In recent years, an issue that has caused me great concern and that I have tried to address is CORRUPTION.
When I was driving to Bethlehem leading a pilgrimage, I asked the ‘Palestinian’ Arab driver where all these new luxury houses came from and he replied: “From money from Gaza.” And yet the European Union and other donor agencies continue to provide cash aid to communities in Gaza and the West Bank, where corruption is rampant, and also to other nations where amounts of money seem to disappear!
Having researched the sources of finance for luxurious new homes in Bethlehem and on the Gaza coast, and knowing that concerned leaders have requested help in the form of materials for particular projects, such as drainage, someone with real determination will be needed. and courage to say: “This is now what is going to happen.”
Morality affects morale much more than is believed.
A few years ago, when $22 billion went missing in Russia, financial advisers in Moscow appealed to the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank not to send any more money.
I have written to the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund regarding this very issue and have received mild replies.
But government agencies continue to send financial aid to areas where they know it will go to waste.
When someone knocks on my door asking for money for a meal, I never hand over cash. If the caller thinks my cheese sandwiches and coffee are insufficient, I have an arrangement with a local restaurant, where the hungry man can have a substantial nutritious meal. I go and pay the bill the next day.
When a man asks for money for the train or bus to travel home after his relative’s funeral, I take him to the train or bus station and buy the ticket. Surprisingly, the desire to travel frequently disappears.
No, I’ve seen money arriving at the nearest alcohol supplier. I learned that lesson fast.
If such a simple convention can be applied in mini-microeconomics, why not in macroeconomic dealings? Now, don’t tell me it can’t be done, it can be done!
If there is anyone reading this short article who can do something practical about this very serious issue, please get up, stand up and raise this issue, so that the poor are no longer abused and corrupt ‘leaders’ no longer being able to fill their very deep pockets and fill their vast bank accounts with money that should have been used in other ways.