Study: Kentucky Most Corrupt State

Kentucky gained its reputation for corruption honestly, through stupidity like giving $18 billion in tax dollars to a bunch of freakazoid con artists.  Four years later, let's hope the ethical withdrawal of those tax dollars is a harbinger of change.

But don't hold your breath

Via Down with Tyranny.

From Harvard:

In more than ten states, executive branches score 3 or higher in illegal corruption. In no state is illegal corruption in the executive branch perceived to be “extremely common” by the reporters. It is, on the other hand, “very common” in Arizona and New Jersey, and somewhere between “moderately common” and “very common” in Georgia, Kentucky, and Utah.

SNIP

In almost half of the states, legislative branches score 3 or higher in illegal corruption. In ten states, illegal corruption in state legislatures is perceived to be “very common.”  (including KY)

SNIP

In more than ten states legal corruption in executive branches is perceived to be “very common” or “extremely common.” Georgia, Kentucky and New Jersey, for example, suffer from not only illegal corruption but also legal corruption. Executive branches in these states score 4 or higher in both forms of corruption.

SNIP

Legal corruption in the legislative branch is particularly worrying in almost all states. In almost half of the states, it is perceived to be either “very common” or “extremely common.” Only in a few states do legislative branches score 2 or less. Kansas, Maryland, North Carolina, Nevada and Wisconsin suffer from only legal corruption, while a dozen states including Alabama, Illinois, Kentucky and New York, in which legal corruption is perceived to be “extremely common,” suffer from both forms of corruption.

SNIP

With respect to illegal corruption, Arizona is perceived to be the most corrupt state, followed by a second group of states, which includes California and Kentucky,

SNIP

Kentucky is not only perceived to be illegally corrupt but also legally corrupt. With respect to legal corruption, Kentucky is the most corrupt state followed by Illinois and Nevada.