- This is a profound misunderstanding of corruption, which does not require an 'explicit' bribe. It is, quite simply, the illegitimate use of public authority to further one's private interest. This is why democracies have conflict of interest laws that prohibit actors from accepting high value gifts.
- Corruption requires explict quid pro quo. It is not corrupt to take an action that aligns with the interest of a person who gives you a gift, unless the official action was in direct response to that gift--a bribe. Terms matter. Accuracy and fairness matters. Regardless of what social media wants.
- The fact that a NYT reporter covering this story can get this basic essential fact so wrong - all while snidely complaining about 'social media' - is just further proof that American journalism is mostly fucking garbage.
- An act of corruption does not even have to be *illegal* (like fraud or bribery) to count as corruption. This is SO FUCKING BASIC that @ericlipton.nytimes.com should seriously just fucking quit his job.
- Indeed, my years of conflict of interest training would like to have a word….No gifts over a certain $$
- When the Qataris start gifting normal people planes, then we talk. Imagine being this fucking stupid and the NYT allowing you to write in it and have their name in your byline
