When I was younger, I thought that the western countries (US and Western Europe) are better (off) than other countries like South America or Asia, because they have much less corruption than those countries.
Today I am differentiating much more and I must admit that I am not knowing, why we are better of as for example South American countries. Of course, they have a high level of corruption, but when you look deeper, you will see, that we in Europe have also much corruption. The main difference: While in many South America countries everybody knows about the corruption, for example in Germany corruption is much much more covered -- but it exists, maybe even in the same degree as in South American countries. It is just covered much more. What makes me worry is, that while the normal police-men in Germany may have integrity, the normal top-politician seems to have none left. I can give no name of a top politician today, where I would assume, that he is not influenced or even bribed by some groups.
I think, that this gives a really bad signal to all the people in this nation. Many say: "Why should I pay taxes, for those crooked people?" And I must admit, that this is a strong argument in these times.
I think there is a big slice of perspective you're missing here.
Yes, at the higher levels of power everything is dirty.
However, you have to look at what the consequences of that are, how it manifests in a society, and how far it spreads.
And in Germany, it works pretty well. Yes, enormous government projects don't always go to the most capable or efficient. Yes, big business owners contribute to politicians, avoid taxes, and erect legal obstacles to competition that would benefit society. However, the society basically works. The corruption is not interfering with basic services to the people. A journalist can write what she wants without fear of physical reprisal. Individual property rights are by-and-large respected. School teachers actually benefit the children. Police officers don't operate as a tax force on their own behalf. Thats not the case in every country.
So while I agree with you that even the 'best' countries still have a very real battle to maintain integrity, there is absolutely a spectrum and largely, North America and Western Europe are near the top of it.
I think North America is corrupt beyond any help. Look at the deep state they do horrible things and no one cares. And there is no freedom of expression, even as i write this im afraid. The cia infects people with sifilis has torture concentration camps all over the world where they imprision people without a trial and inflict upon them all kinds of sick and perverted tortures. They traffic drugs and control criminal organizations in sveral countries, they are the top dogs in the underworld. They persecute journalists they hire some to decieve the public. They are really toxic and deceithfull. Not to mention the wars they go in foreign countries and kill thousands if not millions and destroy any trace of civilization. They a destructive force. =(
>North America and Western Europe are near the top of it.
When North America and Western Europe are near "the top of it" (I don't know, if I completely understand the sentence correctly, but I guess you mean, that they are best in integrity ...), than this is not a good sign in my opinion.
I see an enormous decline in democracy, freedom and integrity all over the world. And as I live in Europe, I see it very drastically here. Of course I am worried about developments in countries like Russia or China, but I am even more worried about the state in which the countries are, which should be role models of freedom and democracy.
The difference is that in the US and EU, stuff generally works. People are educated and there's some sense of doing things properly. This sense seems far more diminished in South America. And many people just come to expect this. So people that can do well, they (rightfully) look out for themselves. When everything sucks, there's just more important stuff than worrying about a state official stealing millions.
If things in the US started falling apart then I'm guessing folks would get upset and demand changes.
I think, partially you made a good point. We have a lot of talents and also a lot of sense for integrity in our countries. But when we look at history, even societies with good starting and a lot of sense for good and right things, can fail very, very fast! I say that because I am German and I know what happened in our past.
>If things in the US started falling apart ...
What exactly do you mean? Technically or society?
I think "falling apart" does not go by a click, but comes incremental. I see a lot of incremental decline in western societies at least from the 80s.
I also hoped, that people will go upset and demand changes. But I guess it is like the boiling frog. The frog feels comfortable in the lukewarm water and when it incrementally gets hotter, he does not recognize and when he does, it is just to late. We all are the boiling frog.
You're right, it's a slow decline. I suppose I mean that if fundamentally, water, electric, public safety, Internet, police response, etc. just didn't work, to the point where you didn't totally count on them, then people would be more upset in the US, to the point where they'd demand change.
Today I am differentiating much more and I must admit that I am not knowing, why we are better of as for example South American countries. Of course, they have a high level of corruption, but when you look deeper, you will see, that we in Europe have also much corruption. The main difference: While in many South America countries everybody knows about the corruption, for example in Germany corruption is much much more covered -- but it exists, maybe even in the same degree as in South American countries. It is just covered much more. What makes me worry is, that while the normal police-men in Germany may have integrity, the normal top-politician seems to have none left. I can give no name of a top politician today, where I would assume, that he is not influenced or even bribed by some groups.
I think, that this gives a really bad signal to all the people in this nation. Many say: "Why should I pay taxes, for those crooked people?" And I must admit, that this is a strong argument in these times.