South Dakota doesn't have a lot of solar power, but we must have a lot of power corrupting public officials. Business Insider takes a look at Department of Justice information on criminal abuses of the public trust by government officials from 2002 to 2011, divides by population, and figures out which states appear to be the most corrupt. The winners:
- Louisiana
- North Dakota
- South Dakota
- Kentucky
- Alaska
- Montana
- Mississippi
- Alabama
- New Jersey
- Virginia
Our nice Minnesota neighbors rank 46th.
Note that South Dakota could make first place, if the courts could just catch Jason Gant red-handed yet. Go, team!
Perhaps worth noting: the seven most corrupt states voted for Romney in 2012. The ten least corrupt states split, five for Romney, five for Obama.
Two posts in a row where South Dakota is not taking advantage of the light. Open government has more light on the issues, resulting in less corruption, and using all that sun could brighten things also.
Sorry, I grew up in Minnesota so I do not have a born ac ceptance disfunction to this type of problem.
Two comments:
This too may or may not be the "full story."
1) Convictions actually could be evidence of a lack of corruption.
2) What is the dollar amount per capita? Based on this chart, we have had between 50-60 convictions over this period. If they were all for petty theft, I don't think this is meaningful with regard to corruption.
Spoken like a true partisan,
ToryTroy. Lavabo."Convictions actually could be evidence of a lack of corruption." LMFAF, this is something like sending the DCI chief to Rapid City to talk to Sen Stan to find out what was going on in the SOS office. Instead of rooting out the political corruption the chief comes back with a stunner conclusion. DCI chief goes to the AG Jackley and says no one is stealing money. Who said PP / Gnat was stealing money?
.
Corruption is never turned up in this state unless you happen to be making a mockery of the system. So once again the old boys network says to those they have placed in power, don't look at what we are doing, go after the inept hangers-on partisans who are making us uncomfortable.
NAMES! Who are these corrupt politicians? What and when were they charged with?
I bet the South Dakota Public Assurance Alliance could give you some names - but they shield them in lawsuit settlements.
Welcome to Pierre, South Dakota, home of Mike Rounds' gag law to help Citibank keep your unclaimed property in their pockets. What happens here, stays in Pierre or we'll go after you in court or follow you to your next employer. Either way, we'll get you.
It isn't the list of convictions as much as the climate for white collar crime that is cultured by the iron-fisted, unchallenged, one-party rule.
Off topic, but since it was mentioned, has the SDPAA, the Assurance Alliance, ever 'lost' a claim, or been found in negligence, some sort of track record of settlements with plaintiffs, or not?
Johnathan Ellis did a pretty comprehensive story on the SDPAA for the Argus:
http://siouxfallsbusinessjournal.argusleader.com/article/20130310/NEWS/303100025/Public-suits-settled-secret
Don't think of it as corruption: think of it as fertilizer for future Marines.
Again, my apologies for straying, but reading the linked Ellis article, the SDPAA has made a handful of settlements, some of the more interesting ones of which are covered by a blanket confidentiality agreement, which apparently is not a common practice within neighboring states. Still, I understand the settlement side, it's often cheaper to reach settlement for the state rather than go to court, and plaintiffs are easily swayed when they see what they can get now, as opposed to take the risk of going to court, and if the state offers confidentially on all parts in the exchange for that quick settlement, that adds to the sway, and to a culture of secret deals. I'm still curious however, has the SDPAA gone to court and essentially 'lost', and 'lost' big? Or, have they gone to court and 'won', made a textbook example for themselves, thus contributing to an outlook among plaintiffs that it's best just to settle out of court, get what you can, and avoid the wrath of the SDPAA and their legal team?
I agree with Troy ... but then, that might not be the full story, either. You'd need a full list of those convictions, plus some idea of how they came to light to judge: Was the system working? Or did someone have to go outside of the usual system to report corruption, because the usual system looked the other way?