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Comment by kevin_thibedeau | Hacker News Reader

> where the boundary between what's OK and what's not lies?

It scales proportional to your wealth. The varsity blues parents were just too poor to issue a proper bribe.

I've meant what is considered morally acceptable by an average American. I guess that you are describing who manages to get away with the corruption, rather than asserting that bribery by the rich is considered more acceptable that the bribery by the poor.

It’s more that “philanthropy” and “lobbying” are acceptable while “bribery” is not, even though sometimes the distinction is a pretty blurry line.

It’s more like everyone tries to get away with as much fraud as possible under the guise of plausible deniability, which “philanthropy” and “lobbying” provide.

Let’s see all this “philanthropy” if tax deductible donations have to be anonymous.

The average American approves of tipping.

The average American approves of political donations when they agree with the political purpose. (donating to a hated politician is seen as corrupt, so Americans always see the opposing party as corrupt)

The average American approves of open and fair ability to buy extra service. Paying ten million dollars to get a dumb kid into college is only tolerated, but it would be generally approved of if it were on a published official price list.

Everything else is not OK.

That was helpful. Thanks!

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