How many times have you found yourself in a discussion that criticizes 'the system'? System for most part is some kind of 'Invisible evil' that is made the root cause of many a problem .Unless this evil monster does not transform to a benevolent monk, things will remain horrible.
Now think of what constitutes the system in such discussions. Well the legislature, executive, judiciary, and at times the Media. We citizens by virtue of being very nice ,we are surely excluded from this malfunctioning 'system'.
So why this diatribe? Here's the story:
Recently a subset of the alumni of a prestigious (top 20) engineering college in India engaged in an online discussion forum. An alumnus inquired if he could potentially smuggle a laptop from USA into India. He got within a few hours replies from 4-5 other alumni that he should be prepared to bribe the custom officer about USD 40 in case they find out that he is carrying the goods. He also got tips on which port of entry would be the safest haven for this endeavor to succeed
It turns out that the legal way to carry an electronic device is to pay a custom's duty which is about 40% of the excess cost of the laptop computer if it costs more than Rs 25,000 ( 500 USD). So for a 800 USD PC the duty is about 120 USD.
This is not too much money for this group, most of whom ( who responded) earn a dollar salary. My question is why couldn't someone say just pay the duty. That is how the government earns revenue. Maybe at 920 USD the machine is still cheaper than it is in India. And if it isn't heck buy it in India. If every Indian arranges to get a laptop computer smuggled from USA because it is cheaper, what happens to the laptop market in India.
The same argument holds when people cringe about paying income taxes. It is the people with most high paying corporate jobs who own houses evade income tax with fake rent receipts. And then blame policies for why the country is poor. Blame the cops for taking bribes.
I am amazed that these 'people like us' who criticize the system at every given opportunity fail to recognize that we are failing it. In other words we want our rights but are not willing to perform our duties to earn these rights.
12 years ago
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14 comments:
Great post. Completely agree.
I think this is all related to the emergence, or the increasing popularity of "individualism." Each one unto their own. Where we are worried about ourselves, primarily -- me, my family, my friends, my home, etc etc. The whole concept of the share spaces, the communal living, the societal pressures, that used to be a part of our culture (especially, the Indian subcontinent), is now disappearing.
You have simple modern day examples that even we can recount having experienced in our lifespans -- remember, when we were young(er), say 15 yrs ago, remember the kind of interaction we had with our neighbors, our classmates, the dhobi's children who lived in a shack at the corner of our streets? Was there ever a time in early 90s, when you watched a cricket match alone? I can't remember a single instance.
And now -- look what happened.
Good insights.
I think this is a sort of chicken-egg problem. We would probably not worry about paying duties (or other taxes), if we are comfortable with the fact that the money is being utilized correctly. The government officials will stop this process of bribes and black money when they get enough funds (usually through taxes) to get their salaries. And their salaries can be higher if the system gets more efficient (ie reduce the amount of bribes -- which again is the result of us not paying the taxes/duties).
So yeah.. chicken/egg problem.
But the mentality of people shown is completely true here!
so?? it happens everywhere, if i don't do it other's will its long discussion or just leave it as it is as no one in this fast world hav time to change other's... and people learn by there mistakes only, but Rome wasn't built in one day so world will take it's time to become a peaceful place.....
As everyday is a new beginning with new issues and new conclusions together with new situations to face in life!
Inspired by the recent nsit alumni thing ??
My 2 paise (cheaper than 2 cents :-) ):
Water always goes down, and so does human nature. Atleast it tends to. We talk abt clean politics but I am sure many of us would not stand against the same yardstick that we set for others. For the sake of keeping this comment small, I will skip various examples and only say this:
Rules are what enforce fairness but by definition rules are not flexible. Humans also speak of fairness but they have very flexible nature. And therefore given a chance humans try to avoid or sidestep rules.
..at every possible step.
@Rajat,
The chicken- egg approach is one of convenience. Do you really not pay the fine or the duty because you think the money is not being utilised correctly?
If the fine is cheaper than the bribe ( hypothetical) would you still pay the bribe as at least the cop is feeding his family?
I think its about beating the system & bending the rules because there should not be any.
The entire idea of civilization is based on the concept of equality which is not true.
People like to impose themselves (or follow the messaih), feel powerful, cheat and help others because it makes them feel good or even be nice and caring.
