Abstract

Sleaze has become a "buzz-word" in almost every aspect of political life today. This book considers the present climate and examines instances of what has gone wrong: abuses of the political system; the ever-increasing use of patronage; the lack of accountability now in all walks of public life; the manipulation of statistics; the chief executive salary scandals; the differences between public and private morality; and the grey area of what is strictly legal and what is not. It also looks at ways of making those responsible more accountable, and how best such situations can be prevented in the future. The analysis sets out to pinpoint the failings in the present administration, and embraces the question of the erosion of democracy.