Corruption: Who Cares?
Awoken By The Cacophony Of Affairs
Having
been on a perduring hiatus to focus on issues of practical significance, I find
myself rousted and ferreted by the stridence of issues festering in the last
few months. Indeed, since I have refrained from writing, I have done well to
suppress the urge; but somehow, on this occasion, I can tell my fancy has been
tantalisingly teased and tickled, and my writing aqueduct punctured beyond
repairs. And as such, this piece captures the confluence of emotions and
ratiocinations.
Do
I expect to set a conflagration to deflagrate the chaff of corruption that so
engulfs my motherland? Probably not. In any case, the ideas I intend to distil
might yet—and I say this with bated breath—set off a flicker that may
peradventure amount to something of significance in the wider scheme of
affairs. After all, in the days that we live, many get the chance to read
online and while I may not be interested in adding to the garbled cacophony on
the airwaves and other media; it may well be that somebody of high standing and
political clout may yet stumble on the musings of a concerned soul and
experience an epiphany of sorts.
And
while I may not be showered with national laurels for pointing out that indeed
the emperor is naked; personal gratification would surely be the coveted crown
which I will boldly and incessantly wear with endearing and enduring aplomb.
Palpitating Hearts Of Corruption
The passion for corruption is in the national
blood; it is inherently ingrained and innately inculcated. If we were to see a
true micrograph of the situation; it would betray a tapestry brimming with a
motley of corruption. And which aspect of our pied culture would be exempt?
Religion or the judiciary—it is right there as a welcome bedfellow. It is one
chorus jarringly sung in many a sector of our national symphony with barish
bellicosity and brazen belligerence to the discomfort of those listening and
expecting a much more sonorous tune.
Before
anybody tries to play the onus probandi card with me; they should quickly
remember that only a callow stripling would be so temerarious to question this
suggestion of corruption when this flagrant painting is visible to the blind
and its noisome music is audible to the deaf—not to mention that even the dumb
are shouting it on rooftops; and the cripples are running to bruit about the
message. And what about the many statistics that everybody can easily lay their
hands on?
Even
if we were to wipe our mouth clean with the cleanest, trimmest, freshest
tissue, one great leader’s statement implicates us when he says, “For you clean
the outside of the cup and of the plate, but within they are full of extortion
(prey, spoil, plunder) and grasping self-indulgence.”
Corruption
is systemic in our setup and to attempt to start name calling would be an attempt
to expunge miniscule maculae and vestiges when there are several emblazoned
splotches in one’s purview.
For
some perplexing and dizzying reason it seems we get to catch the small fish
while the big fish seems to escape with gross impunity and a lack of
effrontery. How possible? What sort of sieve catches small particles and lets
go of big items—even monoliths? This sounds contrary to expectations but
appears to be the prevailing situation.
Or
perhaps the big fish is too big for the pan; and we might as well let go of it
and concern ourselves with what can fit the pan of our system? Or somebody tell
me whether there are untouchables: people wielding unimaginable power and being
well ensconced on aerie pedestals far beyond the law or any internal control
system? And while we may comfortingly disport ourselves that such is not the
situation; anybody who even cursorily considers life will acquiesce with this
position.
The Status Quo
Society seems to be set up in such a way that
some of the vilest crooks are neither proscribed nor pilloried but rather
praised and pleasured.
Thinking
about issues in a deeper way, one may notice some paradoxes that society has to
offer. Take for example our financial systems: Who truly pays more tax in terms
of percentages — is it Sam, the über-rich guy, or Tom, the struggling poor? How
could Tom get access to what Sam has access to? And the least said about some
of the big corporations the better.
And
even when it comes to credit offerings: Who gets the best rates (or even any
money at all) — is it Sandy who has money to spare or John who needs an
all-night vigil to force the heavens to purvey his next meal?
In
medical systems for example: Who gets the best treatment – Martha, who needs it
the most, or Tamara, who can more than afford it?
Unsurprisingly,
while corruption may be endemic; some of the most skilful crooks are some of
the most educated who know how to get around the rules with ease. Rather than
using their education and knowledge to help society; this has become their
forte in their attempt to grease their rough palms, line their bottomless
pockets, and sustain their ever-enlarging tastes.
Let’s
not get started on the politician who seems to be the next thing to a saviour
personified. How they prate on about the ills of society only to exacerbate the
condition once the rudder is handed over to them is nothing short of
mind-boggling.
Acceptance & Languor
When
the subject of corruption comes up, we are very quick to apportion blame. And
rightly we may expect responsibility and accountability from those at the helm
of affairs in the nation. These people should be prepared to accept such with
grace as after all the buck stops with them. When organisations fail; the head
goes. And this is not rocket science. In that sense we have every right to
require the highest standards from those in whom we have reposed our confidence
through exercising our suffrage at the ballot box.
