54% Indians paid Bribe in 2009 to get Work Done

Anyone read On the Grand Trunk Road?

Is this really that different from developed countries?

Let say I want to put a hot-tub on my deck at my house that I own... First, I have to go to the city to get a permit to install this new equipment. That requires a fee. Then, according to the permit, I have to get an electrician to look at my current electrical panel and an engineer to evaluate my deck's strength. They both get paid. Then, once all this is done I can put the hottub in, but why can't I do that stuff myself? If my house burns down or my deck collapses it is my loss.

Lets take another matter, civil court. Somebody rendered services and I wasn't satisfied, so I took them to small claims court. In order to get my case heard, I have to pay a fee to the clerk.

How about another example. I'm speeding down the road, and a police officer pulls me over. He gives me a ticket, which I then have to go pay or argue against in a court. Wouldn't it have been easier and cheaper for everyone involved if I just paid the officer directly?

Take another example, taxes. Lets say I don't want to go to jail or have my wages garnished. I therefore have to pay my taxes to the IRS. I don't get to decide how much I pay or what the money is spent on, so what is the difference?

Again, I ask, "How is all government not bribery?" The only difference in the developed world is that they are called "fees" or "taxes", they are written down somewhere, and they only go to a person indirectly through the government payrol. This really just makes the whole system bigger, less efficient, more expensive, and a big conspiracy that makes our society weak (i.e. nobody can do anything for themselves anymore).

No country is run by it's people, but by the greediness of the people..

Yay corruption. Whos surprised, go ahead raise your hands, get em up there real high. Now boys and girls all those people with their hands raised are dumb. Remember try not to hate them, they just didn't pay as much attention in school.

I'm from there and this is not at all surprising the government over there is beyond corrupt.

My uncle, who travels frequently for his work, was talking about his fact recently. In some parts of the world, like India, you are expected to pay a "premium" for things to get done on time or in a certain way. Bribery is not simply aberrant corruption directed at those in high places, but a fact of everyday life for the poor as well. It's staggering to think about how much income is siphoned out of the legitimate economy in this way, especially when it disproportionally effects those with less income.