Government Scum Bags

Eddie you already know I agree with you on quantitative easing!
And why are you bringing the Gunners into this?

Politics will always bring out strong feelings and emotions on a forum but no need to fall out over it. My thoughts are the future of the NHS is uncertain under any Government. If you earn £200 a week but spend £300 every week, eventually something has to give. I am nearing 50 now and have lived, worked and raised a family under various Govt's. To be honest, I haven't noticed a great deal of difference whether Labour or Conservatives in power. I've always had to work hard under both. It's the underlying rule of those in power to keep the workers just above the breadline, always striving and NEEDING to work. Every single Gov't since I was a kid just blamed the previous Gov't for the current mess we're in. Those not in power will make promises that once in power, they will not keep. It's the institution that's the problem, individual MP's, not whole Govt's. Most are corrupt and greedy and have no clue about the average Joe. Consider this though, if you were an MP and were told you can claim for an extra house in London, £35K for your partner to be a secretary, limitless expenses etc, who wouldn't ? That's the issue, blame the rules. Needs total overhaul.

I'm tempted to think that MPs should be paid a bit more but in return they would be banned from any additional remunerative employment.  MPs outside London should be provided with a government flat so there's no scope for milking the system, and an office with a civil servant secretary and some expenses to pay for a researcher (not a 'free' intern) so they can't employ family members.  Other expenses should be restricted to 'reasonable' meals away from home and 'reasonable' travel to their constituencies etc.

As for political views, I'm sure there is no association between having diabetes and who you vote for so we're bound to be a cross section of opinion and we should respect that. Certainly nothing to fall out over. Perhaps we can all agree that there is a need for greater honesty, transparency and accountability as there would be in any business, and certainly less of the pathetic schoolboy antics and PMQs which is just a joke these days.

sanguine wrote:I'm tempted to think that MPs should be paid a bit more but in return they would be banned from any additional remunerative employment.  MPs outside London should be provided with a government flat so there's no scope for milking the system, and an office with a civil servant secretary and some expenses to pay for a researcher (not a 'free' intern) so they can't employ family members.  Other expenses should be restricted to 'reasonable' meals away from home and 'reasonable' travel to their constituencies etc.

As for political views, I'm sure there is no association between having diabetes and who you vote for so we're bound to be a cross section of opinion and we should respect that.  Certainly nothing to fall out over.  Perhaps we can all agree that there is a need for greater honesty, transparency and accountability as there would be in any business, and certainly less of the pathetic schoolboy antics and PMQs which is just a joke these days.

That's been my view for a while now Rod. There is too much temptation, power and opportunity to be gained as an MP who has outside business interests. I think a pay rise is fair but they should focus solely on Gov't interests. The public deserves an impartial Government to act on their behalf fairly.