't mean "telescopic" do you?
I don't even think that most voters are that bothered, after all, only a small proportion of those eligable to vote get off their backsides to use it.
http://www.statistics.gov.uk/STATBASE/x ... 57&B2.y=11
"It's hard to put a leash on a dog once you've put a crown on his head"-Tyrion Lannister.
Re: Most Effective way to Reduce Corruption?
Very possibly. As I'm in quote mode this evening I can only add: "In a Democracy, the people get the government they deserve" - Alexis de TocquevilleHundovir wrote:I'm not convinced that enough are all that bothered. It's all a bit too much effort to keep tabs on them isn't it?
Re: Most Effective way to Reduce Corruption?
Nice quote. I'm fond of:
"Whoever you vote for, it's the government that gets in."
Which may sound trite, but is, I think, an effective pointer to the fact that however wonderful the opposition may appear, once they're in power they somehow lose that sparkly lustre they used to have... The realities of actually having to govern...
Hmmm! Why's this website underlined lustre as a misspelling in my compose page? Is it set to American English?
"Whoever you vote for, it's the government that gets in."
Which may sound trite, but is, I think, an effective pointer to the fact that however wonderful the opposition may appear, once they're in power they somehow lose that sparkly lustre they used to have... The realities of actually having to govern...
Hmmm! Why's this website underlined lustre as a misspelling in my compose page? Is it set to American English?
- Emma Woolgatherer
- Posts: 2976
- Joined: February 27th, 2008, 12:17 pm
Re: Most Effective way to Reduce Corruption?
I don't think there's a single "most effective way" to tackle corruption. I think a multipronged approach is needed (hmmm, I use the phrase "multipronged approach" far too often). A good starting point, I think, is the United Nations Convention against Corruption, which spells out a range of measures to be adopted for preventing and tackling corruption. Things like adequate and equitable pay for non-elected public officials, and fair and transparent policies for their recruitment, promotion, etc. Anti-corruption training of public officials. Transparency and accountability in the management of public finances. Transparency in the funding of political parties. Ensuring that public officials make declarations about their outside activities, employment, investments, assets and gifts or benefits from which a conflict of interest may arise. Ensuring that public officials who violate codes of conduct are punished by law. Freedom of information for the public over things like procurement procedures and contracts. All fairly predictable stuff, but there does seem to be a lot of evidence to show that countries that adopt such measures most thoroughly have the lowest levels of corruption. (One of the best sources of information on corruption is Transparency International, which calls itself "the global civil society organisation leading the fight against corruption".)mewi wrote:Does anyone know the most effective way to reduce corruption? Tell me your ideas, even if you have to invent an entirely new government to accomplish it. At current, I estimate that 70% ( possibly higher, but based on personal experience ) of all governments are corrupt by measure.
How about Denmark? New Zealand? Finland? And remember, it's not just governments that are involved in corruption. The private sector is a big player, too. Especially when it comes to corruption in developing countries. Public officials may take bribes, but private companies are often the ones that offer them. UK companies have certainly been guilty of offering bribes. See, for example, "Ugandan is jailed in UK bribery crackdown", Guardian, 23 September 2008) and "First executive convicted of foreign bribery escapes jail term", Guardian, 27 September 2008. And then there's all the money-laundering in UK banks. This from Exporting Corruption: Privatisation, Multinationals and Bribery, Corner House Briefing 19:getreal wrote:I honestly feel that Scotland has a pretty transparent government and that the UK govt is not too bad either. Of course it could be better, but I have yet to see a country less corrupt that the UK.
EmmaIn fact, the UK "mainland" is such a magnet for criminal funds and money launderers that the US State Department ranks Britain ahead of many offshore centres as vulnerable to money-laundering by criminals because of the country's banking secrecy. Although the British government disputes this, the fact that millions of dollars of IMF loans to Russia were laundered through the London branch of the Bank of New York under UK regulations suggests otherwise.
Re: Most Effective way to Reduce Corruption?
Interesting, Emma. I hadn't even given corporate fraud a thought. When I said I had yet to find a country less corrupt than Scotland, I must admit that I haven't really looked that far
...and parts of Scandanavia are closer to Scotland than London...
(well, that's what Miss McKay told us in primary 5)
...and parts of Scandanavia are closer to Scotland than London...
(well, that's what Miss McKay told us in primary 5)
"It's hard to put a leash on a dog once you've put a crown on his head"-Tyrion Lannister.
- Lifelinking
- Posts: 3248
- Joined: July 4th, 2007, 11:56 am
Re: Most Effective way to Reduce Corruption?
A good strong solution of Jeyes fluid, a scrubbing brush and a pair of rubber gloves. Oh wait a minute...I might be getting mixed up with last weekend... ooh er
"Who thinks the law has anything to do with justice? It's what we have because we can't have justice."
