In the U.S. or Elsewhere, Leave No Corruption Unchallenged
These things may seem to be no big deal, because the laws are flawed. But to the extent that they are flawed, the blame lies on all of us, not merely on “them.” When the rule of law is laxly enforced or ignored, corruption flourishes. It does not much matter whether the bribed or the briber initiates the process or whether the bribe is large or small; the result is no better. It all adds up, and “mony a mickle maks a muckle.”
The United States is a large country with a population of over three hundred million. Panamá is much smaller, with a population roughly one percent that of the United States and a land area of 29,340 square miles, slightly greater than that of Maryland. Corruption is more noticeable here, because almost everyone knows government officials — including the president — or has a friend or relative who does. The legal system has long been regarded by many as something of a bad joke, and direct but improper approaches to government officials can be easier and more effective than reliance on the judicial processes.
Being imprisoned on our farm for going on three weeks has brought the problem home to us, quite personally and directly. The problem, however, is much bigger than us, than Panamá, and than the United States. Corruption hurts people everywhere and needs to be brought out from behind the SEP field through exposure to public attention. That is one of the principal functions of a free press.
New President Ricardo Martinelli was elected in a 60 percent to 36 percent landslide and took office on July 1. Reducing corruption is one of his principal objectives and he has been very busy doing just that, but he still has a long way to go. Despite all of his virtues and popular support, however, he is not a God. Corruption is endemic and of long standing in what might be called a culture of impotence. Still, the new president seems to have taken a stronger stand than did his predecessors — and far stronger than President Obama has taken. Not only in words, but also in action.
This is good for Panamá. 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.
Continuing to hide misconduct is helping to remake the United States into one of those pitiful “third world countries.” Weak and pitiful are not good.
What can be done? “Honest politicians” exist, but in many cases the term is an oxymoron. It would be easy to suggest that “honest politicians” be elected to replace those who are not. Unfortunately, once high office is attained, with the power and obligations it brings, people often forget their obligations and think only of how to keep and expand their power. There is no magic solution. Smoke, mirrors, and pretty speeches read from a teleprompter are worthless so long as the SEP fields are working.
Rather than whine that corruption is par for the course, that there is nothing to be done about it, and that it is naïve and unsophisticated to think otherwise, we must take a stand — individually and personally — to fight it.
Here is something my wife wrote which we understand will be published nationally in connection with our own personal problem. The advice she offers to the people here is no less applicable to the people of the United States:
This case is about more than the violation of the rights of the Miller Family. It is about the rule of law versus the violation of law by a few people who apparently feel that the laws of this country do not apply to them. It is about a very small percentage of people who feel that they may, with impunity, coerce, intimidate, bribe or otherwise go outside the law to achieve their own ends.
Everyone who cares about this country and who wants to help to end this cycle of corruption must unite and tell the few outlaws that we will not stand for their behavior.
We have a rare opportunity here. Panama has elected President Martinelli by a landslide. He wants to end the cycle of corruption. But one man, even the most powerful man in the country, cannot conquer this problem alone. He needs the backing and support of everyone who lives here and who believes that the rule of law must prevail — citizens and expatriates alike.
We cannot allow corruption to continue. Acting together in support of the rule of law, we will prevail. Otherwise, we will fail. We cannot permit this to happen to our country.
We are trying our best here, because we have to. The situation affects us “up close and personal.” Were that not the case, we might not care very much; it would be someone else’s problem. Having now experienced the fruits of that sort of outlook, and the culture of impotence it sustains, it is unlikely that we will harbor it again.
Will you wait until a similar problem faces you personally or a friend, or will you do something now to keep it from happening? If you wait, it may well be too late.
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.