as the Corrupt trade

international | worker & community struggles and protests | opinion/analysis

Monday October 24, 2005 22:11

by iosaf

Last week saw the publication of this year's "transparency org" world corruption perception report. Its a report which is taken seriously by some, and certainly no country looking for foreign investment wants to be at the bottom of the 158 rankings.

But both the annual list of "corruption perception" and "bribery perception" indixes, can not be understood as isolated statistics. Just as Greenspan's biographer assured us he takes stock of over 4000 weekly indicators, we can not consider just one single country or economy when discussing corruption or bribery. Nor can we refuse to draw in other human development indicators, (the UNHDR report) all the usual "facts and figures" and internal data.

where the ruffians and loveable rogues do business & banking is where children are sold, birds have flu, and misery is cheap.

For every country is surely different. We speak about Africa this year, becuase in every accepted indicator for poverty, Africa comes last.

But the causes of poverty, exclusion and inequality are not found in Africa alone. African states have come last as is expected in this year's corruption perception list, but so too have many South American states, with far higher average infrastructure, recently won "fairer judicial climates" and globally regarded more favourable trading positions.

I do not wish to treat on African corruption indicators in this evening's article, rather to remind readers that those who profit from corruption are also found in multiple states. We may read the list
http://www.transparency.org/cpi/2005/cpi2005_infocus.html#cpi as our peers did at a politics blog earlier and consider Ireland's lower ranking that last year.

http://www.sluggerotoole.com/archives/2005/10/more_corrupt_th.php
But most of us will not consider that there are many who see in this list of impoverishment and criminality :-
"a directory of opportunity".

Anti-corruption measures have been steadily introduced in the EU for the last decade, each state of the former 15, and more recently the 25 have seen inquiries, tribunals, scandals, as the political elite of post-war Europe on both left and right were found to count amongst their respected ranks, men (& women) who could smell out a dodgy business deal at a thousand miles.

Those who survived that era of British Tory, French Centre, British Labour, corruption and graft scandals in everything from procurement, to real restate development to quite plain theft
feel their dealings may still be done elsewhere, and it has become very clear in the last 2 years where the Irish players went.

"out east"

Corruption and Bribery, sustain mafia societies, where psycopaths take public office in consort with business. The clear result is poverty.

I'm out of time. got a white curly wire going down the neck of my shirt, and I got to move now. I might update my opinion tomorrow.

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Comments (4 of 4)

advertising break.

by sofia

Mon Oct 24, 2005 23:08

Ahern through RTE understands that journalists have a job to do, and the lumpen moral irish - how do they think when spun? Ah yes, but indymedia exists because we are passionate about politics. We say in our mission statement in over 50 languages. (((we even get encrypted mail in swahili))) But his speech writer at the ard fheis of the latterly corrupt in Ireland probably didn't add a footnote when he used "passionate about politics" in his speech. Ah, he knew about Lawlor, and many of those in the room didn't.

Now where am I going in the advertising break? Its not like i wrote these sunday papers. Why am I adding Fianna Fail to the text "as the corrupt trade"? I need look no further than the spanish socialists in the 80s. More my garden. Didn't Willie Mc Dea tell us the left is haunted by the intials "air" (((alphabetical order that one))) Yes it appears that Irish politics in the new peace it has so long deserved, needs to depart from a culture of politicians, who were so in bed with leaders of the business community who are at least "consistently inethical" in their dealings. No more rogues, no more slimey greenies, no more undeclared interests far off, no more "resigning from your seat". It appears that the association of "leverage" and parliamentary office, [a key indicator of corruption prevalence at corporate level] has not been properly adressed, especially when we realise that these are "the network" that regimes such as FF or any of its challengers need : to perpetuate the regime.

buy a car.

Today will see French courts hand down sentance

by €€€€€

Tue Oct 25, 2005 13:50

on 47 political party officials and businessmen accused of a major scandal, they are all linked to President Jacques Chirac, for transactions which occured whilst he was still mayor of Paris.

The most prominent of the accused is michel Roussin, 66 years of age, he has denied some charges but admitted he knew of a "kickback" system between 1989 and 1995 by which politicians got illegal payments amounting to 2% of any contract.

Prosecution argue that Roussin, a former soldier and intelligence official, deserves a four-year suspended sentence, a five-year suspension of his civil rights and a fine of 100,000 euros.

Transparency International

by Shipsea

Tue Oct 25, 2005 15:26

Ireland have finally signed up to this organisation. As a country whose position on the global perception report had slipped 9 places since the last one was done, we need to do something about it.

It will, however, be interesting to see how seriously TI are actually taken. Signs may not be that encouraging considering the following statement for the Irish TI CEO:

“"Does TI investigate individual cases of corruption?

No, nor do we 'name names'. TI is convinced that its role is best served with the support of coalitions of civil society, private business and government. Becoming involved with individual cases could adversely affect the formation of such coalitions, by deterring individuals and organisations from becoming involved.”

You can go to the international TI website here
http://www.transparency.org/

and the Irish one here:
http://www.transparency.ie/

berlusconi faces his 7th trial process in Milan today

by erin

Fri Oct 28, 2005 13:20

on corruption links.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4384108.stm
Its like he has never been convicted of corruption.
Sure if he was Irish people would bury him in a...

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Comments (4 of 4)