# The US is more corrupt than most developing countries

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-is-more-corrupt-than-most-developing-countries/812791>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [April 20, 2018, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-is-more-corrupt-than-most-developing-countries/812791 "2018-04-20T16:23:58Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 38

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**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\
**Post date:** [April 21, 2018, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-us-is-more-corrupt-than-most-developing-countries/812791/38 "2018-04-21T05:23:57Z")

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Cite:

> [@Social Credit System...can you imagine this working in your country?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/social-credit-system-can-you-imagine-this-working-in-your-country/811829/32):
>
> … In the US, corruption within America is constantly talked about, though as with many things American it has a decided political tilt. Right wingers rail about corruption at the federal level (you have but to listen to Trump and his followers on this, as it’s pretty much in everything they discuss) and leftwingers talk about corporate corruption and politicians in the pockets of Big Business™. \*\*I’m fairly sure that part of the reason the US ranks so relatively high on the list is because if you use polling data you are going to get a hell of a lot of Americans and probably everyone else thinking the US is riddled with corruption. \*\*
> 
> … We could go into all the aspects… **personally, I think China should be ranked a hell of a lot higher** …  
> [my bolding]

I know nothing about China, but government corruption is a _very_ common topic of conversation in Thailand.

As for Americans’ awareness of corruption in America, I recall a conversation with a well-educated Californian complaining about high PG&E bills (during the era of Enron chicanery). She blamed PG&E for the high bills and _seemingly had never heard of Enron! :smack:_ (Yes, I realize that for some Americans Enron’s profiteering was a triumph of the free market and had nothing to do with corrupt deregulation.)

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