"When you see corruption being rewarded...
Just read this news! An Ecuadorian newspaper when penalized by the court for publishing an opinion article criticizing President Rafael Correa, has retaliated beautifully by running an almost empty front page full of white space except for an Ayn Rand quote at the bottom of the page. The quote reads:
Source: www.cato.org "When you see that trading is done, not by consent, but by compulsion–when you see that in order to produce, you need to obtain permission from men who produce nothing–when you see that money is flowing to those who deal, not in goods, but in favors–when you see that men get richer by graft and by pull than by work, and your laws don’t protect you against them, but protect them against you–when you see corruption being rewarded and honesty becoming a self-sacrifice–you may know that your society is doomed."
The newspaper's directors and its former opinion editor have been sentenced to three years
in prison and ordered to pay $30 million for an opinion article
about President Rafael Correa. The newspaper has been ordered to
pay $10 million.
Doesn't the quote sound as if it was said after observing the current scenario of Nepalese society? Corruption is
not only rewarded but rejoiced. Being honest isn't only a tough job but
also an unrewarding one. Criminals receive far better protection than
normal citizens. Politicians are setting new records of lowliness and
dishonesty. In order to establish an enterprise a producer/entrepreneur has to get consents from people who have never produced any wealth and getting that consent is costly in terms of money, time and self-esteem. Committing a crime is easier and more profitable than running a business. To quote Ujwal Thapa, an entrepreneur and activist, "जुन
समाजमा घुस खानेलाई कमाएको भनिन्छ तर नाफा कमाउने उद्दमीलाई लुटेको भनिन्छ
!" (Rough translation: A society where bribes are termed income but
entrepreneur's profit is termed as loot!). The laws protects the government and criminals from us rather than protecting us from them. Alas, our society is headed towards doom for sure!
We better wake up to our rights and senses soon or be prepared for living in a doomed society!
