Stealing to give to the poor. Is it right?

[legendbtc]

Is it right to ask for advice from people who have never been involved in politics and have never known the evils of politics? Some people say that your friends should stand up and fight against that corruption but I believe that if they were in that situation, they would probably become even more corrupt. Or they don't even know what the political situation is like in your country. I wonder, did the people who advised him to stand up and fight think about the consequences that would happen to OP's friend? Will OP's friend be protected or will he soon disappear from this earth without a reason?

OP, it all depends on the political situation in your country and only your friend knows what he should do. Before doing anything, consider the consequences that we and our families will have to face, and then make the most appropriate decision. Don't ask for advice from people who have no experience or know nothing about politics.

[Fiatless]

Is it right to ask for advice from people who have never been involved in politics and have never known the evils of politics? Some people say that your friends should stand up and fight against that corruption but I believe that if they were in that situation, they would probably become even more corrupt. Or they don't even know what the political situation is like in your country. I wonder, did the people who advised him to stand up and fight think about the consequences that would happen to OP's friend? Will OP's friend be protected or will he soon disappear from this earth without a reason?

People will always talk based on their experience and level of understanding. Sometimes they talk without even putting themselves in the person's shoes. In some cases, they tend to speak because they want to look good to the community while within them they know they are far from the personality they are portraying.

I live in a country where people who loot funds are celebrated. Religious leaders pray for them publicly, universities honour and traditional rulers give them influential titles. Truthfulness and integrity are generally seen as foolishness. If you are a politician and don't steal big to buy houses, luxury cars and empower your people, you might be banished from your community. You will be mocked for deciding not to steal.   

OP, it all depends on the political situation in your country and only your friend knows what he should do. Before doing anything, consider the consequences that we and our families will have to face, and then make the most appropriate decision. Don't ask for advice from people who have no experience or know nothing about politics.

The problem is that the police, court and other law enforcement agencies are highly corrupt. The law is potent only when the poor are involved because the rich can easily bribe the police and judges to get a favourable judgement. You can be jailed or killed for exposing evil. The only way he might survive after exposing these politicians is to leave the country and seek political asylum in another country. Alternatively, he can also decide to expose the corruption, remain in the country and be willing to face any consequences. 

[Semen222]

It's so simple. Let him continue to work for the good of his country. Let him continue to do charity work as much as possible. But let him never cross the path of those in power. And, yes, your friend will never be the same. Then the noose will twist around his neck. Because he already took the money. And now there is already dirt on him. Therefore, sympathize with him, perhaps he will soon stop communicating with you.

[Rabata]

A truly honest person never wants live along with a dishonest person, again he cannot establish himself as honest even if he wants. Especially in 3rd world countries where politics means business. An honest person cannot stay honest by mixing with corrupt people. Because he will be forced to be dishonest. Even if he is honest he can be removed from his place by false accusation.

If a person does not accept corruption money voluntarily or he is forced to accept that money, then he can help the poor with that money if he wants. But I don't think it has any legal basis. In general this is acceptable but if we look at it from the legal point of view then he is also considered as a criminal because that person did not protest there or seek legal recourse.

[virasog]

My friend decided to set up a foundation that gives scholarships and builds schools. With the illegal funds, he usually receives every month, he has been able to finance the education of many poor students in his ward and has also built and refurbished a few schools.

If would have been so much better if all this welfare work was done with legal money. He can even setup trust or charity to help people whereby rich people may also contribute to the cause.

He knows that those funds he receives are illegal but he vowed not to use them for his personal needs. What is your opinion on this matter?

Doing good deeds with scam money  I do not understand if we can call this action right because he is getting illegal money and that money belong to someone else. This is not the right way to get money from the rich to the poor by snatching money from the rich and distributing them to the poor ones.

[Stalker22]

~
What is your opinion on this matter?

I get what he was trying to do, but it doesnt sit right with me either.  Sure, he wanted to help folks out by skimming some cash off the top for charity.  but even if its for a good cause, he got wrapped up playing by their crooked rules.

Seems to me the only way to fix a broken system is refusing to play along.  Your friend couldve blown the whistle instead of lining his pockets.

[LTU_btc]

Stealing isn't good, no matter what is purpose behind it. Yeah, helping poor people is better than using money for your own needs is better, but it's not excuse. Like you're not going to rob bank and use that money to threat children from cancer. It's not how this world works.
Think about that if your friend will get caught, he will have to take same responsibility as these who used money for their own needs.

