Essay Sample on Corruption

Corruption has been a concern throughout human history. Wherever power exists, someone is eager to abuse it and put their interests ahead of society. But how does this misuse manifest itself? How much will it cost us? What are our options? Is it possible to be completely devoid of corruption, or is the system doomed to remain flawed?

Corruption manifests itself in various ways, although it is most commonly observed in politics and business. Some even consider the charity industry to be tainted. Some charities merely provide pennies in the pound to the causes they support, while the remainder goes to pay big salaries and advertise their reasons. Some charities merely provide pennies in the pound to the causes they support, while the rest goes to pay big wages and promote their causes. But, given that we have more choice to spend our money where we want, the issue of political corruption is perhaps the most troubling. However, even though we choose who we vote for when the entire political system is frequently viewed as dishonest, people lose faith in it.

People in the United States are well aware of the power that lobbyists in Washington wield over elected officials. These hired lobbyists try to persuade legislators to pass legislation that benefits their sponsors' interests. This action is legal diminishes the trust that many citizens have in the government. This conduct is allowed many voters' confidence in their elected representatives, even those they voted for, because it allows for the influence of commercial interests that the people did not vote for. It also means that "money talks," leaving people without wealth's power and influence feeling disregarded and manipulated.

Many individuals doubt that action will ever be taken to combat political corruption. In the United Kingdom, a scandal involving MPs' and peers' expenses erupted in 2009. Many people were found to be claiming money they didn't have. The British political system suffered tremendous harm due to these revelations, with voters believing that no politician could be trusted. The British political system suffered a significant blow due to these revelations, with voters believing that no politician could be trusted. Corruption appeared widespread, with MPs from all parties and ranked caught up in the scandal. Some were required to pay back a portion of their costs, and a few were even charged with criminal acts. Despite evidence of the contrary, many were found to have behaved within the rules, leading the public to believe that the system of checks and balances was just as corrupt as the system it was supposed to oversee.

Corruption not only costs us money, but it also erodes our faith in the system. If we notice that a charity we support is spending more money on six-figure salaries or transferring funding to other projects, we will stop supporting it. We lose faith in a charity we help if we see it spending more money on six-figure salaries or transferring funding to improper sources. We lose faith in MPs and the system when we learn that they obtain staff allowances while employing relatives or charging the public purse for a second home they don't need. We question whether it is worthwhile to use our right to vote if that right has no practical value.

Unfortunately, altogether avoiding corruption is difficult. We may only be able to limit it. "Power tends to corrupt," as Lord Acton put it in the nineteenth century. We lose faith in a charity we support if we see it spending more money on six-figure salaries or transferring funding to improper sources. We lose faith in MPs and the system when we learn that they obtain staff allowances while employing relatives or charging the public purse for a second home they don't need. We question whether it is worthwhile to use our right to vote if that right has no practical value.

Unfortunately, altogether avoiding corruption is difficult. We may only be able to limit it. "Power tends to corrupt," as Lord Acton put it in the nineteenth century.