Corruption: How it Affects You

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Corruption is a vile disease that encircles the democratic process of our society and deems it unbearable to move in a fair and balanced way. Corruption at its core is rotten to say the least, if allowed to go unchecked it will spread throughout the populace that it manipulates and trickles down throughout a community.

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In Chapter 4 of Mighter than the Sword by Rodger Streitmatter the topic of discussion focuses on Municipal Corruption by William Tweed and his cronies, better known as the Tweed Ring. Tweed had inflitrated every part of society and his manipulation of government officials as well as buttering up the press ensured he would reign over the Tweed Regime unhindered. That would've been the case if Thomas Nast, a cartoonist for Harper's Weekly, didn't publish cartoons which grew awareness and support against Tweed and his crew and eventually led to the dismantling of his corrupt regime.



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To put the municipal corruption into perspective in modern times growing up in Mount Vernon, NY and being involved with Politics at a young age I have seen how corruption has plagued my city; from high crime rates to lack of growth due to businesses who don't want to deal with city government. How can one lead a city to prosper when the forces of evil are lurking from each side of the political, economical, and societal sector?

Interactive Map of Corruption throughout the World

Power that goes unchecked often leads to corrupt officials who hold powerful positions in and in-turn make government ineffective to its primary cause of working for the people's best interest. You can curtail the flames of corruption by allowing the fourth estate to check the government. By allowing transparency and bringing to the forefront of the medial spectrum how corruption is bad for society you can either deter or expose any participant in corruption and allow the a free democratic process to continue.