[GxSTxV]

Well, I have changed my mindset after understanding the system of our government, so answering shortly to your questions, from my own perspective :

Stealing to give to the poor. Is it right?

It is right as long as it’s always used the same way you have said, and that person will only spend his salary for himself, while the funds received to senseless things when other people are in need of money, I call this humanity and courage to risk his job first, and not being greedy as he has a chance to take that money silently.

If someone is against this, all you have to do is join or understand the system of corrupt governments, where they spend money in very stupid and dumb things rather than spending that money in people’s needs, schools or health systems.

This act is very known in corrupt governments, but unfortunately most people are spending funds loaded from the governments to some projects, directly taken to their pockets, and everyone is silent.

[Franctoshi]

Stealing is Stealing no matter how you tried to justify it to let it not seem bad, if you want to help the poor and needy, that should warrant someone to go still because when you still and it happens that you're being caught no one will pardon you because you stole for the purpose that you want to give to the poor.

[Asiska02]

He knows that those funds he receives are illegal but he vowed not to use them for his personal needs. What is your opinion on this matter?

In the short-term, one can view it as good since he is not using it for personal gains but to help others however if you would look at the bigger picture, he is still part of the problem. He is still allowing illegal activities in his position and letting it perpetuate and spread. A lot of people tend to justify them allowing illegal activities in disguise that they do not participate in it themselves however them knowing is enough to say that it is illegal. If he really wants to make a difference, he will put a stop to all of this.

The problem with happenings like this is that once you’re into the system, you dare not try to even run away after you get to see what they do, they won’t trust you and can label you something else just to find a means to discard you if not even killed in the process. Stealing is not good and cannot be justified but it the life worth risking by exposing the thieves in the government and no harm following him after that? This is a very sensitive case that needs diligence to tackle it, so I won’t blame the guy whole as long as his mind are pure and can’t steal if not in a position of  threat to his life.

[legendbtc]

Is it right to ask for advice from people who have never been involved in politics and have never known the evils of politics? Some people say that your friends should stand up and fight against that corruption but I believe that if they were in that situation, they would probably become even more corrupt. Or they don't even know what the political situation is like in your country. I wonder, did the people who advised him to stand up and fight think about the consequences that would happen to OP's friend? Will OP's friend be protected or will he soon disappear from this earth without a reason?

People will always talk based on their experience and level of understanding. Sometimes they talk without even putting themselves in the person's shoes. In some cases, they tend to speak because they want to look good to the community while within them they know they are far from the personality they are portraying.

I live in a country where people who loot funds are celebrated. Religious leaders pray for them publicly, universities honour and traditional rulers give them influential titles. Truthfulness and integrity are generally seen as foolishness. If you are a politician and don't steal big to buy houses, luxury cars and empower your people, you might be banished from your community. You will be mocked for deciding not to steal.   

OP, it all depends on the political situation in your country and only your friend knows what he should do. Before doing anything, consider the consequences that we and our families will have to face, and then make the most appropriate decision. Don't ask for advice from people who have no experience or know nothing about politics.

The problem is that the police, court and other law enforcement agencies are highly corrupt. The law is potent only when the poor are involved because the rich can easily bribe the police and judges to get a favourable judgement. You can be jailed or killed for exposing evil. The only way he might survive after exposing these politicians is to leave the country and seek political asylum in another country. Alternatively, he can also decide to expose the corruption, remain in the country and be willing to face any consequences. 

From what you say, it seems that the political situation in your country is very complicated and if your friend exposes corruption, he will face great risks instead of being protected. Not to mention, what about his family and relatives? They will also suffer the same fate as him and his children's future will probably be gone too. Is it worth the trade-off?

Or, even if he exposes those corrupt people, what guarantees that the newcomers won't be corrupt? Fighting corruption cannot be done by just one individual or we will be able to solve it all at once. That is why the government has never been successful in fighting corruption, and it has become a culture in politics.

Stealing is bad but in this case, your friend stole and used the money to help many other poor people. I don't think it's bad.

Also, if he continues to do so, many people will be helped, but if he stands up and fights, he will run out of opportunities to help others and worse, no poor people will be helped if he disappears.

