Not A Good Time For LGBT Activists

Times have changed a lot that gays and lesbians no longer have to hide in the dark (or in the closet) anymore. Most of them are now free to express their gender choices and even cross-dress if they are confident enough. Those who are in relationships with one another even get to get married for real because some US states and countries now allow that to happen. Best of all, it is legal too. Indeed, the LGBT community is doing better now than they did before but underneath, problems still exist.

Even though their lives are better now, there are still challenges that the LGBT community continues to face until now. LGBT activists speak up on behalf of the gay community to voice out their sentiments and ensure that the people in authority know about it and they can include such changes in the policies they make. While gays and lesbians live better now, some are still discriminated and had to endure some sort of violence (verbal or physical) now and then.

In the United States and many other parts of the world, this is a worrisome time for LGBT activists, as the pace of civil rights victories has grown uneven and reports of anti-LGBT violence and persecution surface relentlessly.

In the past two months, there have been large-scale detentions of gay men in Nigeria and Bangladesh, and chilling accounts of roundups and torture of scores of gays in Chechnya.

In Indonesia, a major police raid on a gay sauna was followed two days later by the public caning of two gay men.

More than 70 countries continue to criminalize gays’ sexual activity.

(Via: http://www.wisconsingazette.com/news/in-us-and-abroad-a-worrisome-time-for-lgbt-activists/article_f99fec84-4b75-11e7-b26c-e7267f168ad3.html)

In some places in the US, serial killings of gays have flooded the news not long ago that it became a cause of alarm for the entire LGBT community. In far away places of Bangladesh and Nigeria, gay men are also being detained. Other similar cases are happening in various places all over the world that the LGBT community is calling for everyone to unite in the face of extreme and violent oppression and make their voices heard.

But this year, the meeting leading up to the parade was not to finalize organizational touches. Instead, many members of the LGBT community bombarded Capital Pride organizers with their concerns about corporate sponsorship, police participation, the lack of diverse leadership, and fundamental questions of whether this year’s Pride should be a celebration or a demonstration. For more than two hours, attendees pushed for significant changes, outnumbering those who wanted Pride to remain the same celebration it’s been in recent years.

In various ways, the meeting in DC was a microcosm of concerns that have become more prominent in planning Pride celebrations in the era of President Donald Trump, from New York to Los Angeles. Cities all over the country began having June parades in 1970, on the one-year anniversary of the Stonewall riots, in which patrons of a gay bar called the Stonewall Inn spontaneously rose up against police harassment in an event generally considered to be the beginning of the LGBT liberation movement. Over the years, the events became lively festivals and parades celebrating LGBT identity, with increasing corporate sponsorship and police participation.

(Via: http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2017/06/politics-lgbt-pride-resistance-trump-1/)

Gay pride is no longer just a celebration but more of an opportunity to protest. It’s more than just being out and proud but fighting for their inherent human rights that the rest of humanity enjoys. However, like everything else, this is easier said than done especially if you live in America. With a president like Donald Trump, you can’t expect to live a normal life as a member of the LGBT community. He isn’t the type of person to support such causes and it is easy to see how disconnected he is from the gay community as a whole.

In reality, these issues fail in comparison to the threats of war and terrorism that we all now face. However, it does not mean that they don’t have any bearing at all because we are still talking about people’s lives even if many people consider them queer. Nobody should be above anyone for we are all created equal. Of we only keep this in mind, there won’t be any problem achieving world peace at all for everyone regardless of their gender identity.

The article Not A Good Time For LGBT Activists See more on: The Keating Economics Website

source https://www.keatingeconomics.com/not-a-good-time-for-lgbt-activists/

Threats Of War Trigger Planning For Asian Disaster Recovery

We safely and comfortably live in our own little bubble until disaster strikes. By then, all our daily routine is put to a halt. The thoughts of school, work, and other life pursuits become insignificant. Whether in your home life or in businesses, it is always imperative to set up a business disaster recovery plan of sorts. You can’t just afford to be careless especially that many nations are at war and even Asia is not spared. The threat of an impending nuclear war remains because North Korea continues to hold its ground and resists being intimidated by many Western nations. And that is not the only issue we have that involves war or conflicts between Asian nations.

