International business is cutthroat business. An ethical policy is only effective if everyone agrees to be bound by it. They (the rest of the world at large) don't.

(04-01-2016 12:21 PM)QuestionSocratic Wrote:  

(04-01-2016 12:11 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  We need to ditch the FCPA and just allow us to use money to operate in the developing world.

Believe it or not the Chinese, and even a lot of Europeans, have no problem doing it.

FCPA does nothing but tie one hand behind our back.

I wouldn't even call this a scandal. So what?

I was working for Price Waterhouse in 1977 when the FCPA went into effect and our clients who did business overseas were going nuts. In those days, bribing officials in countries like Italy, was a generally accepted practice. It's not surprising that to do any business in the third world today, bribery is necessary.

A couple of days ago there was a thread on our negative trade balance. I dare say that the FCPA has been a big block for US companies trying to do export business.

But bribery seems so harsh. I prefer Market Development Expenses.

will agree with this....a simple personal example would be the policia in mexico relative to americans....that USD and skin color can make thingys happen (both ways)

there is one universal theme.....cash is king

The collapse of civilization is upon us.

(04-01-2016 12:23 PM)dmacfour Wrote:  

(04-01-2016 12:17 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  

(04-01-2016 12:15 PM)dmacfour Wrote:  

(04-01-2016 12:11 PM)HeartOfDixie Wrote:  We need to ditch the FCPA and just allow us to use money to operate in the developing world.

Believe it or not the Chinese, and even a lot of Europeans, have no problem doing it.

FCPA does nothing but tie one hand behind our back.

I wouldn't even call this a scandal. So what?

"Bribery, so what?" -HeartOfDixie

I wish I lived in a bubble of naïveté like you.

Sorry for expecting corporations and people to act ethically.

By American standards of ethics. Not everyone shares those standards.

This is not what would be properly described as a "massive oil bribery scandal." Just isn't.