corruption causes, logic faulty

[Charudatt <charu@iced.com>]

Sanjeev Sabhlok[SMTP:sabhlok@almaak.usc.edu] wrote:

>Finally, I will revert to the basic point about corruption: that
>trying to remove the 'boils' of corruption will not work. The
>boils are arising from one organism: incentive structure and
>opportunity. 

Agreed so far [incentive, structure and opportunity]

>The bacteria is called Socialism and it has to
>go. Once you cut out the number of tasks a government is supposed
>to do (this welfare state thing attached to socialism is
>completely fatal), and pay the elected reps and the officials a
>high salary - then corruption will ease considerably. 

This reasoning [socialism causes corruption] is a case of 
post hoc, ergo propter hoc, "After this, therefore because of this."

By way of counter-examples welfare states of Scandinavia have almost no
corruption, and non-socialist states such as Indonesia and the
Philippines have high corruption.

I would add that simply because corrupt rulers and officials invoke the
name of socialism to justify claim to their power, does not mean they
practice socialism, and for us to agree to their claim, and conclude
that socialism is the problem is, IMO, ill considered.

-Charu


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