When bribery is a good thing . . .

"Bribery, a form of corruption, is an act implying money or gift given that alters the behavior of the recipient. Bribery constitutes a crime and is defined by Black's Law Dictionary as the offering, giving, receiving, or soliciting of any item of value to influence the actions of an official or other person in charge of a public or legal duty."

~Courtesy of Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bribery



Bribery is not know as a good thing.  It can cause good people to do bad things.  But are there times when bribery can be good?  I think so.  Take for instance, this scene:


This does not appear to be a deep, dark scene of corruption.  It is, on the other hand, a small form of bribery.  This is the scene that welcomed me when I went to take care of my parents' cats last weekend.  These offerings were greatly appreciated. 

Well, now that I look at the definition of bribery which says that the, "gift given that alters the behavior of the recipient", I have to reconsider.  Was this bribery . . .  or incentive??????  Upon reflection, I didn't know about the offerings until I went to take care of the cats, so was it a bribe?   But those cats WERE taken care of a little more often than if there were no offerings to speak of!!!! So, what do you say . . . bribery or incentive????  When can bribery be a good thing?


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