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I remember a story I heard about a high government minister in the Guomindang government of China ----- the one before the Communists took over. He wanted to have a party at night, with his extensive gardens lit by innumerable electric lanterns. To save money, he ran a line out to the power poles near his mansion, so that he got free electricity.

The very same minister sank all his wealth into Guomindang government bonds, and lost everything when the Guomindang fell.

The irony is that if this man and others like him had had enough public spirit not to chisel and be corrupt in small matters, the Guomindang might have survived and they might have remained wealthy.

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