MP's ExpensesFollow

Oh, right. I see what you mean. That's a pretty solid argument you've got there, I take back what I said.

Anyway, here's an european comparaison of MPs salaries and expenses:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7961849.stm

The UK is pretty much middle of the road.

Well yes, but that's only because of my Eau d'Onion Perfume.


Anyway, it seems the Economist agrees with me on the origins of this crisis:




Edited, May 22nd 2009 2:26pm by RedPhoenixxx

Clearly you can, and clearly they have.



Possibly. Or maybe because most people have no idea how much an MP is paid, or how much they should be paid, until told so by the Sun/Mail. Maybe it's because had politicians voted to raise their own salaries, people like you would've posted a thread in =28 about MPs being greedy. Maybe because trashing politicians when their public perception is very low, is a good way for populist tabloids to shift lots of copies. Maybe a combination of all of the above.

But sure, I'd love to see your proposals implemented. Reduce MP salaries, cut their expenses, and force them to be "beyond reproach in the public and personal lives". Let's see what kind of candidate this attracts.

I've stopped assuming anything. You yapped on about "the law" for the previous ten posts, now it's morality... So yeah, whatever suits your current argument, I guess.



What remarkable timing you have! What a coincidence, really...



Because my MP can cheat on his wife and ********** to Grandma ****, as long as he does the job properly I couldn't care less. I think private lives should be private with regards to moral matters.

If it's illegal, it's different, but we are talking about morality, right? Or has that changed again?



Really? I would've thought that people on the dole would be outraged by MPs behaviour. I can't see many people on the dole saying that MPs claiming expenses was perfectly legit.

If you were going to go for the "personal attack" angle, you should've gone for the opposite: Make me out to be a rich priviledged kid who hopes to get into Parliament one day to benefit from said expenses. Attack me as part of the elite that doesn't understand the concerns of ordinary people. This would've made a lot more sense.

But really, MPs and unemployed people uniting to defend MPs expenses? How does that make any sense?


Edited, May 22nd 2009 3:00pm by RedPhoenixxx

Now look, I can take groggy's insults just fine, but if the two of you gang up on me, I'm migrating to another thread!

And no, I'm not related to Sarko, thank flying spaghetti monster.

From a moral standpoint, some of the MPs have made certain claims which are suspicious.

I can sign to that.



For sure, but I bet your *** that if it was possible to prosecute, things would've started already. The police or Scotland Yard would be investigating. The CPS would be preparing for an upcoming case. There might be some civil stuff in there that will go to court, but nothing criminal.

Don't worry though, your *** is pretty safe.



Fine.

Morality: I don't care.
Legality: I could care, depending on circumstances.

I certainly don't think MPs need to have a higher moral standard of private behaviour than, say, journalists, lawyers, doctors, heads of industries, CEOs, etc...



People on the dole are "scroungers" now? What the fuck is wrong with you?

And MPs work. It's not "something for nothing" it's "something for something", you dense cauliflower-eared ****.

See how personalised that last insult was? It's because, unlike you, I actually pay attention to the people I debate with.

Yes, it was "silly", I completely agree.

"Silly", though, not "outrageous". Not even "important". It cost more to the taxpayer for this MPs' Press Officer to write three letters on headed paper to calm the press, than it would cost to give all MPs free dog food for a year. That's what is so petty about the whole thing: Dog food. Bath plugs. Curtains. A Pouffe. A £12 **** film. The majority of expenses stories focused on trivial cheap **** like that. Surely there's more important stuff to get all puffy about.

I thought all real French people were.

Same as I'm related to Gregor Gysi.

Because everyone else is doing something wrong when you're standing on the moral high horse.


Edited, May 22nd 2009 3:42pm by RedPhoenixxx