[yor_on]

I know, in the end, what can you do about it?
Except laugh

We're a bundle of contradictions.

[yor_on]

Doesn't mean we should stop trying

[yor_on]

And that puts me back to my original thoughts.
You live, and then you die.

What do you want to leave?
Nothing?

[yor_on]

If I would give you a advice it probably would be this
Stop looking at others, look at yourself.

[yor_on]

Now :)

" “It seems that this merchant banker was on a cruise in the South Seas and accidentally fell overboard. His friends watched in horror as a shark swam swiftly toward him. They expected to see him eaten alive. But at five metres the shark turned and disappeared as swiftly as he had appeared. The merchant banker clambered back aboard and his friends cried, ‘Miracle!’ ‘Nonsense,’ was the reply, ‘professional etiquette.’” "

From 'the billion dollar sure thing'

[yor_on]

So what is corruption?

" Defining corruption can be a challenge. It takes many forms, and perpetrators are skilled in developing new ways to be corrupt and cover their tracks.

Corruption may be defined as the abuse of entrusted power for private gain. Transparency International uses this definition. It captures three elements of corruption:

    Public and private sectors
    Corruption occurs in both the public and private sectors. This includes media and civil society actors. Actors can be individuals, companies, or organisations such as a political parties.

    Abuse of power
    Corruption involves abusing power held in a state institution or a private organisation.

    Benefit
    Both sides involved in the corrupt act benefit, either in terms of money or undue advantage.

Sometimes the ‘advantage’ gained may not be ‘undue’ or clear-cut, but is nonetheless an advantage. For example, in some corrupt societies people can only secure access to public health or education if they pay bribes. In such situations, those who can afford to pay have an advantage over those who cannot. The bribe-giver's ‘benefit’ is merely that which is anyway his or her rightful due. Bribe-takers receive an advantage for carrying out functions that are anyway their duty to perform. "      https://www.u4.no/topics/anti-corruption-basics/basics

[yor_on]

Is this corruption?

 How Assad regime built chemical arsenal with aid of Germany and other countries
June 2, 2017 By René Backmann

" Russia, Armenia and the former West Germany were all major suppliers of technology and raw materials for Syria's programme of chemical weapon production, exiled Syrians who worked on the project have told Mediapart. They also say that, in violation of intentional law, the Damascus regime still has a secret arsenal of up to 35 tonnes of chemical weapons.  "

https://www.mediapart.fr/en/journal/international/020617/how-assad-regime-built-chemical-arsenal-aid-germany-and-other-countries?_locale=en&onglet=full

How about this then?

"  Unfortunately, the public reporting regarding the U.S. negotiating position and on Perry’s letter suggests that the Trump administration is not insisting on anything more than is required under Section 123 of the Atomic Energy Act other than the Additional Protocol.

In other words, it is not seeking any restrictions or commitments on uranium enrichment or spent fuel reprocessing (which allows for plutonium separation). That’s a serious mistake.

Though Saudi Arabia says that it is seeking nuclear power for peaceful purposes to diversify its already very abundant energy sources, which include oil, gas, and solar, recent statements by the Saudi leadership have cast doubt on the kingdom’s commitment to its obligations under the 1968 nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) not to acquire nuclear weapons.

In a 2018 interview, Saudi Arabia’s authoritarian ruler Mohammed bin Salman warned: “Without a doubt, if Iran developed a nuclear bomb, we will follow suit as soon as possible.”

The Saudi government has also made it clear that it seeks to make its own nuclear fuel, which would require an indigenous capability to enrich uranium on a large scale. The same technology that is used to enrich uranium for civilian power reactors can be used to enrich uranium to weapons-grade. "        https://www.armscontrol.org/blog/2019-09-17/us-saudi-nuclear-cooperation-policy-still-far-adequate-updated


Or just 'geopolitics'

[yor_on]

They go into each other doesn't they? Geopolitics and corruption.

[yor_on]

Which actually mark both politicians and bureaucracy as corruptible. Either you can argue that we shouldn't expect higher standards for those than for yourself, and we are all corruptible. Or you can argue that with the job taken comes levels of responsibility.

[yor_on]

core beliefs and instincts. Herd animals with a killer instinct.

[yor_on]

All ideas of corruption build on a idea of something being wrong, relative right. There is a right way to handle it versus a wrong way. We take that for granted, don't we. But in 'realpolitik' and geopolitics the definitions becomes unclear, don't they? 

[yor_on]

Does the end justify the means?

[yor_on]

Do you find your local politician to answer to his level of responsibility?

[yor_on]

Or maybe we shouldn't expect any level of responsibility at all? According to the way most ideas go they should be there 'by the people, for the people'? Which if we go to a extreme implicate you, instead of them. You are after all the 'people' that choose him or her, no matter how you did it.

voting or not.

[yor_on]

How do you want to clean your mess?

[yor_on]

The system doesn't really care if you vote or not. It will still work, the only thing done by you not voting is letting someones else voice become the one heard. Unless we all stop voting of course.

[yor_on]

Now that would be interesting.

[yor_on]

A honest politician?
A contradiction in terms then?

[yor_on]

I know, corruption is another word than honesty. But can you imagine calling someone both honest and corrupt, meaning it ?

I guess I can actually. To be honest in ones corruption :)

Levels of responsibility, and levels of competence

[yor_on]

I don't know?

Maybe honesty can exist, but it do seem as if entering the political arena creates a lot of new gray shades. To weight it I think one both will need to consider the individuals personal rewards from doing it, as well as what possible political motivation can be found. Then of course, the way it evolves and what actions are taken.

You could also state it as if the system forms the politician. Depending on views that can be read either positive or negative. It's still the best we have been able to create, although I'm not sure if I find that flattering or not?

I think we have the tools now for doing a lot better when it comes to democracy.