On the contrary, governments that are truly committed to reducing corruption have met with extraordinary success and have left lessons that are available for others to use. However, no government, not even the cleanest government, can diminish its vigilance and expect corruption to stay away. Another thing I believe important to keep in mind is that corruption is expensive. Its price tag is often invisible, but its effects are very real. A study conducted after a civil servant in Great Britain was imprisoned for four years for taking at least 2.25 million dollars in bribes showed that his action caused up to 200 million dollars in financial damage.
Financial costs are part of the price tag.
At the summit of the Americas in Miami in 1994,the governments of this hemisphere agreed that corruption seriously affects the legitimacy of democracy, distorts economic systems, and contributes to social disintegration. Corruption is not a harmless, cultural practice. What this said to me is that the people of Guatemala understand very well what dishonorable acts cost, and they would like a change. For our part, I can tell you that there is virtually nothing the United States government is trying to assist Guatemala to achieve that is not affected by acts of corruption. The greatest obstacle to combating these practices remains the lack of a credible government commitment to the rule of law.