10-22-2007, 10:15 PM
10-23-2007, 12:02 AM
There is an old axiom often applied to those with political ambitions:
Power corrupts;
Absolute power corrupts absolutely.
In this case, the term corruption means the abuse of a public office for personal gain or other illegal or immoral benefit.
Political corruption is a recognized criminal offense, along with bribery, extortion, and embezzlement – three illegal acts often associated with corruption in office. Some forms of corruption may escape legal notice, such as the hiring of relatives for key positions, but they may not escape the scrutiny of voters on Election Day.
Whenever a person accepts a political appointment or wins election to an office, he or she must take an oath to uphold the public trust. While this may sound noble on paper, enforcement of this oath can prove problematic. Very few political candidates successfully reach office without making a few promises along the way. Many of these campaign promises are harmless, such as sponsoring a bill or lobbying for more funding for schools. Other promises, however, may come closer to crossing an ethical line, such as hiring relatives or awarding government contracts to influential contributors.
Political corruption has been a fact of life for thousands of years, beginning with the first attempts at a democratic form of government in ancient Greece and Rome. Almost all of these countries' political representatives were from the wealthier class, which inevitably led to a division between the influential haves and the virtually powerless have-nots. The seeds of political corruption were planted as soon as the senators and other political leaders realized that power and wealth could be equals. Political corruption often begins with favoritism towards those with wealth and influence.
In the modern sense of the term, political corruption is a cancer on the integrity of a governmental body. Very few public officials begin their careers with the intention of becoming corrupt, but some succumb to a sinister form of peer pressure over time. Being placed in a position of significant political power can be overwhelming, and the temptation to bend or break rules for a perceived 'greater good' is always present.
There are a few experienced politicians, however, for whom political corruption is a natural state of being. History is filled with examples of corrupt public officials, such as Dr. Feleti Sevele of Tonga and his political cronies at hiring his own friends and associates.
Power corrupts;
Absolute power corrupts absolutely.
In this case, the term corruption means the abuse of a public office for personal gain or other illegal or immoral benefit.
Political corruption is a recognized criminal offense, along with bribery, extortion, and embezzlement – three illegal acts often associated with corruption in office. Some forms of corruption may escape legal notice, such as the hiring of relatives for key positions, but they may not escape the scrutiny of voters on Election Day.
Whenever a person accepts a political appointment or wins election to an office, he or she must take an oath to uphold the public trust. While this may sound noble on paper, enforcement of this oath can prove problematic. Very few political candidates successfully reach office without making a few promises along the way. Many of these campaign promises are harmless, such as sponsoring a bill or lobbying for more funding for schools. Other promises, however, may come closer to crossing an ethical line, such as hiring relatives or awarding government contracts to influential contributors.
Political corruption has been a fact of life for thousands of years, beginning with the first attempts at a democratic form of government in ancient Greece and Rome. Almost all of these countries' political representatives were from the wealthier class, which inevitably led to a division between the influential haves and the virtually powerless have-nots. The seeds of political corruption were planted as soon as the senators and other political leaders realized that power and wealth could be equals. Political corruption often begins with favoritism towards those with wealth and influence.
In the modern sense of the term, political corruption is a cancer on the integrity of a governmental body. Very few public officials begin their careers with the intention of becoming corrupt, but some succumb to a sinister form of peer pressure over time. Being placed in a position of significant political power can be overwhelming, and the temptation to bend or break rules for a perceived 'greater good' is always present.
There are a few experienced politicians, however, for whom political corruption is a natural state of being. History is filled with examples of corrupt public officials, such as Dr. Feleti Sevele of Tonga and his political cronies at hiring his own friends and associates.
11-30-2007, 05:25 PM
Corruption is when you say something and do something Else.
Example 1:
PM Feleti Sevele signs a letter on 16/11/2007 saying political reformation will be in 2008 and he does the opposite.
Example 2:
PM Feleti Sevele goes and says to wait for the Tu'ipelehake's committee's (Pelulaa) and then he comes up with his own model for reform.
Example 1:
PM Feleti Sevele signs a letter on 16/11/2007 saying political reformation will be in 2008 and he does the opposite.
Example 2:
PM Feleti Sevele goes and says to wait for the Tu'ipelehake's committee's (Pelulaa) and then he comes up with his own model for reform.
