The Problem With Corruption
The controversy surrounding the World Bank report on alleged rigging of bids for infrastructure projects has again called attention to the problem of corruption plaguing the Philippines.
There is no question corruption will always be a problem regardless of who will be elected to office. It will always be a problem, not only here but everywhere in the world, for as long as governments are run by humans.
I’m not proposing that we elect a monkey or a robot to our country’s highest post. What I’m pointing out is that, despite millions of years of evolution, humans remain naturally inclined to be corrupt. We all know this though many of us don’t want to admit it.
We are a nation of hypocrites. We condemn our politicians, our leaders for graft and corruption but we can’t even admit to ourselves that we are equally capable of the same crime. The fact is that, as private citizens, we just cannot plunder as much as those in office and that, unlike them, we can still hide behind anonymity. We all have the corruption virus. Some of us are just better at fending off temptation. But, even these few scrupulous beings, would have a problem controlling themselves when faced with the opportunity to steal a gazillion pesos.
It should be basic knowledge by now that the first step to solving a problem is to define the problem. I propose that acknowledging and admitting our corrupt nature is the key to solving our country’s perennial problem with graft and corruption. Hopefully, our admission would lead us to the next step, which could either be an individual or collective effort to formulate and implement a real anti-graft and corruption system.
I wish I had written this:
“Let us not pretend that when the international media tags the Philippines as one of the most corrupt countries in the world, it’s only the grafters among us who are under indictment. The label shames us all.
“Nor is our problem only the way that others see us. Our people are coming dangerously close to believing that nothing can be done about corruption and greed in our country, that everyone’s on the take, that it permeates all branches of government, and that working for a larger common good is impossible — and that Senate Inquiries like ours will come to nothing.
“We can no longer be silent and callous witnesses to rampant acts of corruption and remain blase and unaffected by the many storms of scandals that continually pummel our body politic. We can no longer tolerate the practice of the the art of equivocation and pretense that breeds only suspicion and lies. Constant conflicts continue to sap our moral stamina and instrigate our cynicism. A significant number believe the worst: that we have a flawed socio-political culture where judges and justices toe the administration line, where military officials will always say yes to those in power to ensure future employment in government. Independence of thought, believe and judgement has become a rarity. Everyone is cowed by power, money, pelf, and influence.”
[Reply]
lpgd Reply:
March 7th, 2009 at 7:16 am
yes, it does shame us all especially those politicians who have been in the government for some time now but have yet to make a real impact in the fight against corruption.
i wonder if our politicians could admit even to themselves and their families that they are all corrupt or capable of corruption.
there are pretenders everywhere. some even appear like white knights out to save the country.
[Reply]
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