Dick Dasterdly

........and the damage it does to the country and it's people not only in loss of revenue but psychologically as well.

http://elpais.com/elpais/2013/08/14/...11_929795.html



"Let me give you a figure," he continues: "Around 70 percent of the politicians who have been arraigned for corruption were subsequently re-elected in the most recent local elections." But despite the gloomy picture, there is some hope. The government-run Center for Sociological Investigations (CIS) last month noted that corruption is now Spaniards' second-biggest concern, after unemployment. This is good news, because the more that we are aware of the problem, and are concerned about tackling it, the more likely we are, as a society, to support measures to stop it and to fight our own demons.

"This is what prompts young people to seek a new life abroad"

amideislas

I don't think that's anything shockingly new. Corruption at all levels has been a way of life since before Franco. But since joining the EU, there's been a lot more pressure to stop it. I've seen a lot of improvement in just the past 5 years. For one small example, the Police and Guardia are no longer allowed to intimidate cash out of motorists with impunity. Much, much rarer these days. Much more risk in that behaviour nowadays.

On the other hand (and in no way to be misconstrued as support for our corrupt system), a lot of people have become dependent upon the ubiquitous black economy, and if it all ended tomorrow, many people would indeed become visibly impoverished, despite our expensive little social utopia that supposedly prevents anyone from becoming so, but in practice, fails to achieve it and benefits those who don't need it more than those who do, and only further encourages people to operate under the table.

It's not simply a matter of policing it and arresting anyone engaging in a brown envelope lifestyle (which includes much of the population). It's about establishing trust/respect in government and the law, something of which there is still precious little of.

For much of the population, I reckon it doesn't really matter to them who gets voted in, since they're all regarded as criminals anyway (and their behaviour consistently proves it).

And until the core problems of trust are addressed, not only in politicians, but at the street level, providing far better opportunities to the population when living on the top side of the table than below it, I don't see that changing for generations to come. If ever.

jackytoo

That's what happened in Marbella, Gil was re-elected even when he had corruption charges pending. No-one cared, business was booming, everyone was doing ok. Similar in those small pueblos in Axarquia. The Mayor was signing off permits, villagers were getting a good price for previously worthless bits of land. Others were doing the construction, foreigners coming in and spending locally...everyone supported the Mayor and still do. Even choosing the Carnival Queen is corrupt

Dick Dasterdly

Exactly.

Dick Dasterdly

Wouldn't be the daughter of one of the local council officials by any chance or is it down to which local business man is prepared is prepared to dig deepest into his pocket for one of his family ?

agoreira

As you would know, in English we have a "financial cushion", the Spanish a "financial mattress" (colchón financiero), the alcalde of Alcaucín took it literally, they found €166K tucked away in his! Before leading him away to prison.
http://www.publico.es/espana/205273/...de-de-alcaucin

Lynn R

I saw him being led into court in handcuffs - with a large group of his supporters applauding him and shouting out supportive messages! People were quoted in the local press praising him for bringing greater prosperity and jobs to the village, they didn't seem to care so much about the back-handers (or the invidious position the buyers of the properties he handed out building licences for were put in).

As well as the money found under his mattress, it was discovered that his salary as Mayor had been paid into his bank account and not one centimo had been drawn out, so there must have been a very regular supply of brown envelopes stuffed with cash to pay his living expenses!

Domino

you mean you didn't win this year jackie

Domino

Nah, just remember he had a wife who had an income from somewhere, doing something.
He was working for the community and it was an embarrassment to receive money for what was really assisting the community in getting a better life


ISTR the mayor of Madrid who was (is) under investigation was found to have a flat in Malaga. This was the biggest plot on the site, probably made up of 2 prime flats. He was reported to have spent €900,000, which was cheap for such a situation.
although it was supposedly in joint names (him and wife) it was reported documents to have been in her name only. And no one has yet asked how she managed to pay for it in 2 tranches in cash and what work she was doing that enabled her to make such money. Also it was not known if tax had been paid on the money.

Domino

OK, lets take trust back to basics.....

why is it that a police officer can be charged and convicted with theft and corruption, serve a prison sentence, and yet be entitled to return to work as a police officer in the same station where he committed said acts.??
have not been able to find out yet if he would be paid his normal salary whilst serving his sentence and retain his pension rights.

people say "the system" is too lax with Britain's police - but getting caught is not worth it, compared with Spain.

andyrich666

Why not though ?

Just because you or another country thinks its wrong does not mean it is.

I never have believed in the 'its game over' attitude. I believe in giving people a fresh start in any occupation be it private or public.

amideislas

Isn't that the very definition of "fluffy bunny"?

Dick Dasterdly

I would say so, in relation to a position with major public responsibility.

Domino

so your aupair steals £1000 from your sock drawer and spends it getting ratted with her friends
it is nice to know that when she comes out of a short stay you will let her back into your sock drawer


so your next door neighbours teenage son borrows the keys to your new car, picks up six or seven of his mates, then wraps said car round a tree that jumped out at him.
nice to know when he is back in circulation you will go round to next door and give him his own personal copy of the car keys just in case he needs to get about.

you employ a security guard who promptly starts to steal computers and other high value items.
when he comes out you will offer him his job back, because he needs a fresh start.

sorry, but your logic is skewed. If a person is in a position of trust and they break that trust then they should not be trusted for quite some time until they have been able to prove they have kept their nose clean.

I would ask what your reaction would be if your best friend took your wife to bed or started playing with your young daughter

MP fiddles his expenses, every salesman does in one way or another, same as people steal pens, pencils, note pads, packets of printer paper etc etc. But you would want the MP to resign. Or not??

so lets get real, copper steals copper goes to prison copper has to find another living. end of.

jennieJ

How can the public have any trust in a police officer who has been convicted of a crime serves a prison sentence and then goes back into a police officer role which requires a high level of trust and responsibility.

It's just a complete nonsesence, I've spent a lot of my working life assisting in the lawful dismissal of public servants who mess up big time. It would make a complete nonsense of all the work that others do trying to make sure public office is corruption free.

Where I have been involved the game has been over when its been over.

Doesn't mean they can go out and open a shoe shop or a cafe or become a security guard (if a private company is dumb enough to take them on) But having abused the trust of the public, the money of the public and let down the very people they are put in place to serve, that's an end to it and rightly so in my opinion.

I guess you are one of those people who thinks paeds are best rehabilitated by going to Walt Disney World.