Changes

'''Corruption''' is, in politics, business and the legal system, abusing one's position to enrich or otherwise advance oneself or one's friends or relatives. Bribery and [[nepotism]] are common forms of corruption.  More subtle is the failure to perform civic duty (i.e. dereliction), or to allow personal opinions or priorities to overcome national needs (as has become the case in federal courts under [[Barack Obama]] in recent years).

'''Corruption''' is, in politics, business and the legal system, abusing one's position to enrich or otherwise advance oneself or one's friends or relatives. Bribery and [[nepotism]] are common forms of corruption.  More subtle is the failure to perform civic duty (i.e. dereliction), or to allow personal opinions or priorities to overcome national needs (as has become the case in federal courts under [[Barack Obama]] in recent years).

 

Corruption is found in every part of the political spectrum, as soon as people get power that they can abuse. As the great conservative historian Lord Acton (1834–1902) explained, "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely."<ref>see [http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/288200.html "The Phrase Finder"]</ref>

Corruption is found in every part of the political spectrum, as soon as people get power that they can abuse. As the great conservative historian Lord Acton (1834–1902) explained, "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely."<ref>see [http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/288200.html "The Phrase Finder"]</ref>

In [[morality]], it refers to the subversion of moral principle for ulterior motives.

In [[morality]], it refers to the subversion of moral principle for ulterior motives.

 

[[File:Puck112188.jpg|thumb|550px|Do newspaper expose or endorse corruption? Nasty little printing devils spew forth from the [[Hoe press]] in the cartoon from ''Puck'' magazine, Nov. 21, 1888]]

[[File:Puck112188.jpg|thumb|550px|Do newspaper expose or endorse corruption? Nasty little printing devils spew forth from the [[Hoe press]] in the cartoon from ''Puck'' magazine, Nov. 21, 1888]]

 

==Founding Fathers==

==Founding Fathers==

As Bailyn (1968) demonstrated, fear of corruption by the conservative forces in Britain and America was the single most important impulse for the [[Founding Fathers]] to distrust the royal government, embrace [[republicanism]] and insist on civic virtue for all citizens. Threats to free government, most Americans (and some British "country party" critics ) believed, lurked everywhere, but nowhere more dangerously than in the designs of ministers in office to aggrandize power by the corrupt use  [[lobbyist|influence]], and by this means ultimately to destroy the balance of the [[Constitution]]. "Corruption!" was as universal a cry in the colonies as it was in England, and with it came the same belief that [[tyranny]], already dominant over most of the earth, was continuing to spread its menace and was threatening even that greatest bastion of [[liberty]], England itself. In the colonies the executive was legally far stronger than in England, but circumstances - such as inflexible royal instructions, encroachments on the governor's patronage, the more democratic nature of colonial politics, the impermanence of the governor's tenure, and the possibility of going over the governor's heads and appealing directly to authorities in England - worked to reduce radically the influence of the colonial governors. With an indeterminate leadership, an unstable economic structure, and the exertion by colonial governments of creative power unknown to 18th century England, the colonial political system was troubled, contentious, even explosive, evoking, as it did, both the belief that faction was seditious and the fear that the government was corrupt and threatened the survival of liberty. English constitutional theory offered a mode of comprehension of such an inflamed, anomalous politics; and it is this mode of understanding that forms the background of the American Revolution.<ref>Bernard Bailyn, ''The Origin of American Politics'' (1968)</ref>  

As Bailyn (1968) demonstrated, fear of corruption by the conservative forces in Britain and America was the single most important impulse for the [[Founding Fathers]] to distrust the royal government, embrace [[republicanism]] and insist on civic virtue for all citizens. Threats to free government, most Americans (and some British "country party" critics ) believed, lurked everywhere, but nowhere more dangerously than in the designs of ministers in office to aggrandize power by the corrupt use  [[lobbyist|influence]], and by this means ultimately to destroy the balance of the [[Constitution]]. "Corruption!" was as universal a cry in the colonies as it was in England, and with it came the same belief that [[tyranny]], already dominant over most of the earth, was continuing to spread its menace and was threatening even that greatest bastion of [[liberty]], England itself. In the colonies the executive was legally far stronger than in England, but circumstances - such as inflexible royal instructions, encroachments on the governor's patronage, the more democratic nature of colonial politics, the impermanence of the governor's tenure, and the possibility of going over the governor's heads and appealing directly to authorities in England - worked to reduce radically the influence of the colonial governors. With an indeterminate leadership, an unstable economic structure, and the exertion by colonial governments of creative power unknown to 18th century England, the colonial political system was troubled, contentious, even explosive, evoking, as it did, both the belief that faction was seditious and the fear that the government was corrupt and threatened the survival of liberty. English constitutional theory offered a mode of comprehension of such an inflamed, anomalous politics; and it is this mode of understanding that forms the background of the American Revolution.<ref>Bernard Bailyn, ''The Origin of American Politics'' (1968)</ref>  

 

Corruption was thus the great evil the Founding Fathers confronted. When Britain escalated its defense of corruption in 1773-75, it was time to break free with the [[American Revolution]].

Corruption was thus the great evil the Founding Fathers confronted. When Britain escalated its defense of corruption in 1773-75, it was time to break free with the [[American Revolution]].

    

    

Even personal shame and humiliation was preferable to a tarnished honor or the hint of corruption. When Treasury Secretary [[Alexander Hamilton]] was accused of corruption for making secret payments to a man named James Reynolds, Hamilton revealed he had been set up and was paying blackmail to Reynolds following an affair with Mrs. Reynolds. Duels over honor were common in the era—Hamilton was killed in one, as was Hamilton's son.

Even personal shame and humiliation was preferable to a tarnished honor or the hint of corruption. When Treasury Secretary [[Alexander Hamilton]] was accused of corruption for making secret payments to a man named James Reynolds, Hamilton revealed he had been set up and was paying blackmail to Reynolds following an affair with Mrs. Reynolds. Duels over honor were common in the era—Hamilton was killed in one, as was Hamilton's son.

 

Corruption continues to be the greatest threat to [[republicanism]], and is a red flag for both parties in the U.S., even though both parties have been guilty.

Corruption continues to be the greatest threat to [[republicanism]], and is a red flag for both parties in the U.S., even though both parties have been guilty.