Once the system had taken root, corruption percolated downward, from senior bureaucrats and politicians, who could be bribed do what they were not supposed to do, to lower-level bureaucrats, who would not do what there were supposed to do unless bribed. Clerks would not bring out files, or get you your birth certificate or land title, unless you greased their palms.
这个系统一旦生根，腐败行为也一并渗入，高级官员和政客们收受贿赂去做不该做的事，而下级官员则索取贿赂去做自己本该去做的事。除非你满足他们的要求，否则政府办事员就不会向你提供相关文件，或者向你颁发出生证明或是地契。