“With each crisis that triggers enough television footage in the West to ensure that there are calls for “something to be done” and a sudden surge in donations, often those responsible will smile, rub their hands together in glee — and prepare once again to welcome the imminent arrival of bulging wallets and the opportunity to re-equip or rearm.” (From the article “An open secret: bribes often have to be paid to get aid through“.)
We Westerners fall for this mess all the time. I think what really gets me is how armchair activists will oftentimes adopt the blame for failing countries and expect you to adopt it as well. Any suggestion that perhaps many of these issues that have been destroying these countries are oftentimes self-inflicted and you are automatically considered to be “insensitive”. Should we help those in need in these other countries? Yes. But enabling the very criminals who are keeping innocent countrymen down is the equivalent of digging a hole to fill another.
Now for a bribe of a different kind. But like I said, “A bribe is a bribe.”
Obama names brother of undecided House Dem to Appeals Court.
I also believe that Bush’s faith-based initiatives were nothing more than bribes cloaked in “help”. The government never does anything for free.
Basically, bribes are nothing more than an inherent part of the political process. This is one of the ugly sides of politics that we do not like talking about.
A Bribe Is A Bribe, No Matter The Country
by Duane on March 4th, 2010 at 8:55 amWe Westerners fall for this mess all the time. I think what really gets me is how armchair activists will oftentimes adopt the blame for failing countries and expect you to adopt it as well. Any suggestion that perhaps many of these issues that have been destroying these countries are oftentimes self-inflicted and you are automatically considered to be “insensitive”. Should we help those in need in these other countries? Yes. But enabling the very criminals who are keeping innocent countrymen down is the equivalent of digging a hole to fill another.
Now for a bribe of a different kind. But like I said, “A bribe is a bribe.”
Obama names brother of undecided House Dem to Appeals Court.
I also believe that Bush’s faith-based initiatives were nothing more than bribes cloaked in “help”. The government never does anything for free.
Basically, bribes are nothing more than an inherent part of the political process. This is one of the ugly sides of politics that we do not like talking about.