>>It's certainly a problem where it occurs, because unless
>>you have enough people in power who are prepared to go
>>without the "extras" (something like Eliot Ness and the
>>Untouchables) then it is pretty-much impossible to root
>>out.

> OTOH, I've heard people from countries where corruption is rife
> complaining that there is no way to make things happen with money in
> countries like the US/Canada/UK. For example, if you would like your
> passport the same day rather than in a week (maybe to avoid a 
> time-consuming
> return visit to the office) and can't show proof it's actually
> required, my officials will tell you to go away.

That's spoiling the whatever it was for a h'apporth of tar!
In NZ you can get passports at normal, fast or super fast rates.
Price rises drastically for super fast.
All official.
Allowing it "back door" is exactly what you MUSt avoid like the plague.

> A bit of baksheesh,
> not really a significant sum to the person requesting the service, but
> a nice 'tip' to the civil servant, could work wonders in some
> countries.

And where does it stop?
Absolutely nowehere, in practice.

> One of our suppliers in China has a fellow at the local power station on
> 'retainer' to ensure that if power cuts are made that some other factory
> gets cut. The reason it's worth it to them is that their process is such
> that they lose an entire batch of material if they lose power.

And this ensures that others with equal sensitivity to power cuts get MORE 
power cuts than they deserve. The person getting the advantage is almost NOT 
paying the opportunity cost of providing for fail safe power service. And 
anything they DO pay does not go into making the supply more reliable, but 
into corrupt pockets. And the end result is almost certainly to make the 
power system as a whole worse. Next you end up paying 'protection" as per 
USA 1930s (and ever since?).

The examples you raise are excellent ones to illustrate why corruption is 
bad. A little here and there MAY not be too noticed. Extend that across the 
system and ALL involved suffer. Nobody wins overall. Some individuals win 
somewhat.



                RM





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