Hackers can defeat these entrenched interests. Set up online websites that work through these problems in a structured manner (like a mechanical turk for anti-corruption).
Websites won't fix the problem, but may group some people around it and enable them to solve the issue.
I'm not saying that was your point, but in general I'm bewildered by this growing attitude that web-dev "hackers" can solve problems of humanity by just building a bunch of RoR websites. It managed to reach even at least one TED talk. Sounds to me mostly like front-end developers wanting to feel good that they're making difference when building cat-photo-sharing apps. But somehow it ended up as a global perception that "hackers" build websites and problems get solved.
I'm actually anti-ROR and not a frontend guy, but information systems can tackle all problems. If there is a problem that can be solvable, the critical step is designing the database (it's why ERP runs all big busineses).