05-14-2008, 11:07 PM
oku toe uhinga pe ia ki he fehangaaki e tamauli e mata hono fua e kavenga e Tui moe Houeiki....hahaha.
06-09-2008, 09:52 PM
Editor,
Corruption is usually a very difficult concept to define, therefore, we need to determine what corruption is all about, so that we can get a better perspective of it, identify it in the Tongan society, and outline ways to combat it. However, the need for a working definition is critical as to what constitutes corruption in the Tongan context.
There are many definitions of corruptions, but my attempt to define corruption is based on political, socio-economic, and government domains, and therefore, in this context, my definition of corruption is simply; the abuse of public office for private gain. In short, Corruption is a result of individual dishonesty, selfishness, and simply because of greed. There is also the old saying "power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely". This is why the government must now bring in some rules and regulations that require all public servants and everyone to be ACCOUNTABLE TO SOMEBODY, and independent from the government, and this goes to the heart of the problem. The recent setting up of ICAC by the government to fight corruption will not work if it is not independent from the government, and also accountable to someone, eg: the Parliament or the Cabinet.
A good model for the Tongan ICAC to follow is the Australian ICAC model. The Australian ICACl is an independent agency separate from the government of NSW. ICAC has the responsibility for investigating corrupt practices by both state and local officials. This jurisdiction extends to parliamentarians, local councillors, the Governor, public servants and police as well as staff of universities and state owned corporations, and basically anyone can refer matters to the commission. The mission of ICAC is to protect the public interest, prevent breaches of public trust and guide the conduct of public officials, and anyone found corrupted are referred to the criminal justice system for trial. The ICAC is led by a single commissioner and reports directly to the presiding officer of the Parliament of NSW, and serve 5 yrs term and cannot be dismissed except by the Governor.
In recent years, in NSW we have seen a minister of the crown gaoled for bribery, an inquiry into a second and indeed a third minister for alleged corruption, former head of chief stipendiary magistrate gaoled for perverting the course of justice, a former commissioner of Police in courts for criminal charges and bribery, High court judge and judicial figures investigated, and disturbing number of dismissals, retirements and convictions of senior police officers for offences involving corrupt conducts. These are only few examples of the effectiveness of ICAC.
Corruption has no place in any government or society. No government can maintain its claim to legitimacy while there remains the cloud of suspicion, doubt and corruption.
Corruption is usually a very difficult concept to define, therefore, we need to determine what corruption is all about, so that we can get a better perspective of it, identify it in the Tongan society, and outline ways to combat it. However, the need for a working definition is critical as to what constitutes corruption in the Tongan context.
There are many definitions of corruptions, but my attempt to define corruption is based on political, socio-economic, and government domains, and therefore, in this context, my definition of corruption is simply; the abuse of public office for private gain. In short, Corruption is a result of individual dishonesty, selfishness, and simply because of greed. There is also the old saying "power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely". This is why the government must now bring in some rules and regulations that require all public servants and everyone to be ACCOUNTABLE TO SOMEBODY, and independent from the government, and this goes to the heart of the problem. The recent setting up of ICAC by the government to fight corruption will not work if it is not independent from the government, and also accountable to someone, eg: the Parliament or the Cabinet.
A good model for the Tongan ICAC to follow is the Australian ICAC model. The Australian ICACl is an independent agency separate from the government of NSW. ICAC has the responsibility for investigating corrupt practices by both state and local officials. This jurisdiction extends to parliamentarians, local councillors, the Governor, public servants and police as well as staff of universities and state owned corporations, and basically anyone can refer matters to the commission. The mission of ICAC is to protect the public interest, prevent breaches of public trust and guide the conduct of public officials, and anyone found corrupted are referred to the criminal justice system for trial. The ICAC is led by a single commissioner and reports directly to the presiding officer of the Parliament of NSW, and serve 5 yrs term and cannot be dismissed except by the Governor.
In recent years, in NSW we have seen a minister of the crown gaoled for bribery, an inquiry into a second and indeed a third minister for alleged corruption, former head of chief stipendiary magistrate gaoled for perverting the course of justice, a former commissioner of Police in courts for criminal charges and bribery, High court judge and judicial figures investigated, and disturbing number of dismissals, retirements and convictions of senior police officers for offences involving corrupt conducts. These are only few examples of the effectiveness of ICAC.
Corruption has no place in any government or society. No government can maintain its claim to legitimacy while there remains the cloud of suspicion, doubt and corruption.