Do Gentlemen Bribe?

Dear Sirs,
As a gentleman residing in the far-flung and humid reaches of Her Majesty’s former colonies, I have at times had reason to “barter,” shall we say, with local law enforcement minor infractions here and there, nothing too worrisome. But it has garnered me excellent results.

Would it be the expert’s view that such activity in a modern age is quite uncalled for, or does it somehow hark back to a more laissez-faire age of tolerance and bonding between gentlemen and the local constabulary?

Your views are appreciated.

With Kind Regards,
Don Montejo

Dear Don,

The kind of law-eliding bonhomie you describe, while it can debase civil society and lead to a festering and corrupt society in which the majority of people lack the basic protections or honest assurances of the law, is also often just how things get done.

Bartering with law enforcement as you describe may be unnecessary in the modern world. But the modern world isn’t equally distributed around the globe. As a gentleman in a strange land, you may want to take it as you find it and be glad that you’re on the good side of local custom.

But it’s a different story if the way of doing business you benefit from is egregiously unjust, and if you plan to make a long-term home in the former colony. If those two criteria fit your situation, then as a gentleman you should take some responsibility for the place you've chosen to live and, at the very least, not contribute to the system.

From the Chilly North,

The Gentlemen