Corruption in the USAnian government

[giza]

I'm sure this comes as no surprise, but there is quite a bit of corruption in my country's government. I spent the last hour or so reading this rather long paper:

A Guide to Conflict of Interest in the U.S. Government

One thing that really impressed me about it was that it actually went into some details of why Osama bin Laden hates us. (hint: It's not about religion)

The author also made an interesting comparison with Brazil:

Contrast the U.S. government with the Brazilian government. Brazil is about the same size as the U.S. without Alaska. Both countries have large areas of less useful land. Brazil has the Amazon region; the U.S. has the Sonoran desert. Both countries are populated by people of European descent. In Brazil there is a higher percentage of Africans. In both countries, Caucasian people of Christian religion are dominant.

My understanding is that the last time the Brazilian government initiated violence in another country was 1878, during its invasion of Paraguay. Why is it that the European descendants in Brazil find ways to live peacefully in the world, and those in the U.S. find peace largely impossible?

Also discussed were:

- Comparisons of our administration to alcoholism. (Both Bush and Cheney have been arrested for DUIs, for example.)

- Since World War II, the USA has used violence in at least 24 seperate countries. We're regular playground bullies, here!

- Corruption is not specific to Liberals or Conservatives, Reuplibicans or Democrats. It's present in all parts (and parties) of our government.

If you have a spare hour to read, I recommend checking it out. If you're short on time, then please just read the section called Quick Tips for understanding U.S. government corruption.

Comments

[furahi.livejournal.com]

Sadly, as you said that comes as no surprise.

[drleo.livejournal.com]

Eh. I'm not shocked anymore. This writing comes across as a bit tinfoil-hat at times, though.

[boixboi.livejournal.com]

A far more interesting comparison between Brazil and the United States would be this: Since the end of military rule in the 1980's, corruption has been the major problem for every president except the current one (head of the Brazilian Worker's Party and a socialist), and two of those have been removed from office with new elections being called in both of those cases. It's certainly not that they have more corruption than we do.

[silver-huskey.livejournal.com]

I'm not really shocked, though it did bring up some points that I'd never seriously given much thought to.

It's it funny how those who'd call themselves looking out for family values in America and would advocate censorship, in fact have a rather violent outlook on life? They go about spouting "wholesome" family values, then do an about face and fail to practice what they say.

Why does military defense, weapons sales and even prisons take more precedence over education, cultural matters, etc? No one should be surprised to learn that the government is corrupt. I sure know that I wasn't.

[giza.livejournal.com]

You should check out Free Speech For Me But Not For Thee (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/006019006X/102-7434150-8496127?v=glance). I have yet to read it (but want to). The book is apparently how both the left AND the right just love to censor each other.

[unciaa.livejournal.com]

> The author also made an interesting comparison with Brazil:

[doco.livejournal.com]

If it were only the government who are total nuts... :P

[giza.livejournal.com]

I agree.

Clearly, the parents of the 5-year old should have been the ones in handcuffs. I cannot imagine what kind of upbringing (or the lack thereof) she must have had to behave like that in class.

[gen-talon.livejournal.com]

Would it surprise you that the parents want to sue the police for putting the girl in cuffs?

[doco.livejournal.com]

Not so terribly uncommon (and not so terribly bad, unless your method of education is resorting to the police force) in young kids.

Ever heard the term "waldorf kindergarten"? ;)

[giza.livejournal.com]

> Ever heard the term "waldorf kindergarten"? ;)

Nein.

[gen-talon.livejournal.com]

I pretty much have to agree about corruption and everything in the U.S. Sadly it affects those of us in the Military..

Now with Brasil. They seem to have a much more laid back socity then we do. Coming from a mother who was born and raised in Brasil. Comes as pretty odd at times.
eh..I got nothing.

[giza.livejournal.com]

Probably.

Even *I* know that the Clinton Administration was anything BUT squeaky clean.