SOFT CORRUPTION: HOW UNETHICAL CONDUCT UNDERMINES GOOD GOVERNMENT AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT (RIVERGATE REGIONALS COLLECTION)
Book ID/图书代码： 11729017C00009
English Summary/英文概要： A New Jersey official hires relatives as paid consultants for services that don’t exist. State legislators and county freeholders hold more than one public office, collecting multiple salaries. These and other practices are forms of soft corruption, in other words, the tactics politicians use to unethically, but legally, manipulate government for their own benefit, undermining the public interest. Americans have come to accept politics as a bed of corruption-that’s the way it has always been. Sadly, New Jersey has gained a reputation as a state where corruption is particularly prevalent at all levels of government. New Jersey politician William E. Schluter addresses five areas of soft corruption: campaign financing, lobbying, conflict of interest, patronage, and the electoral process. Soft corruption in campaign financing is the most pervasive component. Schluter explores how agencies and campaign committees utilize underhanded but legal techniques like "wheeling" to get around donation caps and "pay to play" to veil what is essentially bribery. New Jersey is among the worst states in terms of financial soft corruption. With even local officials enormously beholden to campaign contributors, consideration of what is best for the public is a distant afterthought. Throughout the book, we see the serious consequences of soft corruption, such as higher cost of government and reduced public faith in its operations. With impressive detail, Schluter concludes by outlining a platform for reform in New Jersey.
Chinese Summary/中文概要： 一个新泽西的官员雇佣自己的亲戚提供从未履行过的有偿咨询服务。州立法委员有人占据了多个官衔，领好几份薪水。这样的行为就是软腐败，或者说是政客们通过不道德但是合法的手段来为了自己的利益操纵政府，损害公众利益。美国人已经越来越接受政治就是腐败的温床这样的说法——一直都是这样子的。但很让人悲伤的是新泽西已经成为了各级政府的腐败行为都尤其严重的一个州。新泽西的政客William E. Schluter讲述了软腐败的五个方面：竞选财政，游说，利益冲突，滥用任命权以及选举流程。在竞选财政方面做手脚是最普遍的现象。Schluter解释了机构和竞选委员会如何利用秘密但是合法的技术来推动献金以及遮遮掩掩地进行贿赂。说到金融方面的软腐败，新泽西可能是全美情况最坏的州之一。甚至一些当地的官员都大量地受惠于竞选活动，可见考虑民众的利益不过是一句空话。通过本书，我们能够看到软腐败最严重的后果，比如政府运作用去了更高的成本，且只能收获公众很低的信任度。Schluter通过书中的那些耸人听闻的细节总结出了新泽西改革平台。（LYR）
Awards/获奖情况：对于腐败提出了严肃的批评，想要重新找回承诺的高效民主。（Gerald Pomper，政治科学教授）
软腐败从未被如此彻底和有说服力地探讨研究和记录过。Schluter大胆地提出了一些名字，也生动描述了新泽西软腐败的一些细节，让读者仿佛亲眼见证到这些事。（Richard L.McCormick，历史和教育学教授）
Schluter议员对于新泽西政治过程中的远见卓识来源于他在过去半个世纪中在公共服务行业所作出的巨大贡献。他的书是所有新泽西那些对于州选举改革和政府道德行为感兴趣人的必读书籍。（Leonard Lance，新泽西第七街区代表）
"A strong critique of corruption, which seeks to restore the promises of effective democracy."--Gerald Pomper "Board of Governors Professor of Political Science "
Soft corruption has never before been explored or documented so thoroughly and persuasively.Schluter unflinchingly names names and recounts details to bring soft corruption in New Jersey vividly andcompellinglyto life."--Richard L.McCormick "President Emeritus, Board of Governors Professor of History and Education "
"Senator Schluter’s keen insights into the political process in New Jersey are based on his distinguished career in public service over the last half century. His book is a must read for every New Jerseyan interested in state electoral reform and ethics in government."--Leonard Lance "U.S. Representative for New Jersey’s 7th district "
"Soft corruption has never before been explored or documented so thoroughly and persuasively. Schluter unflinchingly names names and recounts details to bring soft corruption in New Jersey vividly and compellingly to life."--Richard L. McCormick "President Emeritus, Board of Governors Professor of History and Education "
About the Author/作者介绍： William E. Schluter是共和党政客，曾在新泽西州立法机构的上下议院工作。他曾是州道德委员会成员。他曾著有两本非常有远见的法律规定游说和宣传经费问题，后成为公民公平选举委员会负责人以及州道德委员会副主席。
William E. Schluter is a Republican politician who has served in both houses of the New Jersey legislature. He has served on the State Ethics Commission. He has also authored two pioneering laws regulating lobbying and campaign finance; subsequently, he served as chair of the Citizens Clean Elections Commission and vice-chair of the State Ethics Commission.
Format:HARDCOVER
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