Making such preparations is even more important if you own a business, big or small. Ensuring data is backed up, and servers can be recovered is key. There is a lot at stake and you can’t afford to lose a business you have grown from scratch. And considering that we use technology in almost all of the things we do, a disaster business plan similar to what many progressive Western countries have should also be considered by many Asian entrepreneurs because it is better to be safe than sorry, after all.

Megacities, defined as urban areas exceeding 10 million inhabitants, accumulate impressive physical, human and intellectual resources. Experts argue that over time megacities will contribute higher income and living standards for their citizens by increasing economies of scale and reducing production costs.

Independent studies document that today’s 29 megacities are the decisive factor in the world economy. In fact, global gross domestic product (GDP) is much more dependent on the largest megacities than it is on the world’s 200 sovereign nations. In addition to contributing to a significant chunk of their national GDPs, megacities also play important roles as global hubs for finance and commerce.

For Asia, the megacity phenomenon has special importance. This is underlined by a number of facts:

• 16 of today’s 29 megacities are Asia-based
• The world’s three most populous megacities are Tokyo (38 million), Delhi (26 million) and Shanghai (24 million)
• Gigacities—those with more than 50 million people—are expected to emerge in the region in future

For now, megacities have become the cornerstone for development and prosperity. However, their rapid growth also brings a broad range of challenges, which need to be given special considerations.

(Via: http://www.brinknews.com/asia/megacities-in-asia-responding-to-risks-securing-prosperity/)

Moreover, the threat of natural calamities continues to be a constant threat to both individuals and businesses each year aside from armed conflict and terrorist activities. Add to that the dangers of global warming and climate change that has made these natural disasters worse and leave irreparable damage at times aside from claiming countless lives can make you lose your business in a snap.

With cities and communities across the world facing bigger challenges than ever before, emerging digital services are giving governments the tools to address many common problems.

Delivering the keynote at the event today, John Giusti, chief regulatory officer at GSMA (pictured), said: “Rapid urbanisation is putting strain on cities’ infrastructure, pollution, natural disasters, and humanitarian crises need to be better monitored and managed, and a growing population will require access to essential services.”

The digitisation of services and the rise of the IoT – the creation of networks of intelligently connected devices and interoperable services – allows citizens to seamlessly interact with different aspects of their life all over digital channels, he explained.

For a glimpse the impact a digital future will have, he gave a number of examples in Asia Pacific. Local governments in China are using IoT to monitor public buses and use the data collected to deliver more effective and efficient transportation.

(Via: https://www.mobileworldlive.com/asia/asia-news/gsma-outlines-key-steps-to-digital-future/)

You wouldn’t want to start from scratch in the aftermath of a disaster or a nonsense war. Businesses need capital in order to work and you likely spent a great deal of your time, effort, and money in starting your business only to see it ravaged by calamities both natural and man-made because you didn’t have the foresight to prepare for it when you still had the time. While coming up with such a plan isn’t a walk in the park, it should not be ignored either or risk suffering big business losses you’ll be regretting for years.

Computers are now the lifeline of businesses because most transactions have gone digital. The first thing that often suffers when computers are damaged is the hard drive, which happens to be where all your precious data is stored. https://sites.google.com/site/datarecoverychanel/ can help you come up with a disaster recovery plan, so you no longer have to go through the hassles of data recovery, which is the common issue faced by business owners in disaster-prone areas and war-torn nations. Always remember that disaster planning should be a part of your business’s operation procedures and not as a mere afterthought. That’s how you transform a small business into a mighty empire.

