Been There Already-Corruption = Officials + Pockets
(Via Freakonomics.)
Corruption = Officials + Pockets: “Nepal’s prime minister was upset that officials at the country’s main airport had gained a reputation for bribe-taking. So the government is trying to put an end to corruption by putting an end to pockets, issuing pocket-less trousers to all its airport staff.”
The rabbis of the Mishnah already thought of this one (Shekalim 3:2)
“With three baskets, each holding three seahs, they take up the heave offering of the [coins collected in the] [sheqel] chamber, And written on them are the Hebrew letters alef, bet, gimel. R. Ishmael says, “Written on them were the Greek letters Alpha, Beta, Gamma.” He who takes up the heave offering went in wearing neither a sleeved cloak, nor shoes, sandals, phylacteries, nor an amulet—lest [in the coming year] he lose all his money and people say [about him], “Because of a transgression against the [sheqel] chamber did he lose his money” Or lest he get rich, and people say about him, “From the heave offering of the [sheqel] chamber did he get rich.” For a person must give no cause for suspicion to other people, just as he must give no cause for suspicion to the Omnipresent, as it is said, And be guiltless towards the Lord and towards Israel (Num. 32:22).”