In the U.S. or Elsewhere, Leave No Corruption Unchallenged
Corruption is endemic and metastasizes readily; the metastasis is often exponential rather than linear. Although corruption is by no means confined to the much disparaged “third world banana republics,” we do have it here in Panamá, and my wife and I are experiencing some of the consequences personally.
Here are two recent articles from Panamanian newspapers. As is the case with most newspaper reports, some of the facts are distorted. However, the gist of the articles is correct: since July 17, we have not been able to use the only road to our farm because the owner of land through which the road passes, a Colombian businessman, believes that he has the power to violate Panamanian law with impunity.
The law is clear: he is wrong. It is a public road, and we hope that with good luck, continued good legal representation, and pressure applied by the press to officials who have often in the past validated his sense of immunity, we may eventually be able to resume our formerly tranquil lives here.
Thus far, in addition to articles in two national newspapers, there have been several local radio talk shows and a feature on a national television news program. Due principally to press coverage, on July 28 the mayor and municipal council issued an order permitting us to remove the locked iron gate newly blocking the road. We removed it immediately, in the presence of the local sheriff who had been sent by the mayor to witness and memorialize the event.
The next day, July 29, the owner of the land through which the road passes sent earth-moving equipment to dig a ditch to block access. It is approximately seven feet wide and six feet deep and it extends completely across the road. As a consequence, we understand that additional press coverage and governmental action are underway.
In one of Douglas Adams’ Hitchhikers’ Guide to the Galaxy books, there is a reference to an “SEP field,” behind which things disappear — people tend to ignore things hidden behind a “Somebody Else’s Problem” field. The local and national press have been doing a good job of removing the SEP field, and our local neighbors — mostly Panamanian — are very much on our side. The area is quite sparsely populated, but more than one hundred people have signed a petition seeking further governmental action on our behalf. Voter turnout for elections is substantially higher here than in the United States, and every vote counts.
But what about the United States? Can this sort of thing happen there?
Cataloging recent incidents of corruption in the United States seems pointless. Many recent examples could easily be provided. When officials take money, votes, or other favors in exchange for their misbehavior, they and their enablers violate the rule of law. When we ask someone to fix a minor traffic ticket, even based on something as simple as friendship, we foster corruption just as when a lobbyist sponsors a fundraiser for a politician in anticipation of future reciprocal favors.
President Obama’s failure to push and shove along a similar path is very unfortunate for the United States; perhaps he sees no need to do so because so many people continue to believe that he is near divinity, above reproach. The failure of the major media to penetrate the SEP fields he so dexterously crafts is part of the problem.
If Obama were serius about reducing corruption he would appoint a special prosecutor to investigate the Democratic party and his admininstration, with particular emphasis on The President.
With all due sympathy for Mr. Miler’s plight, (we do not know if he is a citizen of Panama), he is away off the mark in offering himself as an example of a victim of governmental officialdom. His problem is not with the government, it is with a private landowner. He has the press springing to his defense. His neighbors are openly supportive. He apparently has faith that the courts of Panama will support his case.
He is not a victim of the government, Would the Panamanian press and radio come to his cause if his evil neighbor was a government official? Maybe – maybe not. He skirts that issue.
So far as I am aware, lots of Americans, every day, are faced with offenses against their property rights and denial of public right of way, and may count on the support of the local media and the courts if treated unfairly. This is known as fighting city hall.
For a Yale Law School graduate to cite his situation here as an example of the horrors official corruption and denial of due process is bizarre.
Re Comment # 2: I may have been excessively circumspect in the article. We are still trying to work the problem through with some of the officials involved, and pointing fingers at them unnecessarily would be counterproductive.
Nevertheless, it is quite clear that the former governor of the province acted unlawfully in defying not only an order of the Superior Court (confirmed a few days later by the Supreme Court) but a determination by the national authority in charge of public roads so that, on his next to last day in office, he could rule in favor of the rogue land owner.
