Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index was published today. As expected, Iraq is in second to last place, and Americans believe their country is more corrupt than last year. Scandals seem to have taken their toll in Israel as well.

"Countries with a significant worsening in perceived levels of corruption include: Brazil, Cuba, Israel, Jordan, Laos, Seychelles, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia and the United States. Countries with a significant improvement in perceived levels of corruption include: Algeria, Czech Republic, India, Japan, Latvia, Lebanon, Mauritius, Paraguay, Slovenia, Turkey, Turkmenistan and Uruguay."