Transparency International: website on government corruption around the world.

Please check out Transparency International and its fight against government corruption around the world.  Believe it or not, the U.S. comes out relatively clean. See this description of American corruption. With regard to politics: "Government and politicCorruption among government and political figures remains a concern. From fraud and embezzlement charges to the failure to uphold ethical standards, there are multiple cases of corruption at the federal, state and local level. Recent high profile scandals have involved councilmen in California and the District of Columbia, as well as mayors in New Jersey and an Illinois governor. Money laundering convictions and ethics violations by U.S. Congress representatives have also furthered citizen distrust."