ASEAN CORRUPTION INDEX

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It interests me that there are studies about the level of corruptness in different countries BUT corruption translates differently into different cultures.

           001- Singapore, New Zealand, Denmark Index 9.3

           008- Australia Index 8.7

           013- Hong Kong   Index 8.4 

           020- UK England Index 7.6

           022- USA, Belgium Index 7.1

           033- Taiwan, Botswana, Puerto Rico Index 5.8

           039- South Korea, Mauritius   Index 5.4

           046- Macao Index 5.0 

           056- Malaysia, Turkey, Namibia Index 4.4

           078- Thailand, China, Greece, Serbia, Lesotho, 3 more Index 3.5

           087- India Index 3.3

           110- Indonesia with five others inc  Gabon and Senegal   Index 2.6 

           116- Vietnam with 6 others inc Ethiopia, Guyana, Mali

           127- Timor-Leste with 7 more inc Uganda, Syria, Niger Index 2.5 

           134- Philippines and 9 more including Bangladesh   Index 2.4 

           143- Pakistan Index 2.3

           154- Lao. Russia, Cambodia, New Guinea and nine more Index 2.1

           176- Burma Bottom with Afghanistan –    Index 1.4

                  Somalia is lower  

Methodology for Asean Corruption Index

Transparency International(TI) defines corruption as the abuse of entrusted power for private gain. This definition encompasses corrupt practices in both the public and private sectors. The Corruption Perceptions Index(CPI) ranks countries according to the perception of corruption in the public sector. The CPI is an aggregate indicator that combines different sources of information about corruption, making it possible to compare countries. 

The 2010 CPI draws on different assessments and business opinion surveys carried out by independent and reputable institutions. It captures information about the administrative and political aspects of corruption. Broadly speaking, the surveys and assessments used to compile the index include questions relating to bribery of public officials, kickbacks in public procurement, embezzlement of public funds, and questions that probe the strength and effectiveness of public sector anti-corruption efforts. 

For a country or territory to be included in the index a minimum of three of the sources that TI uses must assess that country. Thus inclusion in the index depends solely on the availability of information. 

Perceptions are used because corruption – whether frequency or amount – is to a great extent a hidden activity that is difficult to measure. Over time, perceptions have proved to be a reliable estimate of corruption. Measuring scandals, investigations or prosecutions, while offering ‘non-perception’ data, reflect less on the prevalence of corruption in a country and more on other factors, such as freedom of the press or the efficiency of the judicial system. TI considers it of critical importance to measure both corruption and integrity, and to do so in the public and private sectors at global, national and local levels. The CPI is therefore one of many TI measurement tools that serve the fight against corruption. 

See you on the water, Ling Yai (Thai for 'Big Monkey') AKA John Caveman Gray

             

Holy Book; guaranteed BS - Part 2

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We are all overgrown monkeys, the product of 18.1 billion years of haphazard evolution.  You are already the most remarkable machine we know in the Universe.  Isn't that enough?  

Why let a book do your thinking for you?

We are already a miracle of creation (evolution).

Religion is simply whatever organized insanity you are born into.  I wasn't, and when I turned 12 my parents - strong believers in freedom of thought - took me religion shopping. For 52 weeks, we visited every religion and denomination, interviewing the "Holy Man" on Wednesday afternoon and attending each week-end service.  I attended all the religions, faiths and denominations we could find – and I studied them with a clean slate, a truly open mind unbiased by religion from birth.


On my 13th birthday, they said, "Ok, you are old enough to make your own decisions.  Choose whatever you want."  We totally support freedom of thought, including religion.


I replied, "None of the above.  They are all based upon irrational fables."


If you are so weak-minded you cannot function without a religious baby blanket, be my guest to get sucked in by whatever bullshit you were born into.  As my parent said, make your own decision.  That doesn't make it fact, or correct.  It just means you are so weak-minded you accept organized insanity.  

My religion is the Stars - the rhythm of our marvelous Universe (and now we know there are even more).  I do my best to stay in synch with that rhythm - and I know that with nobody to lean on to forgive my sins that I cannot sin.  If I do sin, I must live with it for life.

Guess what - that makes me more honest - and holy - than any believer.  At least I've got my own brain - and I live my life in the service of all living beings.  It’s a simple life, with few possessions.  I don’t even own a motorbike, let alone a car, and my carbon footprint is about US$20/month.


And it feels great to help everything from a butterfly to a human with no ulterior motive.  I think that if he actually existed, Jesus would approve.

See you on the water, Ling Yai (Thai for 'Big Monkey') AKA John Caveman Gray

             

Holy Book; guaranteed BS - Part 1

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The question is not if Jesus ever lived or not.  Maybe so, maybe not.  Who cares!?  


What really matters is fact - if religion is written in a book, it is automatically bullshit.  


Medieval, uneducated peasants may have been taken in by the grandiose ridiculous stories, but every prophet's words and purpose was immediately manipulated after their death by those who seek wealth and power from his existence.  


Use your common sense!  If Jesus lived at all, he owned - - - a dirty robe!  Tell that to the Pope and his Vatican - and all the poor people they impoverish every day.  Tell it to your minister the next time they pass the collection plate.     


Would you really spend time with somebody so vain as to call themselves the "Son of God?"  

Do you eat meat?  

Can you imagine Jesus slaughtering a pig, or a cow?  

If you eat meat, how can you call yourself a “Christian”?   

Since you believe, read the Bible again!   There are plenty of passages where Jesus promotes vegetarianism.  Just goes to prove my point that a prophet’s words are always twisted. 


Bullfighting, one of the greatest human embarrassments thanks to it's unfair cruelty, only exists in Catholic countries – the same folks who brought us the inquisition????  Can you imagine Jesus as a bullfighter, inflicting that monstrous pain?  Next time, cheer for the bull to kill the bullfighter and make this a better world – a monster dies and the bull lives.


There is only one truth - "If it's written in a book, its guaranteed bullshit."  I’m not biased – the Old Testament is as full of BS as the New, maybe more.


Who wrote the book?  In the case of the Bible, linguistic dating - accurate to the year - proves that none of the "Prophets" even lived during Jesus day.  The books of the bible were decided by political vote at the Convention of Antioch.  

See you on the water, Ling Yai (Thai for 'Big Monkey') AKA John Caveman Gray