We have noted, in previous articulations, about the vast differences of insidious corruption in various countries of the world. It is a fact that the real losers, by corruption in any country, are both its citizens, as well as any honest government leaders trying to increase living qualities of their public.
In our global discussions and travels, while looking into all sorts of business proposals, and discussing such with businessmen in those countries, we have repeatedly noticed a constant question by them: “What is the level of honesty in America, in business or government?” Our replies are: “In both arenas, as ‘Honest’ as can be; until caught being crooked. The biggest thieves in the world want to fish in the biggest-money Sea, using baited-hooks, or fish-nets. America quickly rose to power through hard work but also, in part, through financial guile. The ‘Morality of the market-place’ in either arena, is as high a ‘Park Bench‘, unfortunately.”
We have noted before, of the scalar quality of corruption in America. Example: Rising to the high level of hegemonic actions; as, that of Joseph P. Kennedy, Senior [the former President’s father]. Mr. Kennedy, and his associates, used the U.S. Government apparatus to destabilize Cuba [ousting President Carlos Prio Socarras]; this, so Sergeant Fulgencio Batista y Zaldivar could take over the country for Mr. Kennedy’s ‘ownership’. It was planned to turn the country into Mr. Kennedy’s fiefdom. Once acquired, he could make it a low-tax haven for his cronies in New York, Washington, D.C., and elsewhere. He was also interested in Cuba’s Oil and wanted to develop the asset and sell it to other nations. Some of us had family members who had dealt with this man and he was very interested in oil tanker use, port development, et al as to hydrocarbons. Other Cuban mineralizations did not escape his interest. “Location, location, location” ‘Empire’ benefits were just 90 miles off America’s coast. The wonderful Cuban people were to be mere ‘peons’ for his purposes. This ‘Wolf’ salivated, one can be assured. This scheme was similar to his earlier interests in the benefits of his owning Vietnam, as we had written previously.
We think such hegemonic actions by individuals for their own financial gains are horrendous ideas: “COLONIALISM ‘SUCKS’!”. A corruption variation in America that has been employed for decades is : “Pay to Play” [Bribe U.S. Government Officials or their family members]. One obvious example of this practice is the rampant corruption occurring in ‘broad-daylight’ for twenty years, in Afghanistan. Of the 2.3 trillion of U.S. Taxpayer monies that went into the country, much went out into Afghani Leaders accounts elsewhere. As public as were these transfers, U.S. ‘auditing personnel’ did nothing to stop it. To pay for ‘Silence’ , one must suppose a portion of each transfer went into Americans hands. How much of this money is now in Tampa?
On a much larger scale are the contributions to a former U.S. President and his foundation: a estimated 1.3+ billion dollars. We understand that since his influence through the U.S. State Department has waned, so have the contributions from many countries’ businessmen and businesswomen. As to the intentions of each of those people, we can only hypothesize. Maybe they were being eleemosynary in thought. However, the recipients could always say: “No Thank You”, and decline the gifts. Our position is: “Do not blame the offeror; you might misinterpret his or her intentions. However, if you accept, that which you think is of questionable veracity, as to rationale of the offeror, you are the Fool.”
As public belittlement of “Prostitution” in America is prevalent, we, in International Business, are of the opinion: Bureaucrats, Businessmen, Government Leaders, who accept bribes, are far worse. They damage, large scale, the Nation’s “Moral Integrity”.
Reality: Once one’s hands have been soiled from taking a bribe, the hands can be cleansed with soap and water. However, the conceptual ‘stench’ is of lasting quality, as it is in the offeree’s mind, forever.
