Nevermind this

I just feel so sad today because I was told by my friend that I am a corrupt being. I am corrupt, meaning I would use my power for my own benefits personally. I totally opposed to that. And besides, according to her, it's natural for a corrupt person to opposed the allegations that he is corrupt. That's ironic isn't it? She said, I would use my friends in position to do me the favor I want. I could just fabricate things and then have it approve by my friend. I could produce anything and then someone, my friend, with the power to sign it would sign it. For instance, if I got sick, assuming I do or not, I could get a medical certificate and have it sign with a friend, of course, a registered doctor, and then present it to the teacher, for instance. That is how she tried to tell me. And she even asked me to stop what I am doing. I would really like to argue on her allegations

First argument, I am not in a position of power. I may able to influence the person or friend but I am not in a position of power, so I am not corrupt. The argumentation is just simple, corrupt people are in power who uses their power for their personal benefits. For instance, a mayor of authority would rape a young girl and won't face any litigation on it because he just told the regional court not to proceed the litigation. Then that is corrupt. Another example is when a governor steals money from the people's money, otherwise known as tax. That is corrupt. There is this saying that goes, with absolute power corrupts absolutely. So, to further prove my point, corrupt comes with power.

Second argument, so what if I could ask someone to do something for me. He/she may be returning the favor to me for the goodness I had rendered to him/her. But that is not corrupt. I may be able to produce the necessary papers with ease rather than anyone else. That is not corrupt. But some people would say, it is still a corrupt act because you use your influence on them for your personal benefits. I would like to question the idea of influence and personal benefits. First, what is influence? Influence is the capacity or power of persons or things to be a compelling force on or produce effects on the actions, behavior, opinions, etc., of others. And they say, the word power is still there. And if you try to go back to my first argument wherein corrupt comes with power, then there you have it in the definition. Proves the point isn't it. But, that's not true. For instance, big business may able to influence the public to buy their products by massive advertisements but that is not corrupt. A friend may influence a friend to do things but that't not necessarily corrupt. Second, the idea of personal interest. I would ask a question, how personal is personal interest? Is it when only one person is involved? Or is it when two or more person is involve? I would like to clarify that even if you opt for a personal benefits, the benefits you get benefits society as a whole also. According to Adam Smith, the aggregate personal interests of the society benefits so much to the society. Like, a baker may bake bread because that is personally beneficial to him. He could earn profits out of it. But, the society benefits from it. The society or community could eat bread. That is personal interest. So, going back to the second argument, I am not necessarily a corrupt being. I may be influencial to some few individuals but my actions doesn't impose a major threat to society.

So sum it all up, corrupt come with power. And that is when power is used personally for the person given with the power. If a person without power could influence someone, he is not corrupt. But if a person with power and influenced someone to do his personal things to him/her, then that is corrupt.