Earlier quoted context omitted.
I hate to put the blame on to any "one" reason for Southern Europe doing badly, but I came across an article that probably gave a better reason why there was so much difference between North and South Europe, and the theory it presents is religious difference between Protestantism and Catholicism. Protestant (read the bible) & Catholic (follow the pope). This gave the north literary rise, and literary history, and ad…
Sounds like an interesting read, do you have link to the article?
The mystery of India’s deadly exam scam
121–130 of 182 posts
Re: The mystery of India’s deadly exam scam
#122Earlier quoted context omitted.
People in India are killed for scams of far lesser magnitude. Being an Indian I sometimes feel really bad about what my country has become.
Do you feel like it is getting better or worse?
Man, it's unfortunate that you have a plethora of answers with t=15 years.
India's improved tons.
I'm not as grey bearded as I should be, I remember the 1980s.
India has come a damn long way.
Politics has improved pretty significantly. "Booth capture" and "license raj" we're actual things, not the bogey men that most people blithely quote.
Vyapam is scary to me because it's a throw back to those times.
We've gone through three major insurgencies, and multiple terror organizations which had destabilized entire states.
What we seem to really have a glut of now is a lot of literate people, but with very little education. (Ie - ability to apply their knowledge in new and novel ways to new and novel situations + willingness to learn more in depth)
The economy has shifted dramatically since the 90s. I've seen a period where there was a wait for phone lines (and 7 digit numbers), to a period where we have more mobiles than people.
India is a marvelously and infuriatingly complex country, the fact that it hasn't imploded itself is step 1.
Re: The mystery of India’s deadly exam scam
#123Earlier quoted context omitted.
This is one of the reasons top politicians are paid so well. We can complain about their salary all day long but they make important decisions and a higher salary directly impacts the effectiveness of a bribe.
Are you in the US? Even at the federal levels, politicians' salaries aren't particularly high, relative to what those same people could earn in the private sector. Congressmen earn $174,000. That's not a huge amount for a group that largely consists of successful lawyers, with a smattering of doctors and other businessmen. Many of them are millionaires before they take office. The governor of my state (Virginia) is p…
McAuliffe was as DRC financier before he became a politician himself. He ran for governor for the prestige of the office rather than the money so it's not likely he'd risk the embarrassment a bribe could bring. Someone independently wealthy doesn't have much use for direct bribes (it still happens, but rarely).
Re: The mystery of India’s deadly exam scam
#124I think it's incorrect to label it an "exam" scam. It's really a scam about recruitment to government jobs. India has this weird system where almost every good government job has an exam that you're supposed to take to get that job. These exams are held once a year or so and all that matters is your performance in that exam and maybe an interview. This makes it impossible for anyone from private industry to take such a job. So what you get instead is a bunch of lifers who continue the cycle of corruption.
Re: The mystery of India’s deadly exam scam
#125Earlier quoted context omitted.
Are you in the US? Even at the federal levels, politicians' salaries aren't particularly high, relative to what those same people could earn in the private sector. Congressmen earn $174,000. That's not a huge amount for a group that largely consists of successful lawyers, with a smattering of doctors and other businessmen. Many of them are millionaires before they take office. The governor of my state (Virginia) is p…
Sorry, the idea of comparing their salaries to what they could supposedly earn outside of government is just wrong. First not all of may have had substantial jobs or education prior to running for office. Lastly, most of them become quite well off after leaving office from speaking fees if not retirement. They are excessively paid relative to the average American and their salaries should be curtailed to that of aver…
The practical outcome of that policy would be to lock out anyone below a certain income bracket from political office. Living as a politician can be expensive and lots of people will find it beyond their means. There is a reason it's forbidden for congressmen to forgo their salaries.
Re: The mystery of India’s deadly exam scam
#126Earlier quoted context omitted.
This is one of the reasons top politicians are paid so well. We can complain about their salary all day long but they make important decisions and a higher salary directly impacts the effectiveness of a bribe.
"This is one of the reasons top politicians are paid so well." Really? That would be a fine reason, but it may have more to do with the amount of power and influence they wield, even over those who determine their salaries.
In Congress and my state, they control their own salary; however (in my state), the pay raise cannot take effect until after the next election, theoretically provided a buffer against last-minute or very large increases. I believe the same rule exists in Congress but I am not sure.
Re: The mystery of India’s deadly exam scam
#127Earlier quoted context omitted.
This is one of the reasons top politicians are paid so well. We can complain about their salary all day long but they make important decisions and a higher salary directly impacts the effectiveness of a bribe.
"This is one of the reasons top politicians are paid so well." Really? That would be a fine reason, but it may have more to do with the amount of power and influence they wield, even over those who determine their salaries.
In Congress and my state, they control their own salary; however (in my state), the pay raise cannot take effect until after the next election, theoretically provided a buffer against last-minute or very large increases. I believe the same rule exists in Congress but I am not sure.
Re: The mystery of India’s deadly exam scam
#128It is hard for those in Western countries to imagine what it is like to live in a corrupt state like that. Eastern Europe is like that as well. Corruption is a way of life. It starts from bribing the doctor who will deliver the baby, to bribing kindergarten teachers, to high school teachers, paying to cheat on a state exam, buying a driver's license etc, until bribing the cemetery to take make an extra spot for the d…
Having lived in Romania and Vietnam, you learn to appreciate the efficiency of just paying the bribe and getting on with your life. For example, if I get caught speeding I can bribe a cop for like $20 in Eastern Europe or Asia versus losing $1000s in Canada between fines and insurance premium increases. I personally find it a lot less stressful than living in Canada where every time I see a cop I get a little adrenal…
> I personally find it a lot less stressful than living in Canada where every time I see a cop I get a little adrenaline rush of fear.
Well are moving back to Vietnam and Romania to live? Most people living in Canada or US would have that freedom. Most people form Vietnam or Romania can't just pick up and move to Canada if they want to.
Re: The mystery of India’s deadly exam scam
#129It is hard for those in Western countries to imagine what it is like to live in a corrupt state like that. Eastern Europe is like that as well. Corruption is a way of life. It starts from bribing the doctor who will deliver the baby, to bribing kindergarten teachers, to high school teachers, paying to cheat on a state exam, buying a driver's license etc, until bribing the cemetery to take make an extra spot for the d…
> It is hard for those in Western countries to imagine what it is like to live in a corrupt state like that. Not that hard. Small time corruption might not be so pervasive, but there are judges who take bribes to send kids to private jails.
There are. And there is news about them and people talk about.
The places I am talking about it would be national news if there was a judge who doesn't take bribes. So no, it is not even a close comparison.
Re: The mystery of India’s deadly exam scam
#130Earlier quoted context omitted.
Are you in the US? Even at the federal levels, politicians' salaries aren't particularly high, relative to what those same people could earn in the private sector. Congressmen earn $174,000. That's not a huge amount for a group that largely consists of successful lawyers, with a smattering of doctors and other businessmen. Many of them are millionaires before they take office. The governor of my state (Virginia) is p…
McAuliffe was as DRC financier before he became a politician himself. He ran for governor for the prestige of the office rather than the money so it's not likely he'd risk the embarrassment a bribe could bring. Someone independently wealthy doesn't have much use for direct bribes (it still happens, but rarely).
In a corrupt system, being independently wealthy just means you require larger bribes. Corrupt officials dont demand bribes corrupt because they absolutely need the money, but because they want it and can get away with it.