A local example would be the Scorpions task force: fighting white collar crime means improving systems enabling the government to become more efficient at tax evasion/collection. But when this accidentally brings things to light that goes against the agenda of those that are profiting in background, the task force suddenly gets dissolved. Even if the entire country votes they should stay (which I’m almost sure everyone would have if they had the opportunity), the unit still got dissolved. What does that tell us about those that run the country. Now we have a new task force, collared like a dog perhaps, but not as effective as they could be, reporting to and under the supervision of, those they may one day have to investigate.

I’d prefer if our government, officials and systems, could be audited on a 3 or 4 year basis, so we can actually *see* how much of our taxes actually go to infrastructure, etc. Two or three auditing firms reporting back should eliminate or highlight discrepancies and problem area’s. Hiking in northern Thailand I met a guy from New Zealand and we started discussing (of all things) Democracy. He tells me that in their country the winning party has to deliver on 3 out of 5 of its promises during each election period. If it doesn’t, it has to explain on live TV why it failed to deliver. Now that would be a step forward, even if just to see the representative skwirm while being asked difficult questions.

At Rick Tonoli – I especially like this quote:
“Our government teaches the whole people by its example. If the government becomes the lawbreaker, it breeds contempt for law; it invites every man to become a law unto himself; it invites anarchy.” – American Supreme Court Justice – Louis Brandeis

Ah, the sweet smell of Anarchy in the morning…