> I don't understand why other governments don't seem so easily bought and sold for a pittance
I was in Scotland with my US born wife. The airwaves were rife with outrage. Politicians had expensed $200 radios to government accounts that were for personal use. My wife could not believe the country was so focused on a pittance.
I think of it like broken windows and graffiti in New York. Once in a while, something big like Watergate or Blagojevich comes along. Otherwise America doesn't care. Other countries do care. There is a principle at stake.
New Zealand for instance, is one of the least corrupt countries in the world. One of the oldest and most popular TV shows is called Fair Go. Fair Go largely deals with tiny little grievances. But the country, as a whole, cares.
I was in Scotland with my US born wife. The airwaves were rife with outrage. Politicians had expensed $200 radios to government accounts that were for personal use. My wife could not believe the country was so focused on a pittance.
I think of it like broken windows and graffiti in New York. Once in a while, something big like Watergate or Blagojevich comes along. Otherwise America doesn't care. Other countries do care. There is a principle at stake.
New Zealand for instance, is one of the least corrupt countries in the world. One of the oldest and most popular TV shows is called Fair Go. Fair Go largely deals with tiny little grievances. But the country, as a whole, cares.