Worst-ever perception of U.S. corruption

[loco]

U.S. slips to historic low in global corruption index

On Tuesday October 26, 2010, 4:38 am EDT

By Dave Graham

BERLIN (Reuters) - The United States has dropped out of the "top 20" in a global league table of least corrupt nations, tarnished by financial scandals and the influence of money in politics, Transparency International said on Tuesday.

Somalia was judged the most corrupt country, followed by Myanmar and Afghanistan at joint second-worst and then by Iraq, in the Berlin-based watchdog TI's annual corruption perceptions index (CPI).

The United States fell to 22nd from 19th last year, with its CPI score dropping to 7.1 from 7.5 in the 178-nation index, which is based on independent surveys on corruption.

This was the lowest score awarded to the United States in the index's 15-year history and also the first time it had fallen out of the top 20.

In the Americas, this put the United States behind Canada in sixth place, Barbados at 17th and Chile in 21st place.

Jointly heading the index -- in which a score of 10 indicates a country with the highest standards, and 0 as highly corrupt -- were Denmark, New Zealand and Singapore with 9.3. They were also at the top of the table last year.

Somalia scored 1.1. The watchdog group said its table was based on "different assessments and business opinion surveys carried out by independent and reputable institutions."

U.S. "INTEGRITY DEFICIT"

Nancy Boswell, president of TI in the United States, said lending practices in the subprime crisis, the disclosure of Bernard Madoff's Ponzi scheme and rows over political funding had all rattled public faith about prevailing ethics in America.

"We're not talking about corruption in the sense of breaking the law," she said. "We're talking about a sense that the system is corrupted by these practices. There's an integrity deficit."

Various financial scandals at state and city level had encouraged the impression that the regulatory oversight was weak and that influence could be bought, she added.

The index showed a number of countries -- including Iran -- climbing up the chart significantly from 2009, though TI said this could often be ascribed to the fact that different surveys were being used that offered no direct comparison to last year.

The fact that nearly three quarters of the countries scored 5.0 or less showed corruption was still a major global problem, said Robin Hodess, director of policy and research at TI.

However, the watchdog identified Bhutan, Chile, Ecuador, Macedonia, Gambia, Haiti, Jamaica, Kuwait, and Qatar as states where improvement had been made over the past year.

By contrast, it highlighted the Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Madagascar, guy and the United States as nations where perceptions had deteriorated.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/US-slips-to-historic-low-in-rb-3603521040.html?x=0

[Lundgren]

No shit sherlock. You think it might have something to do, with someone like Bush getting a free pass on blatant, coruption. Lol the liberals in Canada got thrown out for something Obama would do.

It`s so blatant, and rampant, you guys are turning into fucking india with that shit.

[loco]

No shit sherlock. You think it might have something to do, with someone like Bush getting a free pass on blatant, coruption. Lol the liberals in Canada got thrown out for something Obama would do.

It`s so blatant, and rampant, you guys are turning into fucking india with that shit.

It's all Bush's fault.  Obama is the most innocent, ethical leader ever!

[225for70]

Damn, How the US has fallen from glory..

[Lundgren]

It's all Bush's fault.  Obama is the most innocent, ethical leader ever!

No Obama is dead weight and useless. But it seems like most people would agree on that. Bush on the Otherhand is still getting away scot free which is were the problem lies. Direct coruption with bush caused the iraq war(1 trillion). Obama`s bailout was probally corrupt as well, but atleast it boosted global markets instead of just increasing the price of oil.

[tonymctones]

No Obama is dead weight and useless. But it seems like most people would agree on that. Bush on the Otherhand is still getting away scot free which is were the problem lies. Direct coruption with bush caused the iraq war(1 trillion). Obama`s bailout was probally corrupt as well, but atleast it boosted global markets instead of just increasing the price of oil.

what corruption would you be talking about lundgren?

exactly how did the stimulus boost global markets?

[Lundgren]

what corruption would you be talking about lundgren?

exactly how did the stimulus boost global markets?

I have no idea, it`s merely chance that most of the g20 did some sort of bailout of there own, merely chance. ROFLMAO.