The following post Threats Of War Trigger Planning For Asian Disaster Recovery See more on: Keating Economics Blog

source https://www.keatingeconomics.com/threats-of-war-trigger-planning-for-asian-disaster-recovery/

Health Issues Affecting Children

Children are a vulnerable group. They rely on their parents and guardians for support. But their health and well-being suffer as more parents struggle to juggle work, home, and other responsibilities. As a result, kids are left to amuse themselves with their gadgets or watch television to pass time. Most kids also have to deal with the issues they face daily on their own since their parents are often not around to guide them or listen to their stories.

We may take it for granted but neglecting children and not giving them the attention they need can make them more prone to different health issues. Both parent often works to provide for the family, so younger kids are usually left at daycare while older kids are free to do what they want, even engage in vices. Over time, it can lead to health and safety problems or even poor performance at school, worst, mental issues for those who have a hard time coping.

But an Ofsted follow up visit just three months ago said “children and young people are still not consistently receiving good enough services” and a Norfolk MP says he will present the new boss of the department with a dossier of concerns.

Meanwhile, we were also concerned that such a vital department, which clearly needs stability, is now on its fifth head in recent years. We sincerely hope Matt Dunkley, the newly appointed director, can give Norfolk children’s services the direction it needs to improve, and quickly.

(Via: http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/education/norfolk_s_children_s_services_you_can_t_fix_a_problem_if_you_don_t_admit_it_exists_1_4925126)

Moreover, child abuse issues are also on the rise, which is starting to alarm many. Cases of child abuse leave these children scarred for life.

“Every year, thousands of children in Oregon are abused or neglected. Some we know about because we read their tragic stories in our newspapers — and I know I can speak for all Oregonians when I say that any child who suffers abuse or neglect is one child too many,” Kulongoski said that year.

“As part of our collective responsibility to protect Oregon’s children, the state must strengthen our state child protective and youth authority services so that Oregonians have confidence that the children and youth who come into contact with those systems will be safe,” he said.

(Via: http://www.bendbulletin.com/localstate/5126903-151/report-child-welfare-agency-struggled-to-fix-problems)

Although rarely talked about, it is perhaps time to talk about children’s mental health because it is a growing threat to the community as suicide rates also keep on growing. Even people in authority who are supposed to offer help and support fail to do that. Hence, children take solace in their loneliness and feel even more depressed and suicidal.

Grace, 16, has been bullied for the past nine years, has moved schools twice, struggled with suicidal thoughts and taken medication for anxiety and depression.

At one point, she says, "there was no-one to turn to in the school and I felt so low I didn't want to go on".

According to research for BBC School Report, half of teenagers with mental wellbeing issues try to cope alone.

And a third said they were not confident enough to speak to a teacher.

At her lowest point, Grace made a "suicide video", which she posted on YouTube.

"I'd get beaten up every week," she says.

"Teachers wouldn't do anything. I even heard the teachers talking about me behind my back."

(Via: http://www.bbc.com/news/education-39267193)

Children all over the world, not just in the United States, experience bullying, harassment, and other forms of abuse that wreaks havoc with their mental health. Parents should step up and establish a warm and open relationship with their children right from the start so their kids grow up to be responsible, confident, and happy children who can take care of themselves in the outside world, even on their own.

Health Issues Affecting Children was originally seen on https://www.keatingeconomics.com/

source https://www.keatingeconomics.com/health-issues-affecting-children/

The Future Is Here For Small Businesses in Asia

To get ahead in life, it’s either you get lucky with business or in the lottery. You won’t get rich by just working a regular 9-5 job and we all know that by now. Competition in the workplace is tough and you can work for decades without getting the recognition you deserve. It’s the exact opposite of being an entrepreneur. In the business world, you reap what you sow. There are a lot of variables, though, but the bottom line is that you have the choice to keep moving forward or not.

As an entrepreneur, you will take full responsibility for the decisions you make that pertains to your business. It’s that simple. No more passing on the blame to other people but be prepared to reap the rewards of your hard work too.

