Corruption is key reason for collapse of rice pledging scheme, says poll

[Balance]

In western countries, and I am most familiar with the U.S.A., corruption certainly exists. However it exists mostly at very high levels and often if not the majority of the time takes the form of making protecting profits but socializing a lot of business risk and losses. The 2008 economic collapse is a good example of this. The other form it takes is people in positions of authority engaging in conflicts of interest. Voting in a certain way that benefits him or herself, or a company he has an interest in.

Corruption does not happen too much at the lower levels. A driver of a car would not even think about pulling out a $100 bill if pulled over for a violation because they would probably be arrested on the spot for trying to bribe a police officer, and if convicted go to prison. Police that are caught and convicted for corruption scams get very long prison sentences.

There are two primary principles that help control corruption: a strong legal system that while political is also public and transparent; a strong ethical framework that the majority of public servants take seriously; and a moral sense of what is right and wrong, which comes mainly from religious upbringing.

Every country has their fair share of sociopaths that care nothing about their fellow countrymen, what is right and wrong, or the the laws. These people need to be found, arrested, convicted, and locked up. Signals need to be sent that it is not O.K.; that it is not the case, as one deputy PM said, 'corruption is part of Thai culture'.

[Thai at Heart]

Thai at Heart:

Yes. It hit the Bangkok post today.. Spread through the well known chinese route to Hong Kong. Yeah right. 1.5bn smuggled out through a supposedly secret chinese tunnel.

I think you might find that this technique moves billions of USD for more than just the shinawats.

All gossip and bulls**t. This isn't a soap opera or james bond. Thaksin with his desert island using ancient smuggling routes to Hong Kong. Oh please.

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Sorry, but that's reality, not James Bond stuff.

There is a name for it as well, though I would not know. But what I know is, that this is used rather widespread for the simple reason, that it moves money without a trace in any books, and even real BIG amounts. It is used by Chinese and also Arab traders etc. The U.S. of A. said Al Quaida was funded this way and that's quite likely true (I hate to agree with the State Department). Basis of it is the absolute trust between the nodes/people. I can give such a guy (if I knew one) say 10,000 US$ and tell him I want it in another country and city. He would organize it, that the money would be available at the destination, and fast too.

This is perfectly suitable to move corruption money.

You believe this bit of hearsay?

Glad to see the authorities have moved to crack down in this well established network.

[SamMunich]

Thai at Heart wrote:

.... Spread through the well known chinese route to Hong Kong. Yeah right. 1.5bn smuggled out through a supposedly secret chinese tunnel.

I think you might find that this technique moves billions of USD for more than just the shinawats.

All gossip and bulls**t. This isn't a soap opera or james bond. Thaksin with his desert island using ancient smuggling routes to Hong Kong. ...

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SamMunich replied:

Sorry, but that's reality, not James Bond stuff.
There is a name for it as well, though I would not know. ...
... This is perfectly suitable to move corruption money.

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And then disbelieve on the side of Thai at Heart:

You believe this bit of hearsay?
Glad to see the authorities have moved to crack down in this well established network.

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And then SamMunich adds (now):

Believe it or not, it's a fact. If you don't believe it, you have the problem with it not "it" with you <wg>.

OTOH if you don't believe it, how can you acknowledge, that authorities have cracked down on this "well established" non-existant monetary transfer system?