But
for what some of these leaders are guilty of; they may need to answer an
important question posed by one writer speaking under inspiration who asks:
“What mean ye that ye beat my people to pieces, and grind the faces of the
poor?”
Lest
we place an unfair charge on all, it may well be that some of these leaders are
not guilty of corruption; but how would we know beyond the slightest shadow of
doubt? Perhaps we should rewrite the statement that, “Dead flies can make a
whole bottle of perfume stink, and a little stupidity can cancel out the
greatest wisdom.”
When
tyros who are offered the lofty chance to taste the glorious fruits of service
in a public office start saying things that show that like a dog, they have not
only smelt but actually caught sight of a juicy bone and hence have impishly
started wagging their tail in anticipation of the booty; or like a lion they
have espied their prey and are patiently stalking with a view to pounce; then
what about those who have been in office as ancient as the word suggests?
If
one trial—with the accused caught pants down—is anything to go by; then it does
not seem to get better with age. In that scenario, the eldest absquatulated
before the younger ones—once the judge posed a piercing question which
convicted all the plaintiffs eager to spill blood.
For
our contemplation we may want to ask ourselves: Do we elect people who are
corrupt or does the office make them corrupt?
If
someone may say that just by being in the garage, you do not become a car; now
what about water remaining in a freezer, does it not change from liquid to
solid for it to be referred to as ice?
So
what brings about the corruption? Is it our systems that enable the people to
become corrupt or these are corrupt people who only pander to their corruption
proclivities like a duck takes to water and a monkey cherishes a banana?
On
introspection, we may agree that our approach to dealing with corruption has
not been as effective as it could have been. Sometimes it seems as though all
our concerted efforts—which we may construe as genuine means to ameliorate a
menace—are nothing but a mere façade. Ipso facto, on occasion, our placid
temper to corruption coupled with our most puissant effort has in some respects
been like a frantic adventure to clasp onto water in a clench fist.
I
observe that even for some of the advanced economies not only tax avoidance
which is legal takes place but so does tax evasion among others. I shudder to
think of our translucent tax system; and I ask myself how much “light” is
passing through? Even if it was opaque, some light would still somehow manage
to pass through; how much what we have?
Strangled By Corruption
But on
a more serious note: Could it be that what an ancient sage points out is a
verisimilitude of our situation when he says, “As for my people, children are
their oppressors...”? If the answer to this question is true then we have a
serious problem on hand.
What
would become of an armoured vehicle with a child at the wheel? Would it be
surprising where it precipitately heads as well as the trail of damage it
leaves in its wake?
Whether
it is petty corruption, grand corruption, or systemic corruption; the
exacerbation of the issue may manifest itself in poverty, inequality, broken
public services, politicians who serve themselves, business owners who abuse
their power, bribery, embezzlement, theft and fraud, extortion and blackmail,
or cunning or palpable favouritism, nepotism and clientelism. And it is certain
that people are increasingly waking up to demand a change in the trajectory that
we seem to be peregrinating as a nation. But would taking to the streets really
be a potent solution?
In
all honesty, it is only a fanciful and fantastic thought as to what our nation
would have been like if corruption were entirely purged from the system without
even a scintilla present. In fact, it would no doubt be a breath of fresh,
fragrant, redolent air contrary to the rancid ambience we seem stuck in. But to
believe that such a situation—total eradication rather than mitigation is
possible—forget vain promises of yore—would be almost chimerical in one sense
and puerile in the other. How can you believe a thing like that? It may be a
lot easier to dry the sea and build solid skyscrapers on the reclaimed land
than to believe that we can totally rid this nation of the malodorous fumes of
corruption that is asphyxiating the populace. Is that pessimistic?
Corruption
is an age-old menace that no country has fully got rid of. It is like the sun;
it shines everywhere. So why then are some countries always competing to come
first in the tables of most corrupt countries? In fact, some of them are so
much associated with it that you can bet with unerring accuracy that they will
occupy apical spots. And in any case, who really decides how corrupt these
countries are? Can we fully be convinced they themselves are wholly free from
the dust of corruption?
As
I have looked at some of these countries, I have noticed that these are some
naturally-endowed countries but ones very much associated with poverty. In that
sense it seems that while all countries are corrupt—and I repeat they all
are—it appears some have found a way of quashing the grumbling exhalations and
silencing the susurrations of aggrieved souls by improving the lot of the
people. For others, they are yet to learn this vital lesson.
Festering Wounds
You may
read whatever you want and believe what you are inclined to believe. Although I
have rightly apportioned blame to the leaders, perhaps that may not be
representative of the wider picture—in fact the net needs to be widened. This
is because corruption is so prevalent it has permeated every fibre of our
nation’s esse. It goes beyond mere leaders, as after all, the nation is not
made up of only leaders. In that sense, corruption is as bottom-up as it is
top-down.
