white collar ass.6 reply
#1) World Bank and the International Monetary Fund play a role through political influence. Although these institutions are influenced by the interests of their donors due to the monetary means they count on to operate. The text mentioned Suharto, and a source defined a regime as the “accepted way things are done or a group that is in control and has power.” Corrupt regime results in a higher power leading to the dictatorship of its people, China, through their electoral process and pluralism as well as in Vietnam through civil liberties, just to name a few.
It’s important to understand the roles of the World Bank and IMF. The World Bank is an investment bank and development institution owned by the governments from 180 member nations. In essence, they take from Peter to pay Paul and the interests of its investors (member nations equity) play a large role in where the money is allocated. This international financial institution funds underdeveloped or developing countries in projects to enhance their economy by providing capital for projects.
International Monetary Fund has no affiliates and it not controlled by a holding company (compared to the capital the World Bank has from its 180 member union), the IMF simply maintains the order of the giving and receiving of funds to the nations from their economists and financial experts. According to a source online, “the Bank borrows and lends, the IMF is more like a credit union whose members have access to a common pool of resources” (The IMF and the World Bank,. n.d.)
From what I understand the influence these institutions have is designed to assist in the greater good, however, their motive is unclear. The actions of these institutions and their political priority that influences the terms loans or the willingness to grant are overruled by corrupt capitalism and power.
Beneficial outcomes for corporations and financers are impacting the way we conduct business not just as an individual country, but all around the world. I do think further regulation on these institutions is needed.
#2) When people, including myself, think of victimization, we tend to think about direct victimization. For example, when people get raped, we tend to have empathy for that person because we know that it has not only caused physical damage, but also emotional and mental damage as well. That person will always live with what happened to them. However, I learned about indirect victimization today as well while I was reading. One thing that really resonated with me is when the book was talking about the abuse that homeless people get. The terms “trash” should not be synonymous with homeless. It is sad to think that homeless people do get victimized on a daily basis indirectly. They don’t get the basic needs that so many of us take for granted everyday, but yet they have to take so much abuse while they are already at their lowest point in their lives. Another thing that I want to mention is the way that the mentally ill are treated. Society wants the mentally ill and homeless to disappear instead of help them out. Mental illness will never go away but people with mental illness can be treated with the proper medication. Yet, instead society wants to find a reason to put them in jail when they break the law. I was reading one of the cases provided in the book about a person who had a mental illness and thrown in jail, but was left in there with no access to his medications for his mental illness or diabetes. Society needs to treat people with mental illnesses and the homeless the way they should be treated, as human beings.