With continued globalization and rapid technological advancements, always be on the lookout for opportunities and grab them as soon as you can. Even traditional businesses can’t continue to resist change when the portal used by all now is the Internet. That’s where everybody is – your customers. Countries like America and Europe may be first world nations but many Asian countries continue to enjoy upward growth as well despite the many issues with the global economy and lingering threats of war.

GoDaddy, an internet domain registrar and web hosting company, is casting its eyes outside the U.S. as it targets half a billion small businesses worldwide in its global expansion.

"Our mission is to help individuals take all ideas from inception all the way through to reality," said GoDaddy's chief product officer, Steven Aldrich.

Asia will be a key area for its expansion, he told CNBC on the sidelines of the InnovFest Unbound 2017 conference.

In Singapore on Wednesday, the company launched its next generation website builder which allows users to build, publish and edit a website on their mobile devices.

"You can do everything on your mobile phone. There is not a feature that is on the next generation website that you need to go to your desktop for," he said.

The product is localized for different markets.

Adrich did not say if the website domain name provider was looking to acquire companies in Asia but said the region is important for the company that is committed to working with small businesses.

(Via: http://www.cnbc.com/2017/05/03/godaddy-casts-eye-outside-u-s-says-asia-key-for-expansion-with-mobile.html)

There is a big market waiting to be discovered in Asia. While there may be some limitations on countries like China, you can always find a way to make things work if you dream just big enough. However, that does not disregard the fact that poverty is a major issue in most Asian countries that should likewise be taken into consideration when putting up a small business of your own.

Malaysian Prime Minister Dato Sri Najib Tun Razak said in his speech that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has “achieved a critical mass” to further spur its growth trajectory, with the combined economy growing 28 times to $2.57 trillion in past four decades to become the sixth-largest economy in the world currently.

But he warned that uneven growth that could cause instability, promote extremism and raise trade barriers that limit the flow of goods across borders.

“Our economies are growing faster than most of the rest of the world, and it is expected that by 2050 that the ASEAN economy will amount to over $9.2 trillion, making it the fourth largest in the world... there are other predictions that are even more optimistic, suggesting ASEAN could reach the number four position by 2030 -- a mere 13 years from now,” Mr. Razak told his audience of regional business and political leaders in his keynote address during the forum organised by the ASEAN Business Advisory Council and held in conjunction with the 30thASEAN Summit that culminates on Saturday.

“These are big numbers and impressive positions. But we have yet to achieve them,” he noted.

“The big challenge is to ensure that the integration of our individual economies -- that is necessary for ASEAN itself to become a significant world market -- is driven through. On that, we still have a long way to go.”

(Via: http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=TopStory&title=southeast-asia-welcomes-fast-growth-but-inequality-weighs&id=144435)

Small businesses drive growth and innovation in a lot of Asian countries and are big contributors when it comes to economic growth. Many Asian governments aspire to grow their economy because only then will they be able to distribute the nation’s wealth and support their citizen’s prosperity. Wealth can only be shared to all people of the land with economic success. And at the rate that businesses are sprouting all over Asia, it is no wonder that major key players in the international business arena are actively considering and pursuing business in Asia as well.

You can explore Asia by flying with http://www.freedomairguam.com/. Technically a US territory, Guam is just a stone throw away from most Asian nations, so you’d feel at home touring the continent by flying with them.  The world is getting smaller by the minute and whether you are in the US or somewhere in Asia does not matter because everyone will still mind their own business as they pursue their interests in life. What’s important is that you take all the necessary precautions and take calculated risks when dealing with setting up a small business of your own because you don’t want your money to go down the drain just like that because you failed to anticipate problems and solutions for them before it is too late.

The following blog post The Future Is Here For Small Businesses in Asia is republished from www.keatingeconomics.com

source https://www.keatingeconomics.com/the-future-is-here-for-small-businesses-in-asia/

Budget Cuts: Health Care Will Suffer In Case Of Outbreaks

Health care is a basic service that the government should provide to its citizens. Healthy citizens can function productively and help in improving the economy. The people are also less likely to succumb to diseases in case of outbreaks because their immune system can fight off the infection with ease.