Until the press got involved, the new mayor was unwilling to do anything to rectify the situation. When the press sought an interview with him, he was “unavailable.” Immediately after the first article appeared in the newspaper, he and the municipal council ordered that the locked gate blocking the public road be removed. We removed it. When the delinquent land owner the next day had the ditch further blocking passage dug, the mayor again declined to act and it became necessary for help to be sought from the National Government. It now appears that, due to its involvement and various communications with the mayor, things may be changed for the better next week.
The press here is not tame, and often delights in calling public attention to corruption and other governmental failings. Our situation in Panamá is very different from that in Venezuela, and even from that currently apparent in the United States, where the mainstream media seem generally intent upon heaping praise upon President Obama and very reluctant to say anything at all disparaging.
Whether corruption is local or national, it is bad. Corruption at the local level probably has a more direct impact on more people, but to the extent that its effects can be remedied nationally, that is a good thing. Fortunately for us, we have been able to bring sufficient resources to bear on the problem that, after twenty-four days of virtual imprisonment, we think the problem is approaching resolution. Unfortunately, many other local landholders do not have that ability and are easily intimidated.
In the absence of strict adherence to the rule of law, corruption happens. When the rule of law can be ignored with impunity even by local officials, we all suffer the consequences.
One minor point and one minor correction as to Comment #2: My wife and I are United States citizens, resident in Panamá. Quite properly, the U.S. Embassy has no interest in doing anything unless we are being treated differently from Panamanians; we are not. I received my undergraduate degree from Yale University and my law degree from the University of Virginia School of law.
Many nations have tremendous natural and human resources, but remain third world. The difference is due to the corruption of the governments, and the culture of corruption accepted by the citizenry. Corruption, in addition to simply being wrong, is a tremendous drag on an economy.
From its founding, the US has had mechanisms to maintain its integrity, but only if its people wanted it. Now, after years of Liberal thinking, our understanding of what made the US a success has been eroded. Now all cultures are equally valid, and personal self restraint and responsibility are unnecessary. Rather than teaching the world how to be successful, it appears the US will now learn how to be a failure.
There is nothing foreign about the sentiment that when called to, one must defend themselves wherever they may go.
I have to second Dan on both his article and his comments in dealing with local authorities. SEP fields (thanks for pointing that one out, Dan!) are not just a concept that Americans have to deal with. Local corruption has to be fought, and fighting it can be a tricky business. For one who is not a citizen of the country he lives in, or who is a relative new-comer even if he is a citizen, this often can be a very difficult business.
But Dan Miller accurately points the finger not merely at Obama, who has an obsequious press to support him, but at officials in Israel who seem to have an oppositional press, but who in reality have a bunch of reporters who will not go out of their way to investigate anything – hence, the equivalent of an obsequious press.
Sounds like your neighbor is breaking the law. Why didn’t the Sheriff arrest him? Gosh, I hope he doesn’t suffer a tragic fire to his barn….
good luck with your situation.
the way I see it the USA and other western nations only escape the rampent corruption through transpearence in their countries governments. (obviously there is still not enough transpearency)
personally I think the USA is going the other way with less transpearency (deeds not words), as well the Obama administration is full of corrupt individuals (including obama and his wife, there past is very interesting) …so little chance for change for the better.
An excellent comparison would be to the wholly corrupt, completely dysfunctional governments of Chicago and Cook County- the machine which schooled the Obamas, Axelrod, Emanuel and their henchmen, and which demonstrates exactly how corrupt government victimises and impoverishes its citizenry.
Really, Dan. Really.
Your problem is that a private party is causing you trouble and violating your access rights, and quite probably bribing government officials to support him.
Your problem stems from the actions of a private property, not the government. Absent that private party, you would have no problem.
Then, somehow, you lay this problem at the feet of Obama, of all things! You and your claque from the republican echo chamber.
Very likely, bribery is a common part of Panamanian life. Here, we call them “campaign contributions”, and, strangely enough, we have contrived a legitimization through First Amendment rights, that allows companies (or anyone else) to bribe congressman and public officials with “campaign contributions”. Very likely panamanian crooks have some similar apparatus for cheating you.
So, Dan, tell me true: are you against the bribing of USA officials with “campaign contributions”?
If not, you are simply being bit on the ass by your own ideas, and I have no sympathy for you.