Joe
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Corruption and standard of living discussion: http://www.assignmen...omics-2570.html
On another thread I made the statement:
[background=rgb(252, 252, 252)]"One of the benefits of corrupt governments is by keeping the population in poverty - it does make for budget destinations for travelers - sad but true..."[/background]
[background=rgb(252, 252, 252)]A member took offense at this gross violation of political correctness and speech that is [/background]considered contrary to community standards of justice, honesty or good morals.
I think it is common sense that we expats that seek out low cost destinations are in effect benefiting, albeit indirectly, from corruption, especially political corruption. This is what the poster is upset about - he doesn't want to accept that he is personally benefiting from other people's misfortune. It's simply an issue of denial.
We see examples of this across the world. To list a few:
Greece: Politicians hired many more public servants that they could afford to pay for. How many of these hires were brother-in-laws, cousins. LeGarde gave Greek authorities a list of suspected tax cheats and the politicians just sat on it. How much did they get in hush money to do so. One of the end results is that Greece is being turned into a budget destination before our eyes.
Spain: Politicians built splashy new infrastructure all across the country. How many brothers-in-law and cousins ended up being primarly contractors. One of the end results, Spain is being turned into a budget destination before our eyes.
Argentina: In the 90's politicians borrowed more money than the people could afford to pay back. How much of that money ended up in the pockets of friends and family. One of the end results is that Argentina became a budget destination in the early 2000's.
Peru: Has by most accounts reduced corruption (remember Fujimori). Unlike Argentina the local currency has been gaining value against the dollar for years and it is much less of a budget destination than it was 5 years ago.
Singapore is right next to Indonesia and Malaysia. Singapore is generally accepted as a much less corrupt society - it's also definitely NOT a budget destination. We can put on the blinders of political correctness and say this is just a coincidence - but denial will just lead to vicious migraines!
On another thread I made the statement:
[background=rgb(252, 252, 252)]"One of the benefits of corrupt governments is by keeping the population in poverty - it does make for budget destinations for travelers - sad but true..."[/background]
[background=rgb(252, 252, 252)]A member took offense at this gross violation of political correctness and speech that is [/background]considered contrary to community standards of justice, honesty or good morals.
I think it is common sense that we expats that seek out low cost destinations are in effect benefiting, albeit indirectly, from corruption, especially political corruption. This is what the poster is upset about - he doesn't want to accept that he is personally benefiting from other people's misfortune. It's simply an issue of denial.
We see examples of this across the world. To list a few:
Greece: Politicians hired many more public servants that they could afford to pay for. How many of these hires were brother-in-laws, cousins. LeGarde gave Greek authorities a list of suspected tax cheats and the politicians just sat on it. How much did they get in hush money to do so. One of the end results is that Greece is being turned into a budget destination before our eyes.
Spain: Politicians built splashy new infrastructure all across the country. How many brothers-in-law and cousins ended up being primarly contractors. One of the end results, Spain is being turned into a budget destination before our eyes.
Argentina: In the 90's politicians borrowed more money than the people could afford to pay back. How much of that money ended up in the pockets of friends and family. One of the end results is that Argentina became a budget destination in the early 2000's.
Peru: Has by most accounts reduced corruption (remember Fujimori). Unlike Argentina the local currency has been gaining value against the dollar for years and it is much less of a budget destination than it was 5 years ago.
Singapore is right next to Indonesia and Malaysia. Singapore is generally accepted as a much less corrupt society - it's also definitely NOT a budget destination. We can put on the blinders of political correctness and say this is just a coincidence - but denial will just lead to vicious migraines!