But over the years, health case costs are continually on the rise. Medicines, vaccines, and doctor checkups are becoming more expensive than ever. The big pharmaceutical companies continue to thrive as the health care system suffers from more budget cuts. Even health insurance has far less coverage but is more expensive than before.

Now, what happens when disaster strikes, like an outbreak perhaps? Are the government and the various health institutions prepared for such a scenario? Will they be able to control it and prevent further cross contamination or will we witness a bloody end? It is a scary reality as bioterrorism remains to be a threat from enemies of the state. American citizens can also get infected during travels in affected areas throughout the globe.

Is the world ready to defend against the next big infectious disease outbreak? It’s one of the biggest threats humanity could face. But experts who have reviewed reports on the global response to the massive Ebola outbreak that swept through West African countries for two years starting in 2014 say we’re “grossly underprepared” to handle a similar health crisis. 

A team headed by Dr. Suerie Moon, director of research at the Global Health Centre at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva, published their findings from a review of seven major post-Ebola reports in the medical journal The BMJ at the end of January. The team concluded that, while progress has clearly been made by the world’s governments and the World Health Organization (WHO), for instance, there are gaps that could still leave millions of people at risk.

(Via: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/study-says-world-underprepared-ebola-level-outbreaks/)

In the event such an outbreak hits the U.S., will there be a large casualty? The answer is likely yes if the health care system does not receive the support and funding it needs from the government.

President Donald Trump is proposing big cuts to biomedical research as part of a budget to reduce discretionary spending at the Department of Health and Human Services by 23 percent -- a move likely to provoke outcry from lawmakers, research groups, drugmakers and patients.

The proposal would cut the budget of the National Institutes of Health -- which conduct and fund medical research -- by $5.8 billion, or about 18 percent from 2017 levels. The Office of Management and Budget called the change “a major reorganization of NIH’s institutes and centers to help focus resources on the highest priority research and training activities.”

(Via: https://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2017-03-16/trump-would-slash-medical-research-in-23-cut-to-health-budget-j0bvbruf)

And the country’s population is also at risk of getting sick from the more common and widespread infections and diseases we have faced over the last few years.

A multibillion dollar federal fund that helps prevent disease outbreaks and fights chronic conditions may disappear with a Republican plan to revamp the Affordable Care Act, worrying local physicians and county officials who say they rely on the money to sustain community health.

The GOP legislation, as it was released Monday, proposes cutting a piece of the Affordable Care Act called the Prevention and Public Health Fund – a store of federal money created to bolster immunization rates, disease surveillance, workforce training and community health education, among other programs. If the replacement legislation passes, county and state agencies throughout California will lose millions of dollars they relied on for public health efforts. Those governments also used the grants to prepare for emergencies such as Ebola and Zika virus outbreaks, health officials said.

(Via: http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/health-and-medicine/article137303703.html)

Even medical professionals are worried about the long-term consequences of these drastic measures to the poorer citizens of the country who relies on the government for support.

Chapman said county health departments use the fund for much more than education. The fund has provided more than $28 million in vaccine supplies to the California Department of Public Health, which county health departments rely on to immunize children and adults, Chapman said. Without free vaccines available, low-income families may vaccinate at lower rates, increasing the likelihood that once-common diseases such as measles and polio will return.

The fund also supports laboratory capacity at the state and local levels so health departments can more rapidly diagnose infectious diseases and quarantine people to prevent their spread. Testing capacity was an issue during both the Ebola outbreak in 2014 and the Zika virus outbreak last summer.

The proposed cut to the fund alarmed state Sen. Richard Pan, D-Sacramento, a pediatrician who called it a short-sighted move that could harm state and local efforts to respond to potential outbreaks.

