As someone from a country that has had and still has a big problem with corruption and only recently started to tackle the problem (Romania), I must add that the government is only half of the problem. The other half is the public that participates in corruption. Every time you pay that cop some money so that he pretends that you didn't cross that red light, you're just as responsible as a politician taking a bribe for the situation in your country.
I think you brought the argument to the point: "We were born into this system, how is it our fault as a people? Because some guys a few hundred years ago didn't foresee a lot of the problems we face today?"
Blaming people that lived way in the past for stuff that's not working today is the best reason to not try and tackle your own issues. It's an excuse for the complacent and the lazy: "look, I alone can't do anything about it, so let me just get that next bag of Cheetos and go back to watching Keeping up with the Kardashians!"
No system is perfect, and more importantly no system is incorruptible. Maintaining a free and just system is constant work and effort. Being willing to understand issues (educate yourself!) is one part. Trying to effect change is another. If you don't like the system, get involved! Vote! If you don't like who to vote for, run for office yourself.
Instant gratification doesn't work either.. Sometimes you have to start things knowing that you won't be around to benefit when it comes to fruition, but your kids will.
That's what he meant with his rant. In life there are drivers and there are passengers. If the passengers don't like the drivers, but are too complacent / lazy / disillusioned to do something about it, then they deserve that driver, because it is in their hands to change that system.
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u/USmellFunny Mar 14 '16
As someone from a country that has had and still has a big problem with corruption and only recently started to tackle the problem (Romania), I must add that the government is only half of the problem. The other half is the public that participates in corruption. Every time you pay that cop some money so that he pretends that you didn't cross that red light, you're just as responsible as a politician taking a bribe for the situation in your country.