Re: [ALOCHONA] CTG: Summary of anti corruption drive

Eshan:

 

Thanks for your posting. I will get to the point. Here is what I see flawed in your proposition. It assumes that low-salary and corruption are interrelated, and low-salary leads to unlawful and unacceptable behavior, such as, taking bribes. From the looks of it, and from our ethical bias, it seems like a reasonable conclusion. But there are enough evidences to prove otherwise. Our problem is not necessarily salary disparity, rather enforcement of law and the culture of corruption that prevails in every level of our economy.

 

As much as I hate to see the rich get richer and the impoverished slowly spirals down the vicious cycle of poverty, what you are proposing is artificially hiking salary in several levels, thus injecting more cash in the economy, assuming that it would ultimately increase the standard of living. I don't want to be the naysayer in this crowd, but "supply side economics" does not work in the long run. (Think post-Reagan U.S. economy and social disparities)

 

Now, while I am no fan of Milton Friedman, there is enough empirical evidence to infer that "controlled" free-market can remedy some of our problems and increase the standard of living. I think a combination of Friedman economics and Amartya Sen's social welfare policies could work in our favor. Some food for thought:

 

1. Create and enforce different tax brackets. Make tax disclosure of public figures mandatory.

2. Partially subsidize agricultural products and create tax incentives

3. Make public servants accountable, but also give them perks to stay on (e.g. low tax bracket for 10 years of service, low-interest rate housing loan for employees who make less than a certain amount, etc.)

4. Create divisional development goals (i.e. each year, each of the five divisions must meet certain developmental benchmarks)

5. Make HSC education in both Bangla and English mandatory!! (e.g. and for god's sake, take "religious studies" out of the curriculum)

6. MNC's and Bangladeshi companies/factories get incentives for creating jobs in other divisions besides Dhaka

7. Make "Green Investment" a requirement for all companies, as well as manufacturing and agricultural industry

8. Non-unionize DU and other Public Universities. If teachers want to get paid more, they need to do better or go to a private university. I am opposed to a price hike in public universities, as they still provide affordable education to our middle and lower-middle class.

9. Make law-enforcement fit, mobile, well-equipped, and accountable. I suggest that law-enforcement adopts its own "law", so to speak, so that when and if they are found guilty, they can be tried in "expedited special tribunals".

10. Last but not the least, revive a sense of social activism in the Bangladeshi community. Not just lip service, but actual activism.

 

At the beginning of this century, Bangladesh faces no bigger challenges than global warming and environmental disasters. It threatens the very existence of our nation, and when I listen to our politicians and policy makers, I hardly ever hear about any sound environmental agenda. I digress...

 

Well...that's my ten cents.

 

Cheers,

Cyrus

 

On 10/18/07, Ehsan Hoque <aamkhao@hotmail.com> wrote:

Hello All,
 
I have been reading this forum for a while. It is interesting to read people's opinions. Some very well taken, some long time after the fact and some so asinine that I shudder to think of its author. I don't know which category my two cents fall into... However, here is my rant:
 
I am delighted to see Bangladesh recovering untold sums from what some have dubbed "white collar criminals". However, something that needs to be addressed by our country is the ocean that divides the pay of a government employee vs the pay in the private sector. There is not even a hint of parity. So why would any sane person go work for the Government? There are many noble answers to this, however, the ignoble is what is glaring. "I can make untold sums by taking bribes because it is easy. I can justify this because compared to the person I am taking the bribe from I am a hundred times worse off". How does a government, caretaker or corrupt, elected or selected address this?
 
I say we reduce the size of the government and increase pay many fold. University professors must be better paid. Universities should raise the price of room and board and unthinkably, even tuition. DU must be restored to its former glory. Police must be paid better and better equipped. I know I am telling you what you already know... the real question is how does one act? I for one don't know and am willing to listen to suggestions.
 
Sincerely from washington dc.
Ehsan

--
Cyrus Zulkarnaïan Kazi
(917) 770 - 4687 __._,_.___

[Disclaimer: ALOCHONA Management is not liable for information contained in this message. The author takes full responsibility.]
To unsubscribe/subscribe, send request to alochona-owner@egroups.com

Your email settings: Individual Email|Traditional
Change settings via the Web (Yahoo! ID required)
Change settings via email: Switch delivery to Daily Digest | Switch to Fully Featured
Visit Your Group | Yahoo! Groups Terms of Use | Unsubscribe

__,_._,___