Corruption: Where does it start?

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Corruption is the act of being dishonest and perverting the morals of the society especially towards people of low social class. It starts with an individual because one needs to be honest and demonstrate integrity at all times in his or her work. Corruption occurs when one is selfish and wants to carry out things without other people’s views and concerns in mind. Many politicians and bureaucrats, in many parts of the world, face corruption charges as one of the main offences. Anyone who is not honest and transparent in his actions is corrupt. Individuals who want to acquire wealth fast illegally without working for it is the main cause of corruption in a nation. A person who accepts a bribe to offer services, employment or gain resources, is corrupt. A person in authority will exercise his powers to gain wealth and channel the public resources into a personal account (Clark, Prior & Caldow 2000). Corruption occurs everywhere especially in public institutions and firms like law firms, schools, churches and corporates. The political powers play a crucial role in siphoning of the public resources for one’s own benefit. This retards the development of some projects in the society like building hospitals, schools, roads, boreholes or any other infrastructure in the society. This is because political forces channel the funds elsewhere; hence, no resources are available for development.

Greed for both money and power is the main cause of corruption especially in public offices. Public officers normally ask for bribes from the public in order to offer services like in hospitals or schools. This exercise has become a norm in the society and the members of the society always prepare to bribe the officers at all times. This makes them corrupt too because it is their right to be served so they should never give the bribe at any time. They lose faith in public officers, and this makes life costly to them because it becomes necessary to give a bribe. The youths also lose their morals and positive motive of getting to work in a public office. They will get in power with the aim of amassing as much wealth as one can through the receiving of bribes. People themselves can help prevent corruption if they stand their ground and refuse to give the bribe.

Greed for power is another source of corruption since people want to get into power with the aim of extorting money from the public. Those in power manipulate their subjects by forcefully asking for money so that services and any form of assistance can be rendered to them. Political candidates bribe the voters to elect them despite their corrupt ways of leadership. They forcefully want to remain in power by bribing the voters (Goel, & Nelson, 2010). Racism and nepotism exercised by government officers is also a source of corruption. The officers will render exceptional services and assign a portion of the public resources to their friends, relatives or people belonging to a certain race. These people benefit at the expense of other needy people in the society. The poor and unrecognized people in the society are mainly the victims of corruption.

Corruption has negative effects on the society such as paralyzing the development and growth of a nation. This is because the funds allocated for the developments instead find ways into personal pockets. The vices in the society also increase because everyone becomes selfish and wants to do things for his own gain. There is also lack of employment in the society since qualified potential employees have to bribe their employers in order to get a post in the organization. The unqualified people end up getting the jobs because they are relatives and friends of the people in authority due to racism and nepotism (Uslaner, 2008).

Everyone has a role to play in fighting corruption because it is a vice in the society. Moreover, officers in power and citizens, at large, have a responsibility in saying no to corruption. Eradicating corruption in the society is more of a personal decision than of a group.

References

Clark GL, Prior Jonson E & Caldow W. (2000) Accountability and Corruption: Public Sector Ethics. Australia: Allen & Unwin.

Goel, R. & Nelson, M. (2010). Causes of corruption: History, geography and government Journal of Policy Modeling (32) pp.433-447.Uslaner, M. E., (2008). Corruption, inequality, and the rule of law: the bulging pocket makes the easy life. New York: Cambridge University Press.