Coruption, how about dick chenney leading the US into the war, with Rumsfield, a nixon reject at his side. All to help a few american oil companies get reconstruction contracts. That`don`t automatically mean coruption, but if you can`t see that shit as being a huge conflict of issues matter I am baffled.

Or bush junior getting elected, I couldn`t even get a job here at my mothers work as it would be deemed inappropiate. 

[tonymctones]

I have no idea, it`s merely chance that most of the g20 did some sort of bailout of there own, merely chance. ROFLMAO.

ROFLMAO ok so you mean by chance not directly... you should be more clear 

now on to the corruption...

[Lundgren]

ROFLMAO ok so you mean by chance not directly... you should be more clear  

now on to the corruption...

Read it again. Add on the Saudi pressure to invade Iraq, and Saudis being the number one terrorist country, and at the same time our arms industries selling to them as well seems corrupt.

[tonymctones]

Read it again.

nice edit read my quote of yours 

[tonymctones]

I have no idea, it`s merely chance that most of the g20 did some sort of bailout of there own, merely chance. ROFLMAO.

Coruption, how about dick chenney leading the US into the war, with Rumsfield, a nixon reject at his side. All to help a few american oil companies get reconstruction contracts. That`don`t automatically mean coruption, but if you can`t see that shit as being a huge conflict of issues matter I am baffled.

Or bush junior getting elected, I couldn`t even get a job here at my mothers work as it would be deemed inappropiate. 

oh i agree there is a potential conflict of interest but that doesnt equate to corruption...name another company that was big enough and organized enough to handle the operations in iraq?

so you have it looks fishy, any actual proof?

what about bush getting elected we just elected a moron of inexperienced jack ass and you think its weird that bush got elected? really???

[Lundgren]

oh i agree there is a potential conflict of interest but that doesnt equate to corruption...name another company that was big enough and organized enough to handle the operations in iraq?

so you have it looks fishy, any actual proof?

what about bush getting elected we just elected a moron of inexperienced jack ass and you think its weird that bush got elected? really???

Yes but for better or worst Obama is what liberals wanted, Bush really polarized people to a unreal degree. You  could say it`s corrupt that people vote and make bad decisions but that`s democracy.

It`s not the point whether or not the companies could do it. If the president decides to take a course were only his friends can participate, it`s highly suspect.

The point is whether or not the action itself was wrong, but whether or not our reaction was wrong. That index speaks for itself. Anti coruption culture, has to be very suspicious of any conflict of interest at the baseline.

[tonymctones]

Yes but for better or worst Obama is what liberals wanted, Bush really polarized people to a unreal degree.

It`s not the point whether or not the companies could do it. If the president decides to take a course were only his friends can participate, it`s highly suspect.

The point is whether or not the action itself was wrong, but whether or not our reaction was wrong. That index speaks for itself. Anti coruption culture, has to be very suspicious of any conflict of interest at the baseline.

thats not true at all I believe 2 or 3 other companies bid on operations in iraq as well as halliburton...

maybe you should do some research my friend...

again I agree but name ANOTHER COMPANY with the capacity to handle what was asked of halliburton in IRAQ...

so basically you dont know of any corruption but only the possible conflict of interest that could have occurred and that is enough for you to call it straight corruption?

[Soul Crusher]

Charlie Rangle, Cold Cash Jefferson, Elonor Holmes Norton, and all the other thugs in congress dont help the situation one bit.   

[Lundgren]

Lets pretend it was 50 50 split for going. Than the saudi spoke up about there suspicions of them having terrorist, obviously there interest were suspect as the majority of terrorist came from SA. Add to that Exonmobil, suggesting that reconstruction could be a great aid for the American economy and there we have it. If you add to that someone like bush, who was known for his lack of academics, confused Arabs with Persians etc, a overly agressive rumsfield(daddys and nixons boy) and magically the same guy who sends the iraqi army home has connections to american bussiness.

To top it all off, they bipased the UN ignoring procedure, and entering a war under misguided pretenses.

If you don`t think this was a result of multiple degrees of coruptions you are lost.