“When you erode our public health infrastructure, it’s going to curb our ability to respond effectively and quickly to health and safety,” he said. “It’s all about prevention. We need the capacity to track down and fight contagious diseases. When we don’t, people get sick and die.”

(Via: http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/health-and-medicine/article137303703.html)

It is too early to tell the effects of these policies being enforced by President Trump and the Congress. The health care system affects every single person in the country. People’s lives will be affected once the system can no longer provide the services they need because they do not have the money to fund it.

The blog article Budget Cuts: Health Care Will Suffer In Case Of Outbreaks See more on: Keating Economics Blog

source https://www.keatingeconomics.com/budget-cuts-health-care-will-suffer-in-case-of-outbreaks/

No More Budget For Quality Education

For most parents who aren’t wealthy enough, a good education is the only gift they can give their children to help them get ahead in life. With quality education comes better opportunities to succeed in life. It is why many will do their best to get a college degree despite the odds because most good companies won’t just hire anyone who isn't qualified for the job.

The problem is that a good education does not come cheap. Aside from the hefty tuition fees, you also have to pay for other miscellaneous expenses that can accumulate over time. While you can go to school for free in public schools, parents who only want the best for their kids often opt to send them to private schools instead. And these days, going to public school may just be as costly as private schools without sufficient federal funding. Yes, it’s a big possibility looming on the horizon now and it is making many parents and students across the country worried sick.

U.S. Education secretary Betsy DeVos found herself on the hot seat again this week, testifying before a Senate appropriations subcommittee, defending President Donald Trump's 2018 education budget.

President Trump proposed a $59 billion federal education budget, cutting more than $9 billion, or 13 percent, from current levels.

Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., chairs the committee and opened by telling DeVos, "This is a difficult budget request to defend," and saying the proposal likely will not be adopted as is.

This was DeVos' second time defending President Donald Trump's 2018 education budget, having been grilled at a House appropriations committee hearing on May 24.

(Via: http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2017/06/trumps_education_budget_diffic.html)

K12 education will suffer the most with a 13% budget cut estimated at $60 million but the entire education system will get hit by these budget cuts. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos has a hard time defending why the need for all these budget cuts that will also affect federal funding for teacher support. If Trump wishes to push for these budget cuts, will he really be able to make America great again at the expense of many of his constituents? Even the “Forgiveness Program” will cease to exist, a program that urges graduates to work in the government so their student debt will be paid off after rendering ten years in service.

Just the numbers tell a surprising story: Program cuts totaling $9 billion from the Education Department’s $68 billion budget and $1.4 billion for school choice, including new money for states that embrace vouchers. Families could use the vouchers to offset tuition at private schools.

The budget proposal would eliminate more than 20 education programs that benefit children from low-income families and those with disabilities. The proposed cuts include an after-school program that serves mostly low-income students, would take money away from career and technical education, cut Special Olympics education programs and a number of other programs. Many of these make up a small part of Washington’s education budget.

But the real danger in the Trump administration’s education budget is that it shows where President Donald Trump and Education Secretary Betsy DeVos would like tax dollars increasingly to go in the future — toward private schools, including religious institutions. The Washington state Constitution specifically prohibits state dollars going to religious schools, so Washington could not benefit from this program even if the citizens thought it was a good idea, which it is not

(Via: http://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/editorials/us-education-budget-would-move-nation-in-wrong-direction/)

For those against this budget cut, they see this move as a way to promote for education privatization and the initial steps to entirely abandoning public education for good. It is a big problem for low-income families who can barely make both ends meet but still try their best to put their children to school. Even with the help of vouchers and support from the local government, they would still have a hard time doing so. These policies question the existence of public education in the first place. If Trump gets his way, he’d make people work hard for everything they get from the government even if it means sacrificing the quality of education young Americans gets.

