By Makeda Mikael
In my lifetime we have seen three main system of government operating around the world as we in the Caribbean have been slowly becoming independent — Socialism where the State owns and operates the economy for the people, Capitalism where free enterprise allows the rich to get richer regardless of the state of the poor, and in recent times the creeping coup of CORRUPTIONISM, governing by dictatorship and enrichment of Government officers and their immediate families.
I think it was Karl Marx who said the best time to convert to Socialism was at the height of Capitalism, however our neighbour in the U.S., Trump, is still fighting to establish his brand of corruptionism, which his friends in Russia and North Korea embrace.
Let us face it, corruptionism requires corruptors and corruptees, and where a people have been controlled for many centuries, corrupt leaders replace the former oppressors who then assume the role of the corruptor.
Corruptionism has been the main system operating in Africa to such an extent that it is considered the approved system, which applies in most African countries, but covered up and presented as the parliamentary and administrative systems of their various colonizers.
Basically the systems of government of the developing world present to the world a view that they can live with and which the regional and international organizations are expected to accept when their leaders pontificate on the international stage.
Corruption in the Caribbean is often introduced by the corrupters of our past as special agents of the former colonizers whose economic power changes hand as the economy shifts between British and American control.
Tourism, which is the dominant sector of the economy, and aviation, the transportation, are unique vessels to move money around, to acquire property and routes, while both provide the ability to operate financially abroad and provide only as much information locally as needed to pass muster. Great ways to maintain corruption without local records.
Unless political parties prepare to initiate changes in the administration of government from day one before accepting the cushy comforts of corruption and the congratulatory bribes of the corrupters, who will all prevent and pre-empt any anti-corruption measures from being implemented.
On 108 sq. miles everyone knows how much money persons in Antigua earn; they also know what property is owned and how it was gotten; the complicity of silence about the big money and property, which has been suddenly acquired by elected officials, their family and close associates and is deafening!
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2 responses to “Socialism, Capitalism and Corruptionism”
“The complicity of silence about the big money and and property, which has been suddenly acquired by elected officials, their family and close associates is deafening”. Interestingly this statement does not only apply to elected officials, the families and close associates because it is alleged that other persons with big money and property are and has been involved in other dubious activities from which they derive such wealth. That might be considered another form of corruption but corruption nevertheless. Persons are known to lose their lives as a result of their direct or indirect involvement in certain lifestyle, others are reduced to a zombie state with one thing remain constant…#@*%$$ benefit directly from the demise of others. Certainly the issue of corruption MUST be addressed but in a holistic manner and not from a sour grape perspective. For years persons from various quarters of this society seems to know or have known about some form of corruption but they have not: 1. produce the evidence nor 2. take the matter before the courts. Tired with the chattering!!!!
The main problem consist in be a sheep or their guard .. until you will find out who is a predator just become was he or she be involved ( many of the persons get involve into POLITICS,their know what’s will become at soon of the sheep’s turn around their eyes. Find for you selves in the dictionary the definition of politics and VUOLA…mind the words and not the people. Wake up