[tonymctones]

Lets pretend it was 50 50 split for going. Than the saudi spoke up about there suspicions of them having terrorist, obviously there interest were suspect as the majority of terrorist came from SA. Add to that Exonmobil, suggesting that reconstruction could be a great aid for the American economy and there we have it. If you add to that someone like bush, who was known for his lack of academics, confused Arabs with Persians etc, a overly agressive rumsfield(daddys and nixons boy) and magically the same guy who sends the iraqi army home has connections to american bussiness.

To top it all off, they bipased the UN ignoring procedure, and entering a war under misguided pretenses.

If you don`t think this was a result of multiple degrees of coruptions you are lost.

LMAO what? so were pretending now???

again so you have no proof of corruption just to point to halliburton and cheney even though they had to compete for the original contract for operations in iraq...

thats why i love you foreigeners, so passionate about your hate of the US but SOOOOO IGNORANT OF ACTUAL INFORMATION...

[Lundgren]

thats not true at all I believe 2 or 3 other companies bid on operations in iraq as well as halliburton...

maybe you should do some research my friend...

again I agree but name ANOTHER COMPANY with the capacity to handle what was asked of halliburton in IRAQ...

so basically you dont know of any corruption but only the possible conflict of interest that could have occurred and that is enough for you to call it straight corruption?

Sorry I meant haliburton. It`s not possible coruption it`s direct, possible would mean, that there`s a possibilty your interests might gain by your choices THEY DID gain by Bush`s actions.  And my opinion is that it was direct coruption. There no information to the counter, WMD`s, terrorists, increased stabilty etc.

[tonymctones]

Sorry I meant haliburton. It`s not possible coruption it`s direct, possible would mean, that there`s a possibilty your interests might gain by your choices THEY DID gain by Bush`s actions.  And my opinion is that it was direct coruption. There no information to the counter, WMD`s, terrorists, increased stabilty etc.

LOL agreed but you have no proof it was through corruption...they were a qualified company one of maybe 2 or 3 that could handle what was being asked of them in iraq...so why does a qualified company beating out 2 others bids all of a sudden corruption?

LMAO there was intelligence from the US and other countries at the time that Iraq did indeed have WMD, I think its clear they were wrong but that doesnt negate the fact that at the time there was conflicting intel...

but hey dont let facts get in the way of your gut judgement 

[Lundgren]

LOL agreed but you have no proof it was through corruption...they were a qualified company one of maybe 2 or 3 that could handle what was being asked of them in iraq...so why does a qualified company beating out 2 others bids all of a sudden corruption?

LMAO there was intelligence from the US and other countries at the time that Iraq did indeed have WMD, I think its clear they were wrong but that doesnt negate the fact that at the time there was conflicting intel...

but hey dont let facts get in the way of your gut judgement 

Because the bids were designed for their favour. Again we can argue about this all day. I`d say it`s as likely as Culter does steriods but whatever not the point.

What evidence. There hasn`t been anything concrete produced other than leftovers from 91. 7 YEARS IN. I do believe there were semi legit intelligence forces. But majority, were Saudi`s, with their own backyard at interest, or Iraquis who wanted American intervention.  The fact that there lacking concrete evidence, and invaded in a democratic world is also smells a little fishy.


My point is there are so many degrees of coruption with this, that even if half of them were true it would of been enough to cause the war.

[tonymctones]

Because the bids were designed for their favour. Again we can argue about this all day. I`d say it`s as likely as Culter does steriods but whatever not the point.

What evidence. There hasn`t been anything concrete produced other than leftovers from 91. 7 YEARS IN. I do believe there were semi legit intelligence forces. But majority, were Saudi`s, with their own backyard at interest, or Iraquis who wanted American intervention.  The fact that there lacking concrete evidence, and invaded in a democratic world is also smells a little fishy.


