Record-High 89% in U.S. Say Government Corruption Widespread • Hacker News Board

Re: Record-High 89% in U.S. Say Government Corruption Widespread

#181

Post by bawolff » Sat, Sep 05, 2026, 3:01 AM UTC

Loughla wrote: post #54

yongjik wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think it's worse. It's not that the government doesn't care that the public hates it; it's more like the government is doing whatever it wants and half the public is going wild absolutely loving it. Well, maybe a bit less than half these days.

The half that supports this nonsense genuinely believes this level of corruption has always existed. They're just happy it's their team this time. I simply do not understand American politics.

People who feel lost and disaffected would rather see the whole thing burn down than continue with the status quo even if it is objectively worse for them.

And its clearly been building for a while. Trump and Obama are about as opposite as possible, but they both won by campaigning on "change".

This is true in most political systems. Its how most revolutions start. The commoner is always screwed but they still support them.

I dont think america is all that exceptional. All sides just see it through their filter bubble and miss the forest for the trees.

Re: Record-High 89% in U.S. Say Government Corruption Widespread

#182

Post by rush86999 » Sat, Sep 05, 2026, 3:04 AM UTC

It's like everyone knows the dirty truth, but no one wants to do anything about it.

Why? Self-interest has made everyone blind to open corruption.

The worst part is reality hits 3-4 years later, and the big guy is already out and about. Already with his billions, partying in the Caymans.

Welcome to democratic oligarchy!!

Re: Record-High 89% in U.S. Say Government Corruption Widespread

#183

Post by otterley » Sat, Sep 05, 2026, 3:04 AM UTC

0xDEAFBEAD wrote: post #176

otterley wrote: post #153

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What’s your angle here, exactly? I don’t get it.

I'm anti-Trump. If you tell people "Trump is a corrupt asshole", that has a chance at convincing supporters to abandon him. If you tell people "the US needs a cultural revolution due to events from past centuries", that's what got him elected in the first place. A good general wouldn't voluntarily shift the battleground to a region where their troops are weak. Political persuasion is no different. The Democratic Part…

I’m generally aligned with your point, but I also don’t think the official position of the Democratic Party is that we need a cultural revolution, nor do I observe most Democrats feel that way.

What I do see is media and politicians on the Right characterizing extreme positions held by a minority of folks on the far Left as though they are adopted by the entire Left, and that weak uncritical minds on the Right believe that nonsense. Rush Limbaugh pioneered this technique to profit himself, and Trump gave him a fucking Presidential Medal of Freedom in his first term.

Re: Record-High 89% in U.S. Say Government Corruption Widespread

#184

Post by tw04 » Sat, Sep 05, 2026, 3:07 AM UTC

0xDEAFBEAD wrote: post #171

tw04 wrote: post #154

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And does Brazil have their own 13th amendment that allows them to use prison labor as their modern slave workforce?

"Around the world, at least eleven million people are imprisoned, either pre-trial or following conviction. Most sentenced prisoners will work while in custody ... ... Most countries’ legal systems, however, carve out an exception for prisoner-workers, permitting the state to require them to work—sometimes for no pay, but typically for very low rates of pay. There are, even so, multiple potential benefits to prison w…

The question isn’t whether prisoners work in other countries which I’m confident you know and dodged.

The question is whether the prisons in Brazil are private, and are allowed to sell prison labor FOR A PROFIT, incentivizing both greater incarceration rates, and disincentivizing release.

The answer is no, I’m not aware of ANY other country that allows a private organization to profit off the labor if people imprisoned by the state. At least not any country we would consider 1st world.

It’s absolutely absurd to suggest the current situation is beneficial to anyone but the ruling class and anyone claiming otherwise has never been to prison, never had a relative or friend who has been to prison, or is literally a psychopath who lacks basic human empathy.

Re: Record-High 89% in U.S. Say Government Corruption Widespread

#185

Post by hackernud3s » Sat, Sep 05, 2026, 3:08 AM UTC

jimt1234 wrote: post #77

Citizens United. Nothing else to say. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizens_United_v._FEC

Citizens United is widely considered the event that would cause US corruption to spiral out of control, but there was always the hope that a constitutional amendment could get us out of this.

Neither side ever even attempted it. Every once in a while you get some lip service about small money donations but nobody ever tried to go after the problem at the root in all this time. Think about what that means.

Re: Record-High 89% in U.S. Say Government Corruption Widespread

#186

Post by DivingForGold » Sat, Sep 05, 2026, 3:08 AM UTC

autoexec wrote: post #8

Corruption in the US isn't new, but it's never been done as openly as it has been recently. I don't think it's a good thing. It shows that the government isn't concerned about what the public thinks, which suggests that they believe they no longer have to be. That's not a healthy sign for what's supposed to be a democracy.

The US has moved down to 29th. I can recall when they were 16th.

https://www.transparency.org/en/cpi/2025

Re: Record-High 89% in U.S. Say Government Corruption Widespread

#187

Post by 52-hertz_whale » Sat, Sep 05, 2026, 3:09 AM UTC

4 year smash and grab. Foxes are in the henhouse.

Re: Record-High 89% in U.S. Say Government Corruption Widespread

#188

Post by [deleted] » Sat, Sep 05, 2026, 3:09 AM UTC

Loughla wrote: post #54

yongjik wrote: post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think it's worse. It's not that the government doesn't care that the public hates it; it's more like the government is doing whatever it wants and half the public is going wild absolutely loving it. Well, maybe a bit less than half these days.

The half that supports this nonsense genuinely believes this level of corruption has always existed. They're just happy it's their team this time. I simply do not understand American politics.

[deleted]

Re: Record-High 89% in U.S. Say Government Corruption Widespread

#189

Post by shusaku » Sat, Sep 05, 2026, 3:09 AM UTC

0xDEAFBEAD wrote: post #146

slater wrote: post #141

Earlier quoted context omitted.

From that very same link: "Please don't comment about the voting on comments. It never does any good, and it makes boring reading."

Vote however you want, but I'm sick of people abusing the flag feature.

Throw away accounts dropping political talking points deserve to be flagged.

Re: Record-High 89% in U.S. Say Government Corruption Widespread

#190

Post by [deleted] » Sat, Sep 05, 2026, 3:09 AM UTC

yongjik wrote: post #49

autoexec wrote: post #8

Corruption in the US isn't new, but it's never been done as openly as it has been recently. I don't think it's a good thing. It shows that the government isn't concerned about what the public thinks, which suggests that they believe they no longer have to be. That's not a healthy sign for what's supposed to be a democracy.

I think it's worse. It's not that the government doesn't care that the public hates it; it's more like the government is doing whatever it wants and half the public is going wild absolutely loving it. Well, maybe a bit less than half these days.

[deleted]