Another symptom of Kali-yuga: dharma-nyaya-vyavasthayam karanam balam eva hi. "Religious principles and justice will be determined by a show of strength." [Srimad-Bhagavatam 12.2.2] If you have some influence, then everything will be decided in your favor. You may be the most irreligious person, but if you can bribe a priest he will certify that you are religious. So character will be decided by money, not by actual qualification.
(Journey of Self Discovery 6.4: Ancient Prophecies Fulfilled)
The qualified brahmanas, they are first-class men, the topmost class. And the second-class men, the ksatriyas. And the third-class men, vaisyas, mercantile, simply "Where to get money?"
And they are, according to Vedic civilization, third-class men. But at the present moment, those who are acquiring money somehow or other, they are first-class men. It doesn't matter what is his qualification. If he has acquired some money some way or other, then he is a first-class man. This is Kali-yuga. In the Kali-yuga there is no honor for qualification. There is honor for money only. That's all.
It is stated that without money, you cannot get justice even. In the court of justice, everyone is expected to get proper behavior, but in the Kali-yuga it is stated that even in the court of justice, you cannot get justice without money. That's a fact. If you have no money, then you cannot appoint a good lawyer. And sometimes you have to bribe the judge also. This is the position now. Now in your country so many big, big men have been arrested or something like that for their dishonesty.
So Kali-yuga is so polluted that the minister is dishonest, the judge is dishonest, and what to speak of ordinary men. So only thing is that you get money some way or other. Then you can pass on as a nice gentleman, polished. You keep yourself always polished, and within you may be full with all dirty things, but if you have got your pockets filled up with coins and notes, then you are nice.
(From Srila Prabhupada's lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.9.3 — May 17, 1973, Los Angeles)