My point is there are so many degrees of coruption with this, that even if half of them were true it would of been enough to cause the war.

you point is based on it smell fishy   smelling fishy doesnt equate to corruption brain child...

you cant even prove one of them so you have absolutely nothing

do yourselft a favor and dont comment on things as if they are facts when you have not one piece of evidence to back up your stance  

[Lundgren]

you point is based on it smell fishy   smelling fishy doesnt equate to corruption brain child...

you cant even prove one of them so you have absolutely nothing

do yourselft a favor and dont comment on things as if they are facts when you have not one piece of evidence to back up your stance  

Well I have a coruption index in front of me. And I don`t have the bill for a 1 trillion dollar war that has produced NOTHING OF MERIT.

FYI It`s a fact that there were alot of conflict of interest, obviously there is no proof if there was we wouldn`t be having this arguement. 

[tonymctones]

Well I have a coruption index in front of me. And I don`t have the bill for a 1 trillion dollar war that has produced NOTHING OF MERIT.

and it attributes that to what exactly?...the financial crisis, it doesnt mention iraq or halliburton like you idiot ass does...

FYI It`s a fact that there were alot of conflict of interest, obviously there is no proof if there was we wouldn`t be having this arguement. 

exactly so please refrain from talking about it as if its a certainty when AGAIN YOU HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO PROOF TO BACK UP YOUR STANCE...

as a matter of fact you probably had no idea that halliburton even had to compete for the contract in the first place...

go educate yourself first then make an assumption b/c the ASSumptions you have now make you look like quit the ASS 

[Lundgren]

and it attributes that to what exactly?...the financial crisis, it doesnt mention iraq or halliburton like you idiot ass does...
exactly so please refrain from talking about it as if its a certainty when AGAIN YOU HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO PROOF TO BACK UP YOUR STANCE...

as a matter of fact you probably had no idea that halliburton even had to compete for the contract in the first place...

go educate yourself first then make an assumption b/c the ASSumptions you have now make you look like quit the ASS 

Of course haliburton had to compete. But just look at the details of that shit. They subcontracted a load of that shit. All under the theory that it would be at lower costs which didn
t happen. But again  the act itself IS NOT MY STANCE.

My point as I said if is severe conflict of interests such as these are passed off as unprovable than there is no hope for america.  There are tons of other issues, however none of the ones I can think of are on the TRILLION dollar scale besides maybe the banking industry. So yes If I wanted to raise awarness on american coruption, I would point to the Iraq war.

[tonymctones]

Of course haliburton had to compete. But just look at the details of that shit. They subcontracted a load of that shit. All under the theory that it would be at lower costs which didn
t happen. But again  the act itself IS NOT MY STANCE.

My point as I said if is severe conflict of interests such as these are passed off as unprovable than there is no hope for america.  There are tons of other issues, however none of the ones I can think of are on the TRILLION dollar scale besides maybe the banking industry. So yes If I wanted to raise awarness on american coruption, I would point to the Iraq war.

LMAO thats the way that shit works...and the vast majority of shit was done in house...trust me I live in Houston and had more than one friend go to iraq working for halliburton/KBR...you really have little knowledge of that which youre talking about...

you would point to nothing b/c you have nothing...of course there are conflicts of interest there are always going to be conflicts of interest with businesses of any scale...thats a part of doing business....

so we should just act on the gut instincts of you? lol forget proof and all that innocent until proven guilty bull shit right? 

[Lundgren]

LMAO thats the way that shit works...and the vast majority of shit was done in house...trust me I live in Houston and had more than one friend go to iraq working for halliburton/KBR...you really have little knowledge of that which youre talking about...

you would point to nothing b/c you have nothing...of course there are conflicts of interest there are always going to be conflicts of interest with businesses of any scale...thats a part of doing business....

so we should just act on the gut instincts of you? lol forget proof and all that innocent until proven guilty bull shit right? 

Dude this goes beyond me. Where do you think all this coruption is found. It`s everywhere. If you can`t find the most obvious signs your never gonna get in the top 20.

This is part of the culture required to fight coruption. If you can justify things that aren`t right your just adding to the problem.

My point haliburton without going into details stands on it own. This is common shit you`ll find everyday india, or South Afirca, won`t find it in canada on big scale.

If you only agree with this stuff when it is prooved and obvious you won`t fight coruption.