In a recent article on Politico, this report from the Corporate Crime Reporter was referenced. It ranks the most publicly corrupt states in this here union. It only ranks the 35 most populated states, and Indiana comes in at 26th:
The Corrupt States of America?
The publication Corporate Crime Reporter crunched Department of Justice statistics in 2007 to rank the 35 most populous states of the nation by corruption. The publication calculated a corruption rate, which it defined as the total number of public corruption convictions from 1997 to 2006 per 100,000 residents.
These are the results:
1. Louisiana (7.67)
2. Mississippi (6.66)
3. Kentucky (5.18)
4. Alabama (4.76)
5. Ohio(4.69)
6. Illinois (4.68)
7. Pennsylvania (4.55)
8. Florida (4.47)
9. New Jersey (4.32)
10. New York (3.95)
11. Tennessee (3.68)
12. Virginia (3.64)
13. Oklahoma (2.96)
14. Connecticut (2.80)
15. Missouri (2.79)
16. Arkansas (2.74)
17. Massachusetts (2.66)
18. Texas (2.44)
19. Maryland (2.31)
20. Michigan (2.14)
21. Georgia (2.13)
22. Wisconsin (2.09)
23. California (2.07)
24. North Carolina (1.96)
25. Arizona (1.88)
26. Indiana (1.85)
27. South Carolina (1.74)
28. Nevada (1.72)
29. Colorado (1.56)
30. Washington (1.52)
31. Utah (1.4117)
32. Kansas (1.4109)
33. Minnesota (1.24)
34. Iowa (0.91)
35. Oregon (0.68)
Hat tip to Chamber politico Chase Downham for the heads up.
Okay. So Indiana ranks low as far as corruption. Which I seriously doubt, but let’s concede that point. The question
becomes which cities in Indiana are most corrupt? And Fort Wayne needs to lead the way.
How about an exposé on who pays whom for promotions and to gain certain positions. Or which select half-dozen or so white families pull strings that affect the entire city’s population. Why is it noted that Fort Wayne was bought and paid for a long time ago…. and by whom?
Find out why a once leading city, with strong leadership and many inventions to its credit –– nationally speaking –– hasn’t progressed any further than it has and, in fact, is on a par with 20th century cities.
Why aren’t the arts promoted better, particularly public art?
Why are historic buildings constantly torn down, the most recent being the Clinton Street depot, which seems doomed for destruction. Meanwhile, other cities are touting these sites as tourism draws and links to the past for future generations. But oh, no. Not here.
A state is only as strong as its strongest cities. And as the second largest Hoosier state, Fort Wayne merits ranking as an overgrown farm town. Someone please turn out the lights.
jm