U.S. residents :Do you have corruption in your local government? What is it?

Question

I'm just curious to hear what people in the US feel is corruptionin their local government? Corruption may not be an all encompassing term for all the ways people benefit form the government. What kind of corruption do you have in your local area? You could add cronyism and nepotism to this.

Does it seem like some families have more members in the local government or on boards etc? Do some companies get more work? Do those who know the local police avoid paying tickets? Can you pay money under the table to get things done? What's going on in your part of America?

I really would like to get hear from a large amount of people across America on this if possible. Oh, if you can add your state that would be appreciated to get an idea of location.

Answer 1

Washington State. We have corruption.
Examples: The governor kept digging up new votes for weeks until they counted in her favor. The Seattle school district lost track of 20 million dollars and no one was taken to task. Oops it was really 40 million! Oh and they need more money! The voters rejected a new stadium after spending more money to fix the roof than it cost to build the Kingdome. They blew it up any way about a year later and we'll be paying taxes for a long time to pay for the new one. The regional transit authority took a bunch of prime real estate through eminent domain and then decided not to build the new monorail. Then they refused to give the old landowners first right of refusal on their property at the price it was seized at because they were $80,000,000 in debt and said they needed the money to pay the debt off. 80 million and they didn't turn one shovelful of dirt! The list is much longer, this is just the tip of the iceberg but you get the picture. We are seething with liberals in the western part of the state and they control the state government. King county (Seattle) and the counties around it are criminal operations and the rest of the state would like to break off. They're tired of paying high taxes to fund irresponsible and criminal government but they're pretty much stuck as it is. Here's a funny one. Christine Gregoire (the governor) was crying that the state police needed more money and more officers yet one of them was assigned as a body guard for her dog! Ironically it was killed. I forget how but it didn't die of natural causes. I think a raccoon got it on the grounds of the governor's mansion!

Answer 2

In Washington DC our mayor got caught is a drug sting several yeas ago but not much in the way of scandals lately. The local government doesn't have much opportunity for corruption because the real power in the city is with the Congressional committee that has veto power over the budget and everything they do. This produces massive inefficiency, because no one can be held responsible for what happens, and any reduction in spending results in a reduction in the federal payment, not a reduction in local taxes or more services. The city is run for the convenience of commuters from the surrounding suburbs because their congressman run the district committee.

I used to live in Chicago in the 1960's and the description given here sounds like it has improved. The police use to solicit bribes, and some of them were caught acting as a look out for a burglary ring. You had to "tip" building inspectors if you wanted to get approval and there were collapses of some new building where the "tips" had been very large.

Answer 3

1 Nepotism In Chicago:

If you are not Irish, Italian, or the relative of a black minster, then there is no way to get a good city job.

So basically if you are blue collar in Chicago, the only stable job for you is in the police department.

2 Chicago is a Black City, yet only had two black mayors and most Mayors were Irish, the two longest serving mayors Father and Son (Daley and Daley JR). The Congressman for my community had his son take over without contention, we live in a monarchy.

3 Knowing the police helps. I know the police and I have benefited from it.

4 America is Capitalist, ofcourse money is going to affect things.

5 In Chicago the native whites, Latinos, and blacks are being forced out of our communities so wealthy New Yorkers can gentrify the ghetto.


From Chicago Illinois, only place more corrupt in the US is the State of Texas. (I hope Rio beats out Chicago for the Olympics! Screw Daley JR's legacy!)

Answer 4

The city of Minneapolis seems very much on the level. I've never heard of police or city inspectors taking bribes or anything like that. The system isn't perfect, but it's a good place to live.

My biggest worry is that there have been more and more cameras popping up around town.

Answer 5

Corruption in general a very old business,now a days we come to know bcuz of media.Its a world wide phenomenon,its not limited in a single country or state.
It may vary----Nepotism,Undueadvantage,Payback,Licencensing,Favourtism,To frame moderate charge in lieu of biggest crime and so on.

Answer 6

Oregon here...the biggest form of corruption we have is the liberals in the government....other than that, we are pretty good to go.