[Mr.right85]

A saying goes: ‘You don’t rob Peter to pay Paul’. It’s a typical Robinhood show, you might be a local hero but, still an enemy of the state. Wrong is wrong and the end doesn’t always justify the means. Once the means isn’t right, it ain’t right.

I live in a country where people who loot funds are celebrated. Religious leaders pray for them publicly, universities honour and traditional rulers give them influential titles. Truthfulness and integrity are generally seen as foolishness. If you are a politician and don't steal big to buy houses, luxury cars and empower your people, you might be banished from your community. You will be mocked for deciding not to steal.

I think I live in that same country as you and they aren’t celebrated by the majority. The few that might seem to be rooted behind these forks are those that are directly benefiting from the purse of the looter. That’s just placing your stomach ahead of everyone else’s. While people might not cause them in the open except for a few who’s got nothing to lose and have almost given up on everything, a few do cause them privately.

Unfortunately, if you don’t tell them what the problem is, how do they know they are doing something really terrible.

[Fiatless]

A saying goes: ‘You don’t rob Peter to pay Paul’. It’s a typical Robinhood show, you might be a local hero but, still an enemy of the state. Wrong is wrong and the end doesn’t always justify the means. Once the means isn’t right, it ain’t right.

I live in a country where people who loot funds are celebrated. Religious leaders pray for them publicly, universities honour and traditional rulers give them influential titles. Truthfulness and integrity are generally seen as foolishness. If you are a politician and don't steal big to buy houses, luxury cars and empower your people, you might be banished from your community. You will be mocked for deciding not to steal.

I think I live in that same country as you and they aren’t celebrated by the majority. The few that might seem to be rooted behind these forks are those that are directly benefiting from the purse of the looter. That’s just placing your stomach ahead of everyone else’s. While people might not cause them in the open except for a few who’s got nothing to lose and have almost given up on everything, a few do cause them privately.

Unfortunately, if you don’t tell them what the problem is, how do they know they are doing something really terrible.

You know and understand how the corrupt system works. It has gone so bad that it is rare to see a clean politician. The rot has gone far beyond the government and has entered the religious, educational and traditional systems. People will speak against a corrupt politician because they are not benefiting from the loot. We will never expose a corrupt politician because he is our tribesman or we share the same religious belief.   Let us be sincere, most of us will defend our friends and relatives who are corrupt because we are benefiting from them.

This is not the ideal situation, but sadly that's where we find ourselves. I have always desired to leave the country to another location where corruption is not institutionalized, but there is no place like home. We will keep striving until evil is driven far away from our land.

NB: Check your quote @Mr.right85, you misplaced my post with legendbtc's comments.  

[CoinFoxs]

Stealing money from government or from anyone is illegal in any country that are existing in this world no
Matter what their area and economic condition is, you can’t do good things in wrong way! Not impressed by your friend’s idea of supporting students.

[uchegod-21]

He knows that those funds he receives are illegal but he vowed not to use them for his personal needs. What is your opinion on this matter?

so in essence, when the law eventually catches up with them for the groose misappropriation of funds, he's going to give excuses that he uses his allotment for the establishment of local project in the community? And it's supposed to be understandable that he's trying to act like a good person in the midst while still benefiting from the faulty system? what he did is not different from what most politicians do. They take the allocation that's supposed to be used for the needs of the masses, embezzles the most of them and use just a slight fraction of it for some developmental projects so as to shut people out from complaining.

If everyone keeps quiet and refuse fighting against faulty systems, how will we experience positive change in our society?  If you're in a company of people who are involved in things that's contrary to what's right for you, don't try to paint yourself as the good egg in the place. Walk away and save your conscience and reputation from being associated with what's not right. Right is right and wrong is wrong. Doing something that's right to cover up for what's wrong doesn't make your wrong right.

What you said is not wrong, but if you were him, what would you do in that situation?

One thing is certain, if he stands up and exposes the hypocrisy of the rest, he will be removed from office or worse, he will be killed. Not only that, the safety of his family members is even threatened, or worse, ends tragically.

If you live in a country that values ​​human rights like the United States, you will likely be defended by the opposition party for your actions. But if you come from a third world country with a corrupt political system: either you quietly resign or you die if you don't adapt to them.

Politics is not as simple as you think, just stand up, expose and fight, you will be supported by everyone and become an icon. Once you enter politics, you either die or join the crowd.

