Are Americans less greedy and corrupt than Filipinos?

**gearhead** · March 18th, 2009 10:16 AM

In the Philippines, we have heard how often foreigners would chide that it is a corrupt country filled with greedy individuals. But lately we are seeing that the same countries these foreigners come from don't appear as clean after all. With a Governor "selling" a seat in a government body in Illinois (Was this was the first time this happened? Or was he unfortunate to have gotten caught). With corporate greed as well. Are these isolated cases? Or is the U.S. not a "clean" as they say? Is the U.S. any less corrupt than the 3rd world?

Is it even fair to say that it is worse when the "greed" on one group actually affects the entire world as opposed to just a country per se.

**tidus1203** · March 18th, 2009 10:27 AM

Humans are humans ok. Humans by nature are greedy. They just have more strungent laws that make it harder to commit corruption but rest assured they are just as eager if they can get away with it.

**shadow** · March 18th, 2009 10:51 AM

bagao ma close itong thread reply na muna ako, regardless of nationality pag may chance na makalusot, lulusot at lulusot yan.

**cablespy** · March 18th, 2009 10:56 AM

Originally Posted by tidus1203

Humans are humans ok. Humans by nature are greedy. They just have more strungent laws that make it harder to commit corruption but rest assured they are just as eager if they can get away with it.

That's right. corruption is present all around the world. it's just harder in the U.S. since they are more strict and the justice system is faster.

**ghosthunter** · March 18th, 2009 10:59 AM

Greed is in our basic nature. "More is better" kind of thinking. Only stopping us is our sense of morality/laws/religion or what have you.

The difference of American vs Philippine government is the level of corruption. In the Philippines, it has already infected the entire system from the lowest to the highest point of government. SO how do you get rid of government corruption when the very safeguards against it is in the hands of corrupt people as well?

**safeorigin** · March 18th, 2009 11:21 AM

imho, americans are greedier value wise. but relative to the resources we have, pinoys are greedier. but i dunno, conspiracy wise, the top tier class bankers would be the greediest.

just my PHP 0.84 anyway(not sure how you convert dollar to peso though)

**jeDi13** · March 18th, 2009 12:31 PM

magagaling lang mga magnanakaw sa ibang bansa. dito kasi, mga bopols. parang si erap. hindi kasi inalagaan si singson, ayan, kumanta tuloy.

**valvura** · March 18th, 2009 12:38 PM

agree! value/amount-wise americans are more greedy (from Php-$ conversion). pero sa world financial conspiracy (if there's such a thing) your guess is as good as mine.

pero pinoys, sa majority ng transactions from lowly barangay to OP, walang tatalo sa SOPs o padulas system. even sa private sector, ang dami greedy like the BUS OPERATORS (no substantial fare reduction up to NOW!!!), oil companies & gas stations, telecom players, etc...hangga't kikita bahala si kapwa...

my +Php 0.16 (change ni safeorigin's from 1 peso)

**Jun aka Pekto** · March 18th, 2009 11:11 PM

Originally Posted by gearhead

In the Philippines, we have heard how often foreigners would chide that it is a corrupt country filled with greedy individuals. But lately we are seeing that the same countries these foreigners come from don't appear as clean after all. With a Governor "selling" a seat in a government body in Illinois (Was this was the first time this happened? Or was he unfortunate to have gotten caught). With corporate greed as well. Are these isolated cases? Or is the U.S. not a "clean" as they say? Is the U.S. any less corrupt than the 3rd world?

Is it even fair to say that it is worse when the "greed" on one group actually affects the entire world as opposed to just a country per se.

There's corruption everywhere. But in the Philippines, it's deeply entrenched right down to the grassroots. Here, they're more at the upper echelons and often not very obvious.

But at the grassroots where Joe Schmoe and I are at, I'd say, no. Most regular folks still stick to the rules such as paying taxes, not pirating, etc. We still believe in hard work and earning our pay. If we can't afford it, we don't buy it, don't pirate it, don't use it. We simply live without it. That doesn't mean we don't take advantage of any deal to get things at the lowest cost possible. So long as it's legal. For example, I qualified to buy Microsoft Office Enterprise 2007 and Microsoft Office for Mac 2008 for a grand total of $43(for both). Normally, those two would total almost $1000. But, hey. I qualified and it's legal.

Even back in the 70's, my folks already had to deal with "under the table" dealings just to get things done there in the Philippines. Here, such things are unlikely. Anyone who tries could get turned in by a whistleblower and fired. The checks and balances work fine down at my level.

It's the higher levels where the lobbying, the shady dealings, and the wife-swapping occur.

**number001** · March 19th, 2009 12:27 AM

Greed transcends beyond any race or nationality and even age. By nature, even babies are selfish.

The yanks also have their share of con men masquerading as financial specialists like Madoff, Stanford, etc...Just like, we have the Legacy group here and also now in history, Genta Ogami.

I do agree that corruption permeates very deeply into every nook and cranny of the Philippine society.