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newthinking

(3,982 posts)

73. "Corruption" doesn't define cleanly. It looks different and

Sun Jan 13, 2013, 12:17 AM

Jan 2013

has different forms in different societies.

I have lived in several countries, one of them considered fairly corrupt. There are ways in which US corruption is less and ways in which it is more nefarious.

I believe the US is still the better country to live in, but mostly due to things that we built in the *past* that continue to pay dividends (like our cleaner environment). But in terms of which corruption has the most capacity and impresses itself on my life, US corruption has a greater daily impact. It has a far greater capabity to build something far worse in the future.

Anyway, those are just my personal observations. But one of the challenges we have is in using old definitions and using comparisons. Fact is, we have a HUGE and serious problem that *will* result in serious tyranny if we don't get things changed.

We may not be the "most" corrupt, but the acceleration rate of corruption and encroachment on civil liberties is extremely fast.

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Actor Jackie Chan calls U.S. �most corrupt� country in the world [View all] Tripper11 Jan 2013 OP

He's probably right, and we need to do something about it. Ken Burch Jan 2013 #1

Sure it serves a purpose DJ13 Jan 2013 #13

Sad to say Flatpicker Jan 2013 #2

Corruption goes well beyond just the financial sector... Drunken Irishman Jan 2013 #5

I agree. Not even close overall. NYC Liberal Jan 2013 #6

You Say: KoKo Jan 2013 #17

I've thought about a lot of stuff... Drunken Irishman Jan 2013 #21

+1 wtmusic Jan 2013 #22

I'm sorry ...you must be addressing your views to someone who is a Democrat KoKo Jan 2013 #23

You're just ranting now. Drunken Irishman Jan 2013 #34

but, but???? heaven05 Jan 2013 #105

You are right as rain. Three decades left... plethoro Jan 2013 #41

I agree with you A Little Weird Jan 2013 #32

"Now that's corruption." cheapdate Jan 2013 #57

You don't think there is corruption tied to oppression? Drunken Irishman Jan 2013 #60

I get your point, but I do think that there is a distinction between oppression and corruption. antigone382 Jan 2013 #63

I think America is corrupt. I think most major governments are... Drunken Irishman Jan 2013 #64

I agree with this on one level, and question it on another. antigone382 Jan 2013 #67

"Corruption" doesn't define cleanly. It looks different and newthinking Jan 2013 #73

"A corrupt government often oppresses" cheapdate Jan 2013 #65

I'm not kidding... Drunken Irishman Jan 2013 #66

This is getting tiresome... cheapdate Jan 2013 #71

It is, isn't? Drunken Irishman Jan 2013 #72

You have a very expansive and malleable definition of corruption, Bud. cheapdate Jan 2013 #74

It's not my fault you're limited on what corruption actually means. Drunken Irishman Jan 2013 #76

It is very often a mistake to think that oppression is not done for profit. Rare is the gratutious Bluenorthwest Jan 2013 #96

"You do not understand how the two things are symbiotic in nature." cheapdate Jan 2013 #110

Perhaps Flatpicker Jan 2013 #48

Yeah, but every one of your examples... MattSh Jan 2013 #88

but, but heaven05 Jan 2013 #106

I spent two months in Canada last year. burnsei sensei Jan 2013 #3

I feel the malaise too every time I return 47of74 Jan 2013 #7

+1 Catherina Jan 2013 #10

I had the same sense when I spent some time there - about 10 years ago. It was in some respects the freshwest Jan 2013 #44

It borders on a society wide mental illness newthinking Jan 2013 #77

I spent three weeks... awoke_in_2003 Jan 2013 #81

I've been out for a long time. MattSh Jan 2013 #89

China's insecurity? Enrique Jan 2013 #4

Excellent point. cprise Jan 2013 #80

By most definitions, America is not even close to China. wtmusic Jan 2013 #8

Well...You've got that RIGHT for sure. "Bribery is a way of life and only way to KoKo Jan 2013 #18

Not even close. wtmusic Jan 2013 #25

This here spade is a spade. n/t Ed Suspicious Jan 2013 #9

How dare you! It is a soil-moving implement! closeupready Jan 2013 #15

If not the most corrupt, pretty darned close. Fuddnik Jan 2013 #11

he is partly right. It is corrupt but the scale of the problem in China is out of bounds. roguevalley Jan 2013 #12

Our AIR is better because we Shipped Jobs to China...therefore cutting the Air Emissions/ KoKo Jan 2013 #19

I'll agree with you there. wtmusic Jan 2013 #26

i never said it wasn't. but I also know that the desert in china is growing and when roguevalley Jan 2013 #35

Also because we create our environmental laws earlier newthinking Jan 2013 #78

Many familiar expressions note the irony of those who misdirect closeupready Jan 2013 #14

This message was self-deleted by its author Drunken Irishman Jan 2013 #16

Uh... China? Both Koreas? Vietnam? onehandle Jan 2013 #20

Perhaps by virtue of the fact cbrer Jan 2013 #24

Definitely among developed nations we're at the top or close to it fujiyama Jan 2013 #27

