Final Word from Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Of the five major Czech corruption scandals in recent weeks, two involve big U.S. companies, Hewlett-Packard and Ford. Two other scandals are Czech specialities (Opencard, and Mirek Topolánek's Navatyp apartment). The final one is a Czech-Italian contrivance (Praga-Export/Iveco armored vehicles). Czech managers and politicians are the common denominator in all of these, but the inclusion of two Fortune 500 companies stands out like a sore thumb. Aren't U.S. companies supposed to adhere to a higher standard? When asked about this, Executive Director Weston Stacey of the American Chamber of Commerce said that the problem is the abysmal performance of the police and the courts to either convict or exonerate in a clear and convincing manner. When accused of corruption, he said, companies should be investigated by the police and, if justified, tried in a court, not just in the media. Until then, it seems, the CR will attract the kind of investors who know how to operate in the existing environment.[Czech Republic Romans United States of America Motor Company]
Glossary of difficult words
When in Rome, do as the Romans do - when abroad or in an unfamiliar environment, you should adopt the customs or behavior of those around you;
contrivance - a thing that is created skillfully and inventively to serve a particular purpose;
common denominator - a feature shared by all members of a group;
Fortune 500 - a list of the top U.S. companies;
to stand/stick out like a sore thumb - to become noticeable because of a certain peculiarity;
to adhere to - to believe in and follow the practices of;
abysmal - extremely bad, appalling;
to exonerate - to absolve someone of blame or guilt;
to try - to investigate and decide a case in a formal trial.