Those were the words of “a well-known and wealthy businessman” asked by Irrawaddy editor Kyaw Zwa Moe about bribery, corruption, graft and nepotism in transitional Myanmar. Of course, there are now some trappings of good governance. One year ago an anti-corruption commission was set up. One month ago President Thein Sein identified bribery as one of the biggest challenges facing the country. But any attempt by journalists to investigate this major public enemy are met with threats of censorship and aggressive legal action. The latest story finds the Irrawaddy blacklisted by Yangon Region Chief Minister Myint Swe for graft revelations relating to a multi-billon city expansion project. “Our investigation was not intensive, but it did reveal the tip of a rampant practice of nepotism among high-ranking officials in the current central and local governments.” It’s at times like this that the full meaning of discipline-flourishing democracy becomes apparent – constrain democracy enough to enable good old ways of doing things to continue undisturbed.