Thinking
further, one may ask the question: Could it also be that some of the people who
sometimes grouse or even preach are themselves corrupt?
Do
they succeed in shielding their shady deals with the ferocity of their claims?
Is that the alluring stratagem they adopt to scatter sand particles of
deception and distraction into the eyes of those who may be inclined to probe?
Or are they aided and abetted by the principle that silence means consent?
And
what about some of the whistleblowers? Do they truly find corruption repugnant
or they do so because they are disconsolately excluded from sharing in the
booty? Do they come out only because that is their last trump card?
Whether
we are inclined to agree or not, we are a corrupt people and in some respects may
be getting more and more corrupt—forget what some pundits may proffer. And a
point like this may attract a peacock’s or even a porcupine’s response—and
rightly so.
The Revolution of Conscience
We may
do well by strengthening multilateral institutions, reducing poverty,
increasing remuneration, improving work conditions, streamlining and
simplifying procedures, stemming the monopoly dominance in some fields,
augmenting regulator discretion, and increasing the level of transparency in
several sectors. These are all truly essential means of tackling this gnawing
and galling issue of corruption.
Moreover,
while we may see leaders attempting to bring this issue under control; and
indeed, they may very well go about turning off the tap at the mains to stop
the water from flowing into the large barrels and broad basins that have been
expectantly placed underneath the tap; but if some of those charged with doing
this are themselves corrupt, then we can expect that whilst the tap is still
closed, the water in the reservoir will continue to diminish by their own
contrived artifices.
Looking
at the Arab Spring etc. and all that has transpired—judging by what we see and
read of those countries—one suggestion may be that its smouldering ashes have
woefully failed to deliver the utopia that some of them were even willing to be
immolated for.
In
view of such, I call for a different kind of revolution; I call this “The
Revolution of Conscience.”
And
we cannot wait for any religious body to lead such a revolution. How possible?
Can the blind—and some of them are as blind as a bat—lead the blind? We need an
awakening on the personal level. This is the sort that transforms inwardly and
shows outwardly. It is so effective; it is like having the Fire Service put out
a fire on a stove.
If
that does not happen, all we will be attempting to do irrespective of all the
rules—which will be flouted and broken like the sun dries out the dew—will
amount to naught. In truth, these people will only get more skilful in both
their devices as well as covering their trails.
To
reiterate an earlier point, in a way, some of the policies to deal with
corruption have been risible at best and feckless at worst. It has been
synonymous with attempting to put out a conflagration by blowing out air
through one’s nostrils.
The Way Forward
When
the moral fibre of a people has become this decadent—spare me what looks like a
majestic exterior; we all know that the interior is graveolent—it does take more
than a weak effort in mitigating it. It requires painstaking assiduity and
considerable time. But leadership remains crucial in lowering the temperature
of what has become a crucible of corruption decrepitating the nation.
On
the national scale, I guess there are some good people with truly Homeric
qualities who love politics and would love to play a vital part. But prudence
may suggest to them that to participate in politics now is like a virgin bride
apparelled in spotless white who decides in a rush to skip the drive to the
church for natation in a morass.
For
such folk, perhaps their candour and artlessness would not find a place in a
profession that seems to be steeply rooted in deception for which one has to of
necessity be a snollygoster of sorts to be able to skid effortlessly and
facilely on its tangled ropes and plexiform paths.
And
still I am left asking a question of lasting significance and monumental value:
But if our political landscape is so fomented with the froth of filth; who is
going to clean it up? And that is one that we should all process in our
cerebration.
While
we may all have valid and laudable suggestions, I may yet postulate that
considering the magnitude of the issue at hand, an ethereal rather than a
sublunary aid may be needed as a matter of urgency. In that sense, we should
all impetrate the One from whom all Nature flows and hope that He is favourably
entreated by our orison.
Why
such a suggestion, one may query? This is because, for some people their
cacoethes, peccadillo, foible etc. is to incessantly cave in to their corrupt
desires. And forget about substantive and compliance testing, all internal
controls, all the harsher sentences that the law will stipulate—forget all
that—there are some who will peddle their skulduggery and play the system with
flair like a bird takes to the air. It may just be that for those people, only
divine intervention may be the way out.
In
essence, I posit that there are people who have no bone of compunction in their
being and if they were caught; they would be sorry for getting caught rather
than what they did. For the presence of such people scattered in every sector
of our nation, the millstone of decay will incessantly hang uncomfortably over
our neck as long as they continue to contrive—and aided by our inability to
weave them out—to ascend to the loftiest and lordliest offices of influence.
And would they trifle care when they have and continue to glaringly get away
with it?
Dr.
F. R. Silverson
“Intellectualism without
conscience self-destructs.”
