I will start the article with the definition of corruption: corruption is the use of public power or position by a person to obtain personal advantages and benefits. In other words, it is putting people's money in other people's pockets in the "Georgian manly deal" by those at the head of power.
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Corruption has existed for over 2,000 years and has been a hallmark of all great empires. Moreover, corruption was an integral part of the monarchical state, and its justifier (source of legitimacy) was God (the monarch justified it by saying that God had given him the right to do it). The monarchs were not at all worried about using the money taken from the people for their own good. So were other officials. For example, according to various sources, Marcus Licinius Crassus owned 200 million sestertiums ( according to the February 2008 issue of Forbes magazine, 169.8 billion dollars). Perhaps, most of the money was obtained from the battles, then the said property should have been used by the state.
Perhaps you will say, on the example of Crassus and other monarchs, that it was "Mosuli Pontius" then, as today it is a "Georgian manly deal" for some government officials.
Let's move to the 21st century and get acquainted with the current situation in Georgia. According to the 2022 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) published by Transparency International, Georgia has 56 points. Considering that 100 points in the index is the lowest and 0 points – the highest level of perception of corruption, 56 points is an average indicator. For example, the 10 best-performing countries have scores above 80.
Corruption is facilitated by low poverty, low awareness of the population and low involvement in politics. Then you will have an answer as to why corrupt governments "don't" improve the education system.
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And yet, what causes corruption? Corruption leads to distrust of the public towards politics and politicians, and a negative view of taxes (this can even be called a move towards anarchism)... I personally have a right-wing view of taxes, but the fact is that paying taxes is necessary for the country so that it can fulfil its purpose. Most importantly, corruption leads to poor quality work and this affects the national currency. Consider an example - the state printed 20,000 GEL for the production of some 10,000 products, after that the company did not fulfil its obligation and did not produce the said product, and no one was punished for this. Most people think that this crime does not hurt anyone; So what if someone eats a delicious dinner and comforts himself with the well-known phrase: "If you were in power, you would steal." However, the reality is radically different. The amount of money in the country has increased by 20,000 GEL, while the corresponding product has not been produced to counterbalance it, which will lead to GEL inflation. In fact, the money that disappears through corruption goes back to the common people and the next generation, because at some point a product has to be created to counterbalance it to bring the currency back to the same mark. Compared to December 2020, in December 2021, prices in Georgia increased by 13.9% on average, and inflation amounted to 13.9%.
Therefore, before you start justifying inflation, corruption and corrupt people, first imagine the life of those people who struggle every day for survival (food, proper basic environment, basic necessities, etc.).
And finally, did you take the bite out of the child's mouth?
If not, then don't justify the corrupt by saying that "I would have done the same" and there is nothing to be "converted" or emulated in this.
Author: Luka Urumashvili
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