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Re: Sh. N.Vittal's response
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At 06:55 PM 7/10/00 -0700, Navaneethakrishnan wrote:
ITEM NO. I: HONESTY OF US SENATOR
>> >Question: why is an average US senator relatively much
>> >more honest than or average MP/MLA?
>> >
>> >Ans:
>> >
>> >1)It Just doesn't pay. It is not worth the trouble when enough money
>> > can be made in the private industry after being a US senator.(OR)
>> > without being a senator and just working hard and smart.
>>
>>V. poor analysis. You are libelling the entire US system.
>
>In what way I am libelling the U.S system, I don't dont understand your
>statement at all Dr.Sanjeev. American system has its own pitfalls, but is
>somehow working better than Indian system. All that Iam saying is that there
>are enough avenues for a politician in U.S to make money other than taking
>bribes and getting caught and going through the public humiliation.
You're right. I had read 'between the lines' and interpreted your statement
"It is not worth the trouble when enough money can be made in the private
industry after being a US senator" to mean that the senators get these jobs
as a 'bribe' for doing favours to the pvt. sector. If these jobs are
obtained by merit there is nothing to say. However, how does that show that
Senators are likely to be honest when Senators, since the pvt. sector job
is no sinecure? But I fully retract my earlier, hasty statement; sorry
about that.
You now say: "there >are enough avenues for a politician in U.S to make
money other than taking >bribes and getting caught and going through the
public humiliation."
-- which makes more sense, since senators can get caught taking bribes. So
that is the mechanism which prevents dishonesty. We don't have any in India
for that. The CVC is limited to bureaucracy. Lok Pals are either non
existent or toothless.
ITEM NO. 2 INCENTIVES FOR MPs/ MLAs to be honest in India.
> >3)There is no incentive, environment for being honest while there is
>>sufficient indirect encoragement from Govt for being dishonest.
>>
>>I'm asking you to state what incentives you want to see in place. Think
>>some more.
>1) Make system and procedures for getting Govt. approval and sanctions
> more transperant and simple.
That is not an incentive. That is an environmenntal condition related to
opportunity. Corruption breeds with the right incentives and appropriate
opportunity. You have not touched upon the incentive. Why will any MP/MLA
make the system more transparent when he/she controls the entire govt.
machinery and wants to make money through the non-transparent system?
>2) Amend laws that are clearly not in the Interest of the country or
> just out of touch with the present times.
too general, i'm afraid.
>3)Make the interation of an avarage citizen with the Govt offices more
> friendly, & open.(ofcourse it has to be both ways)
will it make MPs/ MLAs more honest?
>4)Punish the guilty!. Let it be known that crime doesn't pay. Equip
> and arm the Police, judisiary, Press with the information, knowledge
> and power to deal with crime effectively and speedily.
How do we get these corrupt bunch to pass acts and bills which will ensure
they get punished, such as effective lok pal bills?
>5)Reward the Honest. ie atleast by not making him or her to endless
> transfers and humiliation.
forget the bureaucracy. the honest don't care for rewards, and transfers
don't bother them a bit. Talk ONLY about political corruption for the moment.
>6)Inbibe the culture of honesty, integratity, among childern. I have
> given up hope on certain grown ups.
how and why? When you admit that Indians are not dishonest in general, why
bother to improve a society which does not require such tinkering?
I still think you and I are talking on a different wavelength.
SS
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