At many points we are yet to evolve out of our caves ;)
The only thing is - we should not crib about the system, it is like that because we let it be :D
harsh...i believe that you raise several different issues - first, if a criminal has the right to criticize the establiment, second, if the fairness one's dues to the establishment should be linked to the establishment's service to the individual, and lastly that of personal virtue of honesty.
To the first issue...i believe irrespective of one's status or background one does have the right to criticize, an expression, though how seriously it is taken by others is an entirely different matter...
To the second issue...i am if you are going to link the right of the individual to criticize the establishment to the individual's personal character and dealings...you should reciprocally also link the establishment's track record in determining its right or righteousness to demand dues...which is probably why some criminals do not have a problem in donating to the churches who they believe do more service the govts...
to the third issues...well...i am not the right person to talk about personal virtue of honesty...in all fairness to the idea of it...
@Harsh
It is always not a matter of convenience. For example, I do take great pains to make sure that I keep all the trash in a plastic and throw it away when I find a trash can, and do not litter. And suggest others to do the same. The 'mentality' somehow does not make sense when I'm walking on a typical street in India, although, I do try to take great care there too.
And it is indeed a chicken-egg problem. The 'mentality' that I talked about it not just related to paying fines or duties.. it is of finding ways to 'work' around the system. That has developed over the years, because we have been grown up with the perception that the 'system' does not work. If that perception changes, our habits will also change and we won't take such efforts to work outside of the 'system'. But the other side of the argument definitely is that if all of us change together, the 'system' will change automatically.. hence the chicken-egg problem.
@ Aditya - criticism of the system is fine but not by excluding oneself from it
If we do not think 'custom duties' are justified, at least raise it - there are many forums that can help the concerned individual take all kinds of action. Same for income taxes.
Rebellion is distinguished from crime and I support the former not the latter - think of 'Dakus' vs 'Chors' - in the current case this DIT group belongs to the latter.
As regards personal honesty, it is very easy to attach Robin Hood overtones to any act of lawlessness and justify it as personally honest.
@ Rajat - if more people on that forum had instructed that man to go ahead pay the duty as it is not much than encouraged to find ways around it - it may have impacted his attitude. And following the law would only have monetarily set him back by perhaps an inconsequential sum.
But when relatively privileged sections of the society encourage these practices because the 'system is bad' is where I get concerned
We are the people who can swing the direction.
Personal influence, after all, was in the 1950s and even now the most important tool for persuasion.
My 2 cents, maybe contradicting, and unsound, long post, nonetheless here it goes...
Interesting topic, full of twists.
Personally for me, the response to living in a country where corruption is rampant is based on the following thoughts
1. I *like* being an idealist and try to make it work with this approach; unless it takes too long or becomes too painful
2. By being an idealist i try to evaluate what do i gain or contribute to the world at large. At times by conforming to a corrupt system, i am supporting it, and making it flourish. At the same time, i need to evaluate the cost that i am ready to pay for being a rebel, if it affects my job and my family to a great degree, for me it is not worth it.
I would think that people have failed to work together in a society, because the moral fiber has disintegrated, there is no value system or innate sense of equilibrium that a society has. The value system, sense of equality and fairness is a constructed conversation, these thoughts come after man has been well fed and has a shelter to dwell in. The civilized man has learnt to tame the vagaries of nature by building cities, but still there are so many people out there who do not have basic amenities for themselves and worse there is a non-trivial percentage of them who work all their lives to make ends meet, and suffer much more at the hands of power hungry, money hungry humans than most of us educated lot do. It is difficult to maintain a sense of fairness in these situations where your survival or your family's survival is threatened. The modern times are all about unending power, greater individual fulfillment, meeting goals, exploitation of people is a necessary evil.
I think the fundamental problem that we face with corruption is to identify a course of action that would make sense. All of us yearn to live in a society where we could be free to express ourselves, live in harmony with people around us and work for greater good. Living in the present day world does not give you a clear and straight forward solution to achieve this, hence i think the various divergent ways to deal with this.
I would think a solution could be to have an approach that you are comfortable with and realize it would not be perfect and choose it well so that you are happy and content with it.
Cheers
Hemant
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