Karen, The reason it's my favorite example is the way it was lost. It isn't a secret that getting aid to the people is mostly doomed before it begins. It's a kind of trickle-down theory, where not much get to those at the bottom. Come to think of it, that was true of our earlier 'trickle down' exposure.
Some items that have influenced my thinking. A long conversation with a Private Secretary to a Mexican Governor in which he explained to me how a bribe was divided at different levels up to the Governor himself. There was actually an "official" percentage for each bureaucrat. Secondly, chatting with a student of mine - a CEO of a very large business is the LA area - who was embroiled in a major strike. "At least, Harry," he said, "the people sitting across from you are the same as you." Maybe I'm impressionable, but I thought of similar suits facing each other across the table discussing the fate of the blue collars in the business. A discussion that will end when the unionist suits will have found what will be moderately acceptable to the rank and file, even as the company suits have found a moderate increase that can be passed on to the customers without turning them away. Then, the OXFAM representative in Ethiopia saying 'we don't want any more food, we have plenty. Something must be done to get it to the people'. That's also apparently the problem in Zimbabwe, where any food available goes first (or perhaps only) to the supporters of the government. Money aid is better for third world bureaucrats, for like the Mexican example, I'm sure there is official side-tracking of the funds. The leaders - even in pseudo-democracies - live very well, even as their peoples starve. The loss of the $60 million was outright theft. Corruption had worked its way throughout the Nigerian political structure. When I originally wrote about it, a new government of suits had been elected with a major promise to stamp out corruption allowed by the old government. I am amused by the effrontery of stealing $60 million. After two years in office, the new "reform" suits in government had not solved the $60 million caper, but in their pursuit of corruption, they had already arrested someone. (I never found out if he had been convicted.) You can see why I like Sabatini's description of Scaramouche: "He was born with a gift of laughter and a sense that the world was mad." Harry ****************************** Harry Pollard Henry George School of LA Box 655 Tujunga CA 91042 [EMAIL PROTECTED] Tel: (818) 352-4141 Fax: (818) 353-2242 *******************************
--- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.394 / Virus Database: 224 - Release Date: 10/3/2002
