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Thread ID: 112122 2010-08-24 22:41:00 Ex Children's Commissioner sentence John H (8) PC World Chat
Post ID Timestamp Content User
1131454 2010-08-26 03:25:00 What riles me is the sense of entitlement these MPs seem to have once they get their snouts in the trough.

It goes well beyond ex MPs. Name any worthy cause and you'll find a collection of "charities" that may or may not do any good but they all seem to be able to support well paid managers and staff.
PaulD (232)
1131455 2010-08-26 03:25:00 What riles me is the sense of entitlement these MPs seem to have once they get their snouts in the trough.
They do say power corrupts.

Wish I could punch every corrupt politicians in the face at least once in my life.
qazwsxokmijn (102)
1131456 2010-08-26 04:26:00 There has only been one corrupt serving politician in NZs history a chap called Taito. Have been some ratbag ex mps though.
According to transparency int we are the least corrupt country in the world, we beat Finland last year.
Indonesia near bottom of list.
prefect (6291)
1131457 2010-08-26 05:44:00 Corrupt, moral-less, whateves, same thing. McClay is on that list in my books.

We might have very few corrupt officials, but those who think they are truly entitled to dine lavishly and drink expensive wines on the taxpayers deserve that same punch in the face.
qazwsxokmijn (102)
1131458 2010-08-26 05:46:00 I doubt that qazwsxokmijn is meaning 'corrupt' in the backhander, brown envelope sense. I agree that thus far we are blessedly free of that.

However, if qazwsxokmijn means 'power corrupts' in the sense that it turns a person's sense of entitlement, values and morals bad once they get into a powerful position, I would agree. Their sense of 'what they are due' becomes vastly over inflated.

The whole of the western world has allowed itself to get 'corrupted' by people in power like CEO's and politicians. The greed of CEO's seems to be limitless - like that plonker from Telecom who can lose $2mill off his annual pay package, and still stay in the job. My mind boggles at the ego of these people that believe they are entitled to be rewarded that way.

I am just reading John Mulgan's biography at the moment, and am reading the section on the 1930's when NZ was trying to find a way to create a more just society. The contrast between then and now - the idealism then and the greed now - is truly depressing.

I suppose some of you will throw out the usual comments that you imagine are insults - 'commie', 'socialist' and all that bullshit. But do you really think that the kind of society we have now is better than it was when people were trying to pull together and support each other? And what is the essential difference between what McClay has done, and what the Telecom CEO is doing? One is unlawful, the other is lawful, but in my view what they both do is theft and fraud as far as the community is concerned.
John H (8)
1131459 2010-08-26 06:03:00 I meant the latter of your description, John H. But these days I struggle to find the blurry lines between the two definitions of corruptions. :( (not literally, but morally and ethically, if you know what I mean)

The callous greed and complete lack of apathy from many politicians and officials border infuriates me. If I EVER became a politician (though I swear I'll never be, bar some freak occurence) I'm going to buy my own expensive lunches and dinners, buy my own fine wines, travel ECONOMY class and donate whatever money I have left at the end of the year to any charities I see fit.
qazwsxokmijn (102)
1131460 2010-08-26 06:34:00 I don't see any problem - it is of course the natural right of the Nats (Tories) to rip the system off. Get used to it, it's been going on forever. dvm (6543)
1131461 2010-08-26 06:34:00 Yes, everyone caring and sharing would be lovely.
The only fly in the ointment as far as I can see is
human nature...so as soon as we all become completely
inhuman we can achieve this. :D
KarameaDave (15222)
1131462 2010-08-26 07:18:00 (snip) If I EVER became a politician (though I swear I'll never be, bar some freak occurence) I'm going to buy my own expensive lunches and dinners, buy my own fine wines, travel ECONOMY class and donate whatever money I have left at the end of the year to any charities I see fit.

Only one thing to say to you, in the best possible possible taste!

1. You will be lonely.
2. Rodney Hide promised us something similar. ;)
John H (8)
1131463 2010-08-26 07:20:00 Hey I never said I'll ever be a politician! That said, I don't think I can be one anyway....I still have a soul. qazwsxokmijn (102)
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