Re: "Democracy is meaning less without education"- Re: cash-for-query scam

Friends,

I am very happy to see so much of passion around issues involving
curruption.
I can feel the group's pain. We all see it, know it, sometimes are
currupt ourselves. The degree to which we are currupt may vary. But, we
invariably have an explanation for why we become currupt! If we
extrapolate this, I doubt if anyone, no matter how big or small, ever
realizes that he/she is currupt! This is the parady.

I like the discussion so far, as the writers are looking at the same
issue in different angles. We need more of the same so we atleast agree
that we are all part of the same culture.

If we do agree that majority of the population is susceptible to such
practices, no matter whether they are on the giving end or receiving
end. It does not matter on which end an individual is. He/she is still
part of the currupt transactions.

We as the group are struggling to put the finger on reasons for this
pervasive perversion. It is a difficult task.

Also, the question posed repeatedly is, are the politicians and people
in high places are the reason for such pervasive curruption? or the
rest of the "people"?
Unless we reach a consensus (I would say, we as people are all equally
responsible), it may be difficult to stop finger pointing, which does
not help correct the situation.

If we, as a society are currupt, it becomes easy to figure out the root
causes and may be able to correct the situation. I am going ahead with
this assumption.

Some possible reasons and corrective measures, in my mind, are:

1. Literacy by itself can not ensure curruption free society
2. Ethical education can act as an antidote
3. We sure read about Mahatma Gandi, Vivekananda and others. We need
more of them. In the vast population of 1B, I do not think we have
enough heroes to celebrate, and emulate.
4. We need to celebrate the good work of our citizens and promote "role
models"
We need more "role models" per capita
5. AndhraOne has 400+ willing members. We have the opportunity to be
such role models. If we choose to work with schools in our native
places for example, we can touch/influence 40,000 students at a
minimum! What a great potential!
Can we?
6. Lastly, we do seem to be valuing persons of "monetary wealth" more
than persons of "good heart". In my mind, this starts the ball of
curruption rolling. Should we care or suck up to someone just because
he/she is "rich"?

Again, thanks for such a spirited discussions.

Regards,
Chandu