Dictionary meaning of corruption is:
- Lack of integrity or honesty (especially susceptibility to bribery); use of a position of trust for dishonest gain
- Moral perversion; impairment of virtue and moral principles
- Destroying someone's (or some group's) honesty or loyalty; undermining moral integrity
- Inducement (as of a public official) by improper means (as bribery) to violate duty (as by committing a felony)
So according to dictionary meaning, bribery is just "one" kind of corruption.
What about individuals other than politicians, bureaucrats? Aren't we corrupt? Most individuals are indulged in some or the other malpractice, or violation of laws/rules.
In corporate, employees claim
- House Rent Allowance with "doctored" rental receipts
- Medical expense exemption with bills created in co-operation with medical shop owner
- Exemption on vehicle operating expenses with bills created in co-operation with petrol bunk owner
- Leave Travel Allowance with "doctored" travel tickets/bills/receipts.
Self employed professionals (doctors, lawyers, businessmen etc) evade taxes. Chartered accountants help adjusting books to evade taxes.
In software industry, business development managers/teams of (service) companies project non-existent expertise, non-existent staffing, tailor made resumes to get projects from other companies. Similarly, professionals show inaccurate information in their resume while applying for a new job (of course, they try their best in interviews to prove they have that expertise/knowledge).
How many owners pay income tax for rental income? How many people declare capital gains (stocks, mutual funds, immovable properties etc)? How many professionals who go abroad on business trips pay tax for the savings they make? Very few!!!
So, fundamentally, most individuals are corrupt. It is just that the scope is varying. A common man has a limited scope for corruption. A clerk in government office has limited scope. A government officer may have a little higher scope. And politician has much higher scopes depending on level of representation (Taluka Panchayat member, MLA, MP, Minister etc). Given an equal scope for corruption, most individuals would behave in same way. Right?
Do we have moral right to voice against corruption by politicians, bureaucrats?
