The Webster dictionary defines corruption as dishonest or illegal behavior especially by powerful people (such as government officials or police officers). This definition of the word can help explain why countries like the United States are not associated with corruption like Latin America is. Lobbyists promote their own agenda to Congress which seems unfair and fraudulent but it is legal. Although lobbying is legal, I still believe lobbying is corrupt based on my own understanding of the world. It is not fair/equal/democratic for money to weigh heavier than a individuals voice. It makes me wonder how to classify something as being corrupt? Society is like a balance beam as choices that benefit one's personal gain, impact/take away from the overall group. This kind of thinking closely relates to communist ideas, however, communists experiments so often end in corruption and oppression. The answer I have been given to why this occurs is that humans are selfish in nature (survival of the fittest) and put their needs first. I believe this answer is overly simplified and there just has to be more.
Thinking deeper into the idea of corruption through history and present day captivates and challenges my prior knowledge of the world. I am interested to hear others thoughts and interpretations of corruption.
AJ, as I was reading your comment I couldn't help but think that it really is human nature that makes people corrupt. I disagree that this idea is overly simplified. I think that it's just a really complex idea that is hard to understand. As humans, we like to compare our selves to figures like Castro and Hitler and to think that we would never be like them or their followers, but this is not the case. It's easy for us to judge them because we have never been in their shoes. For example, often times when the Holocaust is discussed many people argue that they would never follow Hitler and the Nazis or that they would be one of the families/people that helps the Jews escape. Although we like to think this, this may not be the case. As humans, we would most likely do whatever benefits us. It's in our nature. We like to think that we wouldn't but in reality, we would never truly know. I also think that politicians are like celebrities. Think about it this way, celebrities do ads in order to gain more money. They may not even use the product but they will do an ad for it. Just like politicians will stand by organizations like the NRA because of the huge sums of money that they give them. This money is used to benefit them and it's hard to go against something that has provided you with a certain lifestyle.
ReplyDeleteWith this idea of corruption within countries and governments, I have also felt your "frustrations." It is hard to understand why the government is so corrupt, even with our corrupt human nature. It is easy for us to see the corruption within Latin American countries because of this class; however, when it comes to the US, corruption is hidden from the public. Along with what you said, I also think that this could be related to our class's previous discussion about US history classes. They tend to hide the bad/corrupt aspects of the country. The education system wants students to see only the better parts and be naive of the things that go against the what the country stands for. Corruption is definitely hidden.
ReplyDeleteI love this blog topic. I have also been upset about the reoccurring ideas of corruption in Latin America, only to realize that it occurs everywhere. I think one of the things I find most interesting is that it always seems to be the government that is corrupted. In reality, everyone has the capability and capacity to become corrupt. It is human nature to be selfish as you said. So why is it that we only really see corruption occurring in politics. Given, that even then most of this corruption is not made public but even then it still leaves people wondering. Why if our government is supposed to be there to make decisions and create a society that benefits us that we see corruption taking over. I wish that there was a way to explain why corruption exists but I still think it boils down to human nature like we said in class. Everyone has the capability to become corrupt, it is how you decide to behave/act/treat others that determines whether or not corruptness will run ramped.
ReplyDeleteAJ, I would have to disagree with the belief that lobbyists are fraudulent. Moreover, don't we all carry the characteristics of lobbyists? We push for what we believe in and ultimately it comes down to who has the initiative to take it a step further by bringing it to government officials. I do agree with the idea of human nature making people corrupt. But then, what sets apart people who are good spirited? Could we actually say all people are corrupt? I think this would take more discussion and looking into, but it's quite sad that it even be a question we have to face. Can one change from having a corrupt mindset to one that is not? I am very interested in furthering discussion of your blog, as well as Maria's response and how others perceive it. Overall, hats off to you for bringing about a very powerful blog that even forces me to question whether or not my motivations are corrupt.🤯
ReplyDeleteAJ, I think this is a very interesting topic to write your blog about. I think although we may see more of Latin American corruption or even the corruption of other countries throughout our education, I don't think corruption is "more" prevalent in other places than it is in the United States. Like Professor Serrata said in class - corruption is just legal in the United States while it isn't in other places. The United States has a system put in place where the corruption is more well hidden and tolerated by the masses. A lot of corruption was still pretty well hidden until people started to care to call corrupt people of power out for it. I believe that's why we have so many scandals or “big stories” that come out in the news. The corruption is well hidden until it is exposed. The United States tries to put on such a heroic image of itself and an image of superiority that of course they want to hide any corruption that they have. They frown upon countries who are corrupt yet are corrupt themselves in many ways, but nobody wants to be a hypocrite. But down to the question of whether to be corrupt is to be human, I would agree that it is not human nature to be corrupt, it is situational. Power corrupts, it goes to peoples' heads, but I would not equate that with human nature. I'm sure that there are people who could get into a very powerful position and not lean towards corruption, but what I ask myself is this - are those really the people who want and strive to be in positions of power?
ReplyDeleteI found this topic very interesting as well in class. And I like how you point out that although lobbying is legal, you believe that it is corrupt—and I agree with you. Professor Serrata made the comment that corruption occurs in United States, however, it is considered legal. I think that some countries are more honest than others about their corruption, whether that is by choice or not. What I mean by this is tied to what Professor Serrata said. Countries where corruption is illegal are forced to acknowledge when it occurs and have the “corrupt” label attached to their nation. In the United States, it can be considered legal, so our nation has found a way around having the negative label that should be associated with the US due to what occurs in our country. I think how we view the US and corruption is also based on perspective and discourse. What we learn significantly impacts our views, and with the way the education system is in the United States, it seems obvious that we are indoctrinated to believe a certain history and view our nation and others in certain ways based on what we are taught. I think if you were to look at history and our country from different perspectives and really analyze what has happened throughout history, like we are in class, you can see past what the United States is portraying itself as versus what it actually is.
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