4 words (and a link) for you, Mr Chan FrodosPet Jan 2013 #28

Two words Fumesucker Jan 2013 #30

Four Words..(and there's more but won't press it) Afghanistan, ME Revolution and AFRICOM BASE KoKo Jan 2013 #33

Did you read the article? FrodosPet Jan 2013 #46

No, the Iraq war was an example of corruption at the highest levels Fumesucker Jan 2013 #50

Was thinking the exact same thing. People died. closeupready Jan 2013 #68

I think Chan overstates his case. Brigid Jan 2013 #29

1+ Neoma Jan 2013 #31

What you say is Obvious...but, you do a "back hand slap at Chan" saying he Overstates KoKo Jan 2013 #38

I guess he's never heard of Mexico. n/t Mr.Bill Jan 2013 #36

I spend half my life criticizing America but that statement is hyperbolic nonsense Douglas Carpenter Jan 2013 #37

You can't see how close we are getting since (for most part) we Support these Evil Countries KoKo Jan 2013 #39

guns, dictators and drones are all legitimate criticisms of America ..but the corruption in the Douglas Carpenter Jan 2013 #45

But.... ReRe Jan 2013 #40

Never been to Romania? Russia? China? Seriously? aquart Jan 2013 #42

Yeah, ok, if he said that about China, he wouldn't live through the night. But because Tutonic Jan 2013 #43

I agree with Jackie Chan if you define "most corrupt" as having the most power through corruption Democratopia Jan 2013 #47

"Most corrupt country in the world" is probably stretching it, Jamaal510 Jan 2013 #49

Republicans in the Legislative Branch of our national government are, as a whole, the most indepat Jan 2013 #51

Did his US tax obligation go way, way up? MADem Jan 2013 #52

I think he's simply NorthCarolina Jan 2013 #54

Well, he's made piles of money off those crummy, corrupt Americans. MADem Jan 2013 #55

Honestly, I think his comment will, sadly, be forgotten NorthCarolina Jan 2013 #56

Not if he has a new movie coming out soon.... nt MADem Jan 2013 #84

Hmm MynameisBlarney Jan 2013 #53

Our corruption is the most important zentrum Jan 2013 #58

how else does one explain KT2000 Jan 2013 #59

Are you talking about America or China? FrodosPet Jan 2013 #86

America KT2000 Jan 2013 #112

Can't we just pay him to shut the hell up!? jmondine Jan 2013 #61

LOL. Festivito Jan 2013 #75

He's had a lot of blows to the head over his long career... eShirl Jan 2013 #62

I am sorry, but other then curiosity, does it really matter what a so-called celebrity thinks? I still_one Jan 2013 #69

It is a ridiculous statement especially compared to countries such as Sudan, China, etc. Is there still_one Jan 2013 #70

We're not the most corrupt, but our wealth and power magnify our faults. nt rrneck Jan 2013 #79

When Jackie Chan speaks; people listen. Kaleva Jan 2013 #82

How do we know which country is the most corrupt? Proletariatprincess Jan 2013 #83

He's damn right! alp227 Jan 2013 #85

Our celebrity obsession could be taken as an example of why davidthegnome Jan 2013 #87

Then why doesn't he give back all that filthy Yankee money? melody Jan 2013 #90

He's sooo wrong! darkangel218 Jan 2013 #91

Chen Long, I live in China. Glass houses, buddy. Nanjing to Seoul Jan 2013 #92

Corrupt? absolutely. Most corrupt in the world? hard to say for sure. We're up there I'm sure. bubbayugga Jan 2013 #93

Im sure there are countries out there who could give our government a run for their money.. xoom Jan 2013 #94

The level of political corruption in Russia is nothing Jennicut Jan 2013 #95

I don't know about the US being the most corrupt lunatica Jan 2013 #97

by population china,russia,india,and the usa are the most corrupt madrchsod Jan 2013 #98

Jackie has opinions I do not share. Also, his rhetoric changes with the day... Bluenorthwest Jan 2013 #99

Our government gave money to banks that illegally Madmiddle Jan 2013 #100

I'd Say Jackie Is On To Something There cantbeserious Jan 2013 #101

Jackie Chan should probably take a look in the mirror. Bradical79 Jan 2013 #102

"His comments were rebuked ..." Sigh. panzerfaust Jan 2013 #103

well heaven05 Jan 2013 #104

While I'm always quick to jump on whatever faults we may have. . . . BigDemVoter Jan 2013 #107

If the numbers of people in the entire world affected by our corruption is considered a factor, Cal33 Jan 2013 #109

I would add "the most hypocritical" to that. L0oniX Jan 2013 #108

All the corrupt rulers that the US has put into power worldbfree Jan 2013 #111

Well that's obviously not close to being true. grantcart Jan 2013 #113

Sounds like Jackie is trying to Cha Jan 2013 #114