The existence of countries that are even more corrupt doesn't make the corruption here any more acceptable.

I don’t think my comment was clear enough if that’s your response. This country is not especially corrupt. I agree we should root out and eliminate corruption at home. This article is not an example of corruption.

America's corruption is legalized which I think is worse because

1. There is a legal framework for the rich (and only the rich) to get away with their misdeeds.

2. Since there is a legal framework, even ordinary citizens will defend the rich being able to do this because there is a legal framework to do so.

3. Americans don't feel like their country is especially corrupt because of these very same legal frameworks.

Seems like a tautological argument for calling any law you dislike “corruption.” That isn’t particularly persuasive.

Fair enough. Our disagreement, then, is not about the acceptability of corruption, it's about whether or not this is an example of it. In my opinion, it's a very blatant example of it.