Sifting through news stories and media reports there seems to be one defining similarity between most of them. That is corruption. Whilst some people will baulk at that word it is hard to know what else to call it. We may have all heard the adage "you scratch my back and I will scratch yours" but it seems to be a way of life for powerful people in this the 21st Century.
Perhaps it always was?
The Occupy movement may not always get it right, who does, but they hit the nail on the head when they refer to corporate greed. There is so much these days which does not sit well with decent minded, honest folk. Take politicians. In the US right now a veritable slanging match is underway between grown men who all want to be the next leader of the gang, ie the Republican Party. If any of what they say has even a grain of truth to it, they seem to be far from honest dealers.
Whilst attempting to nobble the ordinary man or woman much is made of welfare scroungers. What of all these wealthy business men who have vast wealth stashed away in off shore hidey holes and the like? These people try to cut back on the incomes of people already living on the edge whilst managing to screw the system left, right and centre.
The Leveson inquiry in the UK highlighted the power of the mainstream media. It can make or break political leaders. It can twist and turn the news to suit its own ends. In doing so law enforcement officers become entangled . It seems to this blogger that many who are quick to point the finger at benefit cheats, those who live on welfare and the lik, should perhaps look to cleaning up their own backyard first.
Politicians manipulate voters until they cannot see the wood for the trees. Supported by the leading lights of the media it has to be sleazy. Perhaps one good thing about the GOP debates in the US, now that the gloves are off, is we can all plainly see what a bunch they are.
Don't get me wrong I am not simply knocking the US. it is the same in the UK. The Tories attack Labour, for reportedly receiving some funding from the Unions, whilst at the same time securing backing from big business. What a piece of work they all are, it seems to me.
Yet without our second rate democracy we are nothing. It is most certainly the lesser of the evils but certainly could do with a good clean-up.
In the EU technocrats and politicians insist that we all take our medicine like good children. It will be more of the same, namely excessive cuts. In Greece desperate families are starting to abandon children as their plight increase. Yet in that same country some are still prospering. In Greece today they have named and shamed a whole bunch of tax dodgers. Not the little man or woman who fiddles a few pence, as they so often do, but for once those who cheat big time. The list of 4,000 includes a famous singer, a retired basketball star and a former media magnate. The extent of their cheating? Almost £13bn, with the worst offender allegedly owing the state just under £800m.
What a disgrace. Are Papdemos and his technocrats going to get the money owed? If not why should other EU countries keep bailing them out. Especially when those same bailing countries are expecting their own citizens to tighten their belts and suffer financial restraints.
What a mess. Too many people feathering their own nests it would seem.
Currently in the UK an ongoing legal case against football manager Harry Redknap involves more double dealings. He allegedly had money earned in the UK stashed away in an off shore bank account in the name of his dog Rover. Tax evasion if proven correct.
Wealthy Asil Nadir is also under investigation. In his case it is claimed that he stole from the company Polly Peck. The UK Telegraph has reported from the trial that, "He used a series of companies administered from Switzerland to secretly buy thousands of shares in the international conglomerate.This increased Polly Peck International's Stock Exchange rating and also Nadir's wealth, said Philip Shears QC, prosecuting. He said: "The primary purpose of some or all of those dealings was to support the share price of Polly Peck Internation (PPI) by creating a false or misleading impression as to ... the demand for such shares."Each penny on the share price of PPI increased the value of Asil Nadir's disclosed shareholding, just under a million pounds, so it was important to support the share price or increase it."He also said that just over £4 million had been put towards exclusive properties, and £120,000 had gone towards the £1.2 million purchase price of a house in Aldford Street, Mayfair, where Nadir had lived."
Polly Peck was of course his own Empire. Whilst we have all heard of robbing Peter to pay Paul what about robbing yourself to pay yourself? Unbelievable. The next time your government comes up with an excuse for the tough measures it is expecting you to accept remember to delve a little deeper.
Today the news that UK debt has escalated to an all time high of One Trillion Pound is cause for concern on many fronts. "It means that every man, woman and child in the country owes around £16,400 to the City and global lenders who help keep public services running."
Our Tory led coalition government was swept to power with claims that Labour had let our debt snowball, let it become unmanageable, that it was all Labour's fault and that they, the Tories, could do better. If you did not realise it till now that was obviously all pure and simple hype and bunkum. The Tories may berate Labour for the debts that the global economic crisis forced upon them but what is their excuse? One Trillion Pounds. £16,400 each? Madness.