In my country, many honest politicians suddenly died and their families disappeared overnight, those stories are still circulating among the people and that is why no politician dares to stand up for the people these days.

Hey Iranus!
You are a legend and you have a clear understanding of what is happening in the third world countries. Many people sit back in their country and assume that how things work in their country is applicable to other countries of the world. In some countries, politics is politics because there's human rights preservation. While in some other countries;
There's no human rights,
There's no good judiciary,
No sincere policing,
Bribery and corruption,
The system is rigged against the poor.
Try to fight the system and die...

[Yucky]

Stealing isn't good, no matter what is purpose behind it. Yeah, helping poor people is better than using money for your own needs is better, but it's not excuse. Like you're not going to rob bank and use that money to threat children from cancer. It's not how this world works.
Think about that if your friend will get caught, he will have to take same responsibility as these who used money for their own needs.

you know that when we talk about stealing, we have two context to possibly look at from the OPs point of view. If it was a literal stealing where he directly takes what belongs to another person and gives it to another who he feels is poor, then that sort of act could be looked at as one that's totally wrong. But when we're considering a case where government owned public funds is involved and you're dealing with cabals that have the ability to hurting you if you handle the matter carelessly, it's necessary we don't just judge the fellow blindly.

In my opinion, exiting the office won't do him and the public any good, it will even deny the public the little previledges they are even Enjoying. If it's possible for him to remain as part of the government and keep on helping the people with funds that comes into his hands, it's better to keep doing that. But if you want to play safe,  the best option will be to come out from such circle so you don't make them look at you as a potential threat and plan how to do away with you.

[SmartCharpa]

I have a friend who was elected into a political office. Before he was elected he was well known for his uprightness and integrity. Now, his new office is filled with corruption in the form of looting of government funds. He told me that when the allocation from the central government comes, the chairman of the local government will call them and give them a large amount for their upkeep. But they still receive their monthly salary and allowance.

He is well aware that the allocation was for the development of the local government, but he is forced to take it since almost all the elected officers are collecting it. The first time he rejected the money, he received a threat that he would be impeached or violently attacked. This is because his colleagues are scared that he might reveal the corruption that is going on in the local government.

My friend decided to set up a foundation that gives scholarships and builds schools. With the illegal funds, he usually receives every month, he has been able to finance the education of many poor students in his ward and has also built and refurbished a few schools.

He knows that those funds he receives are illegal but he vowed not to use them for his personal needs. What is your opinion on this matter?

I believe that you people should be happy that your friend is still following his pledge to not use any illegal funds for his personal needs, this is because it is rare to find someone who keeps their word to the people before running for a position in government, most of them end up changing their minds and forgetting the people they promised better things for society. On the other hand, your friend isn't doing anything wrong in that he is still using the funds he raised to build schools and help those in need. I believe that your friend is stealing money from bad people to do what the funds are meant for, which are, in my opinion, the rebuilding of the school and the distribution of food to members of the public.

I can't blame some individuals responsible for their involvement in corruption after the election to succeed in their government roles, some of them were given orders from above and had no other choice. As a new member of the house, you will face different kinds of pressure and at last, have to join the corrupt. As long as your friend joins them, they don't care what your friend did with his money.

[Sexylizzy2813]

Not impressed by your friend’s idea of supporting students.

You're making it look like he is stealing the money and stocking it in somewhere only him can make use of it. He decides to use the illegal money that was forced on him to develop the community where he sees no development, like the schools might not be in good shape and instead of eating the money like his colleagues are doing he choose to build up the school and do something meaningful with the money, after all not all politicians can think of the citizens the way he did, to me he's doing the right thing by not eating the illegal funds. If he doesn't support the students what do you expect him to do knowing fully well that the students needs help?

[Ozymon]

It reminds me of a proverb.

"The road to hell is paved with good attentions"

He has a good intentions, but even with excuse, it will not help him when the authority finally catch him up with the law. All of these that he did, won't help him at all in the eyes of law. If the worst thing happened, and there is an investigation about the source of the money, and if everything went south, he might face jail time. Hopefully, if that happen, people could still see his good intentions and not just forget every good thing he has did.

[DeathAngel]

Stealing, fraud, racketeering, none of it is right. Never take anything that doesn’t rightly belong to you. We all work hard for what we have & we can sleep with a clean conscience. Nobody should be stealing & giving the proceeds to poor people, students or whatever.