Diplomat charged with selling US visas

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

There's almost always a way for a corrupt individual in the right place who has the necessary access to beat the system. There is more than one illegal immigrant in MA driving with a genuine license that was purchased from a corrupt RMV employee. If you have the money and the right connections, it's doable.

True enough I suppose, but why not make it difficult? In order to do that you have to fix the flaws in the system...which system benefits politicians so yeah, good luck with that.

Eliminate the power of people to make those decisions as much as possible. Set standards for qualifying for a visa and make them "shall issue" if you meet the qualifications.

The drivers license thing is a symptom, not a "problem". The problem is that US employers can exploit illegal aliens with impunity. Change the system. Make it economic suicide to exploit illegal workers. No jobs, no illegal workers no one here that needs to pay someone for a drivers license.

Again, the "official" can only sell what people want to buy. Eliminate his market...his clients, and the "problem" goes away.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I don't get it -- what kind of visa was he selling? It says non-resident visa, but then it says green card... Isn't a green card residence permission?

Regardless, it's total ####### that such a thing would happen. I wonder if the government could somehow do a better job in choosing which people can be put in positions of such great power. Total power-drunk a-holes end up in police, consular officers, TSA folk, etc. etc.

No, the government cannot do better. Giving them MORE responsibility is not the answer. Taking power away from them is the answer. Power drunk A-holes end up where they are because...

1. We give them what they need, power

2. They are not desired in private business where they must produce tangible results

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Question. How do that many poor immigrants come up with 70K apiece

Thats easy.

It is paid by their future employers in the USA and the employers still find it is far cheaper than paying payroll tax, workman's comp, benefits, minimum wage, medical insurance...etc. It has a 1-2 year paybak and any business will jump on an investment like that. The employer will deduct the amount from their "wages" along with their rent for a room in a house shared by 21 people with one toilet. They worker will basically be slave labor until their debt is paid off. Which will be...never.

This happens because we have a system that allows people to hire illegals and unauthorized workers and get away with it. (we really have no idea what type of visa this guy was selling, the article is all messed up on that)

On the other hand, IF there were a $70,000 per worker TAX for hiring illegals...this would cease to happen overnight, there would be no one to buy the visas and the government offical would be an honest man.

[Karee 4,191]

Unfortunately the Bangkok Post claims to be an English news source for Thailand. Their writing shows otherwise.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

There has been corruption since the beginning of civilization, ever since there were two people on earth and each wanted what the other had. Greed. Power. Ego. Selfishness. You name it, some human has it in abundance. It doesn't make it right, but corruption will never be eliminated completely. As long as their is human judgement involved, someone is going to be unhappy.

[duraaraa 203]

True enough I suppose, but why not make it difficult? In order to do that you have to fix the flaws in the system...which system benefits politicians so yeah, good luck with that.

Eliminate the power of people to make those decisions as much as possible. Set standards for qualifying for a visa and make them "shall issue" if you meet the qualifications.

The drivers license thing is a symptom, not a "problem". The problem is that US employers can exploit illegal aliens with impunity. Change the system. Make it economic suicide to exploit illegal workers. No jobs, no illegal workers no one here that needs to pay someone for a drivers license.

Again, the "official" can only sell what people want to buy. Eliminate his market...his clients, and the "problem" goes away.

Agreed, completely. If standards are set, black and white, things would be a lot smoother.

Welcome back, by the way. Nice to see you active again.

[SMR 368]

There has been corruption since the beginning of civilization, ever since there were two people on earth and each wanted what the other had. Greed. Power. Ego. Selfishness. You name it, some human has it in abundance. It doesn't make it right, but corruption will never be eliminated completely. As long as their is human judgement involved, someone is going to be unhappy.

I disagree with your implied definition of corruption. When two people have something that the other wants, that is a motivation to commerce, not corruption. Corruption occurs when a third person has the authority to make the decisions for one of the first two. Although he should make decisions in the interest of the person whom he represents, he can be motivated to make decisions in his own best interest. Corruption can be reduced by reducing the authority and discretion that the third person has to the extent possible.