William McIlvanney
William McIlvanney
Re: Most Effective way to Reduce Corruption?
..as Billy Connolly once said "a bottle of dettol and a wire brush".Lifelinking wrote:A good strong solution of Jeyes fluid, a scrubbing brush and a pair of rubber gloves. Oh wait a minute...I might be getting mixed up with last weekend... ooh er
Though he was talking about a visit to the STD clinic.
"It's hard to put a leash on a dog once you've put a crown on his head"-Tyrion Lannister.
Re: Most Effective way to Reduce Corruption?
I personally think a government should revolve around an ethics group which has high requirements in order to be elected into that position, such as 4+ years of ethical education? o.o These things should be taught more thoroughly in schools, it should be a subject on its own, starting from grade 1 and up ( American School Grades XD )
I was bored once ( many times XD ) and drew a Government web of what this kind of Government would look like... not sure if it is an actual good idea but meh ;\
I was bored once ( many times XD ) and drew a Government web of what this kind of Government would look like... not sure if it is an actual good idea but meh ;\
What is the point in being required to type "in my opinion" after every paragraph? I am writing it, who's else's opinion would it be? So why is it relevant to type "in my opinion" to begin with?
Re: Most Effective way to Reduce Corruption?
and how would that work in practice?mewi wrote: I personally think a government should revolve around an ethics group which has high requirements in order to be elected into that position, such as 4+ years of ethical education?
How would you propose to teach ethics in school and who would do the teaching?mewi wrote: These things should be taught more thoroughly in schools, it should be a subject on its own, starting from grade 1 and up ( American School Grades XD )
"It's hard to put a leash on a dog once you've put a crown on his head"-Tyrion Lannister.
Re: Most Effective way to Reduce Corruption?
Interesting. Similar to the way that Plato thought that government should be by philosophers. (He wouldn't have bothered with the "elected" bit though. )mewi wrote:I personally think a government should revolve around an ethics group which has high requirements in order to be elected into that position
Re: Most Effective way to Reduce Corruption?
Well if the certain government I had in mind was made, it would be taught by previously elected officials who wish to teach and have been trained to teach. I think this is a good idea personally. Also if this government didn't exist, then i guess it would be all based on experience and education?getreal wrote:and how would that work in practice?mewi wrote: I personally think a government should revolve around an ethics group which has high requirements in order to be elected into that position, such as 4+ years of ethical education?
How would you propose to teach ethics in school and who would do the teaching?mewi wrote: These things should be taught more thoroughly in schools, it should be a subject on its own, starting from grade 1 and up ( American School Grades XD )
Since religion is pretty much banned in general from being taught in public schools ( at least here in the US ) I think it wouldn't really conflict to much.
What is the point in being required to type "in my opinion" after every paragraph? I am writing it, who's else's opinion would it be? So why is it relevant to type "in my opinion" to begin with?
Re: Most Effective way to Reduce Corruption?
you still haven't answered my question.Since religion is pretty much banned in general from being taught in public schools ( at least here in the US ) I think it wouldn't really conflict to much.
How would you propose to teach ethics in schools and who would do the teaching?
"It's hard to put a leash on a dog once you've put a crown on his head"-Tyrion Lannister.
Re: Most Effective way to Reduce Corruption?
Uhh I DID answer this >.>getreal wrote:you still haven't answered my question.Since religion is pretty much banned in general from being taught in public schools ( at least here in the US ) I think it wouldn't really conflict to much.
How would you propose to teach ethics in schools and who would do the teaching?
What is the point in being required to type "in my opinion" after every paragraph? I am writing it, who's else's opinion would it be? So why is it relevant to type "in my opinion" to begin with?
Re: Most Effective way to Reduce Corruption?
Nothing to do with the website: it doesn't do spell checking. If you're using something like Firefox with its built-in spell checker, then it must be set for US English.Hundovir wrote:Why's this website underlined lustre as a misspelling in my compose page? Is it set to American English?
Alan Henness
There are three fundamental questions for anyone advocating Brexit:
1. What, precisely, are the significant and tangible benefits of leaving the EU?
2. What damage to the UK and its citizens is an acceptable price to pay for those benefits?
3. Which ruling of the ECJ is most persuasive of the need to leave its jurisdiction?
There are three fundamental questions for anyone advocating Brexit:
1. What, precisely, are the significant and tangible benefits of leaving the EU?
2. What damage to the UK and its citizens is an acceptable price to pay for those benefits?
3. Which ruling of the ECJ is most persuasive of the need to leave its jurisdiction?
Re: Most Effective way to Reduce Corruption?
Oops! I hadn't spotted that.
Thanks!
Thanks!