Aug 3

The Challenges in Defining Political Corruption

In many cases throughout the world, the definition of and identification of political corruption is not always clearly cut. There are methods that have been relied upon by investigators that rely on indirect means the perceptions of those involved or on the periphery of such actions as the occur. Often times the definition of political corruption covers a vast spectrum of popular and fashionable connotations, and is quite commonly used as a synonym for the overall term of general corruption.

The broad understanding is that it is any behaviour that is deemed unethical, or that serves to violate the norms, the mores and the laws of a given order. The trouble is that such a broad definition includes just about anything and relies on judgements that may or may not be lawful or legal. This leaves accusations up to the investigations of the criminal activity of which one is charged and to the interpretation of those investigations by the judicial systems.

If both of these aspects are conducted astute attention to detail, any evidence that has been manipulated for the purposes of slander may be missed. Corruption is also defined as the abuse of power for the benefit of others, while to the detriment of the society or individual that is being affected by it. This definition opens up a whole other set of discussions and debates regarding the exact definitions of “power” and of “abuse” and of “political”.

Aristotle corruption as a perversion or a deviations from the sound and reasonable practices of the systems of the government. Kings and leaders practicing in a sound manner always have the welfare of their countries and citizens in mind. Therefore, the political corruption of tyranny becomes a crime, as the well-being of the country was no longer a concern. In current times this is still under discussion, and is still an issue for most of the countries in the world.

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Aug 3

The United States Patriot Act

Posted in Legal, Politics

The purpose of the U.S. Patriot Act is to punish and deter future terrorist attacks in the States as well as in all of the countries of the world. It is meant to enhance the tools and the procedures that are in affect within the law enforcement agencies as well as in other organizations that are able to assist. The prevention and detection as well as the eventual prosecution of those involved in the forms of corruption that serve to strengthen the financial resources available to those committed acts of terrorism such as money laundering is the focus. This applies to actions that take place within the borders of the United States and extends to those affairs conducted on foreign soil. The foreign financial and banking institutions are susceptible to criminal activity and are such, susceptible to the charges and the legal action taken under such circumstances. All institutions are required to account for suspected criminal activity and to report such suspicions and actual acts to the organizations that are responsible for carrying out the legal investigations of the given matter.

Due diligence is required of the financial centers of the United States. All customers or investors must be thoroughly investigated as to the purpose and the integrity of the business of which they conduct. This holds true for all those transactions conducted within the borders of the United States, and those conducted internationally as well. The risk of conducting any sort of business with shell banks is too great, as many of these ‘institutions’ are not regulated. Because of this non-regulation, they are prohibited from having any sort of involvement with the banking and the financial systems of the United States. A bank must have a physical location and address. American banks must also take care in ensuring that all customers do not have connections with shell banks as well. In this way, systems and institutions can be certain that all the necessary investigations have been completed in the steps that are necessary in ending the access to resources and funding of those involved with criminal activities.

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Aug 3

Corruption Along the Arizona-California/Mexico Border

Posted in Politics, Safety

Four men accused of corruption, the illegal trafficking and sales of machine guns were arrested in California last week. One of the accused men has claimed to be part of the Mexican Drug Cartel, an organization that has terrorized the citizens in the United States cities and towns that are close to the Mexican borders. The investigation that resulted in the arrests had been taking place in California as well as in Arizona. Members of the Los Angeles Police Department worked together with agents from the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in an investigation that had been on-going for the last ten months. During the investigation, under cover agents confiscated or purchased more that fifty guns, some were automatic weapons including Uzis, AK 47′s, and AR 15s. Also confiscated during the arrest was a large amount of Crystal Meth.

The Captain of the Los Angeles Police Department stated that the successful capture of the suspects, and the success of the entire investigation is the result of the two agencies working together and sharing their expertise in the field. These weapons would have ended up on the streets of Los Angeles, as well as the meth-amphetamine. Both of the organizations will continue to investigate the firearms that were seized in order to determine others that may involved in the facilitation of trafficking of both the weapons and the drugs. The arrests made last week also served to intervene with plans to kidnap a man that was said to owe money to the drug cartel, Mi Familia. This is one more criminal activity that has been threatening the citizens of Los Angeles and Phoenix. Phoenix has become known in fact, as the ‘kidnap capital’ of the world. Most of the abductions are generally related to the activities of the drug cartels, however many innocent citizens are affected by the violence of the drugs and the weapons that are entering the States from South of the border.

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