Journal ISSN 1078-1935 – Page 1632 – Public Intelligence Blog

Corruption is by far not the main factor behind persisting poverty in the Global South

John Hickel

Al Jazeera, 1 February 2014

Transparency International recently published their latest annual Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), laid out in an eye-catching map of the world with the least corrupt nations coded in happy yellow and the most corrupt nations smeared in stigmatising red. The CPI defines corruption as “the misuse of public power for private benefit”, and draws its data from 12 different institutions including the World Bank, Freedom House, and the World Economic Forum.

When I first saw this map I was struck by the fact that most of the yellow areas happen to be rich Western countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom, whereas red covers almost the entirety of the global South, with countries like South Sudan, Afghanistan, and Somalia daubed especially dark.

This geographical division fits squarely with mainstream views, which see corruption as the scourge of the developing world (cue cliche images of dictators in Africa and bribery in India). But is this storyline accurate?

Many international development organisations hold that persistent poverty in the Global South is caused largely by corruption among local public officials. In 2003 these concerns led to the United Nations Convention against Corruption, which asserts that, while corruption exists in all countries, this “evil phenomenon” is “most destructive” in the global South, where it is a “key element in economic underperformance and a major obstacle to poverty alleviation and development”.

There's only one problem with this theory: It's just not true.

Continue reading “Berto Jongman: Capital Theft, Not Government Corruption, is Root of Poverty in Third World”

2014/02/01

Berto Jongman: NSA Whistleblower William Binney – Full Transcript (19 Screens) Covering Corruption within NSA at All Levels

Corruption, Government, IO Deeds of War, IO Impotency, Military

NSA 30 Year Veteran, Whistleblower William Binney on Corrupt NSA– the Inside Story– Transcript

By Rob Kall

OpEdNews.com, 1 February 2014

A transcript of my interview with William Binney. Listen here: Podcast/NSA-Whistlebower-American-by-Rob-Kall-America-Freedom-To-Fascism_FISA_IMPEACHMENT-OFF-THE-TABLE-PELOSI_

R.K.: And welcome to the Rob Kall Bottom Up Radio Show WNJC 1360 AM out of Washington Township reaching Metro Philadelphia and South New Jersey, sponsored by opednews.com. Tonight my guest is an American Hero. He is a Whistleblower His name is William Binney, Bill Binney. He was technical director of the World Geopolitical and Military Analysis and Reporting Group at NSA. It's a high level position at NSA. He left to become a Whistleblower, basically, to report problems. In exchange for reporting problems he had his home raided, he was charged with crimes and his life was destroyed in so many ways because that's what the Federal Government does to Whistleblowers. Welcome to the show, Bill.

Continue reading “Berto Jongman: NSA Whistleblower William Binney – Full Transcript (19 Screens) Covering Corruption within NSA at All Levels”

2014/02/012014/02/01

David Swanson: Trial of Drone Protesters Puts US Government on Trial

07 Other Atrocities, 09 Justice, 11 Society, Corruption, Government, Idiocy, Law Enforcement, Military

On Trial, Drone Protester Proves Wrong People Charged

By Judith Bello

Closing Argument presented on Janurary 31, 2014, by Judith Bello on trial as of those who protested at Hancock Air Base in New York State on October 25, 2012

Ed Kinane Tells Judge Why He Protests Drone Killing

By Ed Kinane

Ed Kinane, CLOSING STATEMENT, Charges: trespass & disorderly conduct, Trial of the “Hancock 17,” Judge David S. Gideon presiding, De Witt, NY Town Court, 31 January 2014

Continue reading “David Swanson: Trial of Drone Protesters Puts US Government on Trial”

2014/02/012014/02/01

4th Media: China as Financial Stabilizer for Latin America?

01 Brazil, 02 China, 03 Economy, 07 Venezuela, 08 Wild Cards

“China Has Good Reason to Help Stabilize Latin American Economies”

Although these alliances will primarily be closer to home, most of Latin America is a naturally ally not only because of its increasing trade and commercial relations with China, but because of its common interest in an international political order that favors respect for national sovereignty and independence over unilateral intervention and military force.

In the last week or so much of the international business press has been focused on the problems of financial stability in developing countries, some of whom have recently become more vulnerable to capital outflows.

The main cause is that investors are trying to get the jump on possible moves by the U.S. Federal Reserve to allow U.S. interest rates to rise, which will draw capital from developing countries and cause their borrowing costs to rise.

Argentina has gotten some of this attention, as it allowed the peso to fall by 15 percent in one day and increased some access for Argentines to dollars on the official market.

Venezuela is not so much affected by these market developments, but is always negatively portrayed in the international media, and more so in the last year since its exchange rate system problems have caused its inflation to rise to an annual rate of 56 percent over the past year.

The two countries face different sets of problems, but they will both likely have to stabilize their exchange rates in order to resolve them.

This is where international help can make a big difference, and there is one country that has both the ability to help and a compelling interest in doing so: China.

China has already helped Venezuela with tens of billions of dollars of loans – much of which has already been repaid – as well as investment.

It has also provided significant lending and investment in Ecuador, Cuba, Brazil, and other countries. But there is more that they could do at this moment.

Continue reading “4th Media: China as Financial Stabilizer for Latin America?”

2014/02/012014/02/01

Owl: Chem-Trails Chickens Coming Home to Roost: Direct Proof of Covert Weather Engineering?

03 Environmental Degradation, Earth Intelligence, Government, Military

Chem-Trails Chickens Coming Home to Roost: Direct Proof of Covert Weather Engineering?

In various areas of the US, recent snow that has come down is not snow. This material does not melt. The videos below, which clearly show this, demonstrate what's coming down from the sky, though it looks like snow, is not snow, yet it contains large amounts of barium and aluminum and smells like plastic when attempts are made to burn it.

This come from the first link below:

Continue reading “Owl: Chem-Trails Chickens Coming Home to Roost: Direct Proof of Covert Weather Engineering?”

2014/02/01

SchwartzReport: Koch Money Behind Effort to Change Electoral Vote Counting

Civil Society, Corruption, Government

It is a measure of how deeply corrupted our electoral system has become that this can go on, and not be illegal. It is a direct assault on the form and substance of our democracy.

Koch-Tied Groups Funded GOP Effort to Mess With Electoral College Rules
MARIAH BLAKE, Reporter – Mother Jones

Each state and the District of Columbia has a certain number of electoral votes, based on their population, and they get to decide for themselves how those votes should be allotted. Currently, every state except Maine and Nebraska gives all of their electoral votes to the candidate who wins the statewide popular vote. But in 2011, GOP lawmakers in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin introduced bills that would divide electoral votes among candidates based on how many congressional districts they won. Because Republicans drew the boundaries of the districts in those states, this scheme would be almost certain to hand Republican presidential candidates the majority of their electoral votes—even if more voters cast ballots for Democrats. (Read more about how the plan would work here.) Presuming the race is close enough, this could decide the nationwide outcome.

Phi Beta Iota: The current method is not representative. An Electoral Reform Acvt is needed.