Living in a Society of Cheats: Economy Edition

Exploiting others for one's own benefit uttering falsehood and not honoring commitments has become a way of life with many individuals these days. This behavior is cheating. This can be intentional or unintentional. The latter is followed by an apology on realization but the former has no apology and is considered something natural, a hallmark of capability and an ordinary event in life. The devilish mentality of many people is increasing. Cheats have diversified their operations and enjoy a field day. They will be apparently friendly especially to one vulnerable to treachery and cheating. People are lured to part with their valuables and the wealthy are silently attacked and looted. Cheating is done for financial gains, material possessions and pleasures. Often there is a touch of sophistication in the dealings of cheats. Cheating with varying frequency and intensity is resorted to and facilitated by an increasing number of people including professionals. Some of them openly do it whereas others stealthily giving the impression that they are discharging their functions in a fair and just manner. Quest for name, fame and unearned or undeserving wealth has become the favorite pastime of many. Some practice cheating for satisfying carnal desires involving women. The craze for materialism and wealth and worship of money has created more avenues for cheating. The limitations and lethargy of the police and the cumbersome judicial process to take swift action and to render speedy and efficient justice add to the sad state of affairs. This in brief is the environment in which the citizens work and live and institutions function. Cheats adopt a variety of ingenious ways for operations. Some of them offer help for various services including jobs. Others who seek funds for personal or business use approach potential clients giving a high profile business opportunity. Then there are small cheats and big .cheats each undertaking operations in an area that suits their ambitions, resources and clout. A small cheat operates on a limited scale. Big cheats ask for large-scale assistance running to millions of rupees from individuals and institutions. The book explains some areas including business, finance, employment, education, marriage, travel and sections of society where cheats have safely entrenched and expand their activities with benefit to themselves and harm to others. Professionals and politicians have also adopted this evil feature in their operations. The cumulative effect of all these agencies together with the judicial system as it functions today contribute to bestow on cheating the status of an industry promoting and perpetuating unethical practices. These are seen in exaggerated claims of advertisements which are misleading, poor quality of goods and services, malpractices like short weight, emergence of corporate and financial thieves.