The US currently operates amidst legal corruption.
And that is OK, until the citizens say it is not and mean it, just to be clear here.
That imparts a strong bias that very likely marginalizes our government ability to assess the overall effectiveness and ability to function in other governments.
If you've traveled internationally you QUICKLY get a sense of how folks feel about their govt. Corrupt govt? Everyone is cheating that govt as well.
So if you are a cop, your bosses are taking your pay, they are in bed with XXX and YYY, then yeah, forget ANY chance of clean policing - "spot fines" here we come and services to highest bidder.
I find it hard to image paying off a cop to avoid a speeding ticket in the US although I know in any place where gang activity is widespread there are cops on the take.
On the other hand I think corruption is widespread at the upper levels in Albany and Washington.
I thought in NY the corruption was done via "donations" and association with the "Patrolmen's Benevolent Association". They give out cards specifically for this purpose.
From the wording in this article they are pretty brazen about it. Even the official comments don't deny they affect officers discretion.
In the article itself it’s got contradicting opinions about its usefulness. From it has little impact to it might get you off a minor speeding ticket or violation. It won’t get you off major infractions.
What it may do more reliably is give the bearer some benefit of doubt.
With bodycams however I’m sure there is now less wiggle room.
Corruption in the US doesn’t happen much at this level. It happens more on the turnstile from politics to private practice and back. The revolving door along with the institutionalization of non-elected officials (appointees) which circumvents democracy.
Where police bribes are common they are usually for things like speeding tickets. Getting out of major charges with a bribe is pretty far down the corruption rabbit hole.
From friends in some of these places it covers a wide range of things: avoiding the consequences of illegal building, accidents with bodily injury, as well as getting choice jobs without qualifications, etc.
>What it may do more reliably is give the bearer some benefit of doubt.
Exactly. It tells them you're "in the club" so when they fishing stop you with some BS minor traffic violation as a pretext they a) don't go all out with the 20 questions routine fishing for probable cause and b) let you off with a warning.
No. I'd argue Pakistan was a far bigger problem, but certainly corruption did not help. Charges of corruption in urban centers is very old in Afghanistan, the Taliban certainly did not invent that.
I was watching someone on PBS last week who claimed Pakistani intelligence created the Taliban and then fostered them into Afghanistan. Not to mention they pretty much hid Osama Bin Ladin for a decade or so.
That was the OP, Ms. Sarah Chayes, the interviewed party in the PBS NewsHour article/video, says that Pakistan intelligence services conceived of the Taliban, funded their religious schools and military training, and funded their entry and presence in Afghanistan.
Pakistan and the Taliban are pretty tight, and together can now control the poppy/opium/heroin trade, and crucial land traffic across Afghanistan, extracting their rent. Plus Pakistan now has "head space" when confronting India, margin for maneuvering.
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[ 3.9 ms ] story [ 15.0 ms ] threadAnd that is OK, until the citizens say it is not and mean it, just to be clear here.
That imparts a strong bias that very likely marginalizes our government ability to assess the overall effectiveness and ability to function in other governments.
If you've traveled internationally you QUICKLY get a sense of how folks feel about their govt. Corrupt govt? Everyone is cheating that govt as well.
So if you are a cop, your bosses are taking your pay, they are in bed with XXX and YYY, then yeah, forget ANY chance of clean policing - "spot fines" here we come and services to highest bidder.
On the other hand I think corruption is widespread at the upper levels in Albany and Washington.
From the wording in this article they are pretty brazen about it. Even the official comments don't deny they affect officers discretion.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-42780382
What it may do more reliably is give the bearer some benefit of doubt.
With bodycams however I’m sure there is now less wiggle room.
Corruption in the US doesn’t happen much at this level. It happens more on the turnstile from politics to private practice and back. The revolving door along with the institutionalization of non-elected officials (appointees) which circumvents democracy.
Exactly. It tells them you're "in the club" so when they fishing stop you with some BS minor traffic violation as a pretext they a) don't go all out with the 20 questions routine fishing for probable cause and b) let you off with a warning.
If you've been to developing countries - the comparisons are not even close.
Pakistan and the Taliban are pretty tight, and together can now control the poppy/opium/heroin trade, and crucial land traffic across Afghanistan, extracting their rent. Plus Pakistan now has "head space" when confronting India, margin for maneuvering.