Tuesday, November 07, 2006

Corruption, RTI, and karma?

There is general indication that if people see the karmic implications, they will stop being corrupt. I would surely not agree with that. Today there are plenty of people who do understand, know the karmic side but they STILL actively pursue corrupt lifestyle.

Simply too much greed ! Easy money, lavish life style, power etc. are not so easy to say NO to. This is the reason why "good" needs more strength. Also, the ineffectiveness of system in terms of punishing the culprit has taken away any fear to be greedy.

BUT MORE THAN ANYTHING, the general acceptance of corruption as part of life has led to the current situation. You cannot expect to shame people (bureaucrats) into giving away corruption. The average public also does not seem to be ashamed of telling that they paid some money to get things done. This thought process which has led to believe people that corruption is as much part of our life as rain or sunshine is the hardest barrier in the fight against corruption.

The corrupt bureaucrats or private industry people also have been able to use this or other excuses to manipulate their conscience to accept or give bribes. Same applies to most of average people. Excuses like 'if I do not give bribe, I will not get it even after I die', ' I am giving it to get this good work done quickly', 'that is the only way it works in govt. offices', 'if I do not give, somebody else will and get it done; it is not going to stop the govt. official' and many more are the conscious-clearing reasons used by anybody and everybody to be corrupt. That mind within each of us which has become corrupt over the generations needs to be encountered in any way. If karmic, spiritual ways can stop you from bribing or accepting bribe so be it. If it is not spiritual but simply sensible, moral reason so be it. What if one is neither spiritually, morally nor ethically conscience? Do all (corrupt) govt. officials and politicians fall into this category of soul-less greedy and inconsiderate beings ? What about those who give bribes?

While RTI (Right To Information) is a weapon to bring the change in bureaucrats and shame them into doing their job as they are supposed to, what would be your weapon to fight against the corrupt mind you carry within you and that hand/leg which accelerates the vehicle at the sight of yellow light?

Peace,
Saatwik