Yet the fats cats prevail. So I ask again, Is Corruption the name of the Game in the 21st Century? Because in this bloggers humble opinion it sure looks that way.
Perhaps it always was?
The Occupy movement may not always get it right, who does, but they hit the nail on the head when they refer to corporate greed. There is so much these days which does not sit well with decent minded, honest folk. Take politicians. In the US right now a veritable slanging match is underway between grown men who all want to be the next leader of the gang, ie the Republican Party. If any of what they say has even a grain of truth to it, they seem to be far from honest dealers.
Whilst attempting to nobble the ordinary man or woman much is made of welfare scroungers. What of all these wealthy business men who have vast wealth stashed away in off shore hidey holes and the like? These people try to cut back on the incomes of people already living on the edge whilst managing to screw the system left, right and centre.
The Leveson inquiry in the UK highlighted the power of the mainstream media. It can make or break political leaders. It can twist and turn the news to suit its own ends. In doing so law enforcement officers become entangled . It seems to this blogger that many who are quick to point the finger at benefit cheats, those who live on welfare and the lik, should perhaps look to cleaning up their own backyard first.
Politicians manipulate voters until they cannot see the wood for the trees. Supported by the leading lights of the media it has to be sleazy. Perhaps one good thing about the GOP debates in the US, now that the gloves are off, is we can all plainly see what a bunch they are.
Don't get me wrong I am not simply knocking the US. it is the same in the UK. The Tories attack Labour, for reportedly receiving some funding from the Unions, whilst at the same time securing backing from big business. What a piece of work they all are, it seems to me.
Yet without our second rate democracy we are nothing. It is most certainly the lesser of the evils but certainly could do with a good clean-up.
In the EU technocrats and politicians insist that we all take our medicine like good children. It will be more of the same, namely excessive cuts. In Greece desperate families are starting to abandon children as their plight increase. Yet in that same country some are still prospering. In Greece today they have named and shamed a whole bunch of tax dodgers. Not the little man or woman who fiddles a few pence, as they so often do, but for once those who cheat big time. The list of 4,000 includes a famous singer, a retired basketball star and a former media magnate. The extent of their cheating? Almost £13bn, with the worst offender allegedly owing the state just under £800m.
What a disgrace. Are Papdemos and his technocrats going to get the money owed? If not why should other EU countries keep bailing them out. Especially when those same bailing countries are expecting their own citizens to tighten their belts and suffer financial restraints.
What a mess. Too many people feathering their own nests it would seem.
Currently in the UK an ongoing legal case against football manager Harry Redknap involves more double dealings. He allegedly had money earned in the UK stashed away in an off shore bank account in the name of his dog Rover. Tax evasion if proven correct.
Wealthy Asil Nadir is also under investigation. In his case it is claimed that he stole from the company Polly Peck. The UK Telegraph has reported from the trial that, "He used a series of companies administered from Switzerland to secretly buy thousands of shares in the international conglomerate.This increased Polly Peck International's Stock Exchange rating and also Nadir's wealth, said Philip Shears QC, prosecuting. He said: "The primary purpose of some or all of those dealings was to support the share price of Polly Peck Internation (PPI) by creating a false or misleading impression as to ... the demand for such shares."Each penny on the share price of PPI increased the value of Asil Nadir's disclosed shareholding, just under a million pounds, so it was important to support the share price or increase it."He also said that just over £4 million had been put towards exclusive properties, and £120,000 had gone towards the £1.2 million purchase price of a house in Aldford Street, Mayfair, where Nadir had lived."
Polly Peck was of course his own Empire. Whilst we have all heard of robbing Peter to pay Paul what about robbing yourself to pay yourself? Unbelievable. The next time your government comes up with an excuse for the tough measures it is expecting you to accept remember to delve a little deeper.
Today the news that UK debt has escalated to an all time high of One Trillion Pound is cause for concern on many fronts. "It means that every man, woman and child in the country owes around £16,400 to the City and global lenders who help keep public services running."
Our Tory led coalition government was swept to power with claims that Labour had let our debt snowball, let it become unmanageable, that it was all Labour's fault and that they, the Tories, could do better. If you did not realise it till now that was obviously all pure and simple hype and bunkum. The Tories may berate Labour for the debts that the global economic crisis forced upon them but what is their excuse? One Trillion Pounds. £16,400 each? Madness.
Yet the fats cats prevail. So I ask again, Is Corruption the name of the Game in the 21st Century? Because in this bloggers humble opinion it sure looks that way.
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