The following blog article No More Budget For Quality Education See more on: https://www.keatingeconomics.com

source https://www.keatingeconomics.com/no-more-budget-for-quality-education/

Corruption Is The Leech That Kills Societies

Greed is so powerful it can make people forget about their sense of humanity more often than not. Many times we only think of ourselves, which is actually not a bad thing but problems arise once you start trampling on the rights of others as you protect your own. And corruption is a fine example of how greed gets the best of a person. You don’t have to go far to see corruption at work. Just look at the government and see public officials from the lowest to the highest position making the most of their positions for their benefit and not of the people.

It is a sad reality that governments in most societies are riddled with corruption and it affects the delivery of basic services. The people suffer the most when their government leaders only preoccupy themselves on getting rich and not in really extending public service to the people who need help the most. Conflict and political unrest are not uncommon in such societies because people won’t just keep their mouths shut when they see their leaders not doing their job right.

The mother was reportedly told that the surgery was necessary and that it would be “a walk in the park.” However, her daughter sadly died due to surgery complications.

It was revealed that the hospital has financial incentives for performing certain types of surgeries – like open-heart surgery on children – so they push for the operations despite being told by experts that the surgeries are not in the best interest of the patients.

“I just watched this video from Represent.Us,” Jennifer wrote. “It’s incredible and horrifying. And it got me thinking: corruption affects all of us, but so many people don’t recognize it. We need to tell each other our stories. We need to show that everyone – our neighbors, our families, our community leaders – everyone we know is touched by corruption. I want to hear your story. How does corruption affect you? #WeDemandBetter Represent.Us/WDB.”

(Via: http://www.justjared.com/2017/04/20/jennifer-lawrence-speaks-out-about-corrupt-government/)

These corrupt government officials often ignore the needs of their people just to make more money from the people’s taxes and improve their personal lives. Some do it discreetly while others are so blatant in stealing money from the people.

Corruption eradication programmes need crusaders. A media organisation has the set-up and platform to do that.

People matter in fighting corruption. People Power is critical.

Nothing excites people more than news of high-profile individuals being investigated or charged for alleged corrupt practices. But screaming headlines won’t last.

Hauling them to court is one thing but for every suspect charged, there are many more who get away with murder, so to speak.

The law is not perfect. The system has loopholes.

It is not easy to prove one is corrupt. Many get away scot-free and live happily ever after with their ill-gotten gains.

That is why understanding the scourge is important for people. Creating awareness is key.

Corruption is not to be tolerated. The late Prof Syed Hussein Alatas, who wrote many books and essays on corruption, likened corruption to a disease than can sweep through a society like a tidal wave, leaving in its wake “a trail of negligence, lethargy, inefficiency and callous regard of man’s inhumanity to man”.

According to him, corruption is “victimising innocent people”.

(Via: http://www.thestar.com.my/opinion/columnists/the-bowerbird-writes/2017/05/15/corruption-and-its-debilitating-impact-like-a-disease-fraud-and-bribery-choke-off-sustainable-politi/)

The money these corrupt leaders steal can make a big difference to the lives of their constituents and the future of their country. Progressive nations make it a point to take care of their people but you’ll see millions of people living in poverty in countries ruled by corrupt leaders. They live in makeshift shanties on the side of the road, under the bridge, or any vacant lots where they can find shelter for a short while or for the long term. They aren’t protected from the elements and they often live for days without eating. If the government’s resources are used properly, they shouldn’t worry about food and shelter at the very least.

Fortunately, it has become easier now to speak up against corruption and even public shame corrupt officials with the help of social media. One powerful post can touch people’s emotions and make your post go viral in an instant. While we often don’t have that much power to oust a public official from public office, raising awareness about their crimes can empower people and help them vote for the right person come next election. You’d seldom come across honorable leaders nowadays. Make sure to take voting seriously so that the right people are put into office and put a stop to corruption once and for all.

Corruption Is The Leech That Kills Societies is available on https://www.keatingeconomics.com

source https://www.keatingeconomics.com/corruption-is-the-leech-that-kills-societies/