I'm living somewhere else
as these things in Spain are much worse than here. However, there's no much we can do, is it? Whoever gets in power is not going to change the laws to make it more difficult to themselves.
(Aberracion Life's getting very complicated, but a lot of fun., Fri 7 Oct 2011, 11:32, 1 reply, 14 years ago)

well.... yeah. they will
if enough people actually object then only a party that guarantees to change it will be voted in. Again, that's how democracy works.

The problem here is, and probably rightly so, MPs expenses is such a piddlingly insignificant thing in the scheme of things, particularly given how little they are paid anyway, that most people don't really give a toss about a little explotiation of loopholes. It's when it becomes dishonest that it's an issue.
( the mighty badger Aphrodite, on a bar stool, by your side, Fri 7 Oct 2011, 11:36, Reply)

I would disagree with you there
they don't get paid a little amount, they get quite a lot higher than the average wage, and they get a lot of legitimate expenses paid for.

It brought to light just how ridiculous some of the "loopholes" were, such as MPs living in London being allowed to claim mortgage payments on second houses not that much closer to Westminster than their first house.

And I think that really shocked a lot of people who previously weren't aware of that situation.
(Bazongaloid, Fri 7 Oct 2011, 11:40, Reply)

I think
that your politicians are in fact quite good in general (I'm not voting on the next Spanish general elections as they have made it almost impossible for me to do it, so I'm going full British from now on) and I have to say that the fact that the MPs actually stepped down from their cabinets before even they're found guilty was really a good example.

Now, in Spain a big, big chunck of the population is asking for a change on the laws that leave politicians run free with loads (and I mean millions, no thousands) of money; and nothing is being done. And when the next party wins in November, nothing will be done either. That's how democracy works. There are 2, maybe 3 choices, and when they get to power, they all protect themselves.
(Aberracion Life's getting very complicated, but a lot of fun., Fri 7 Oct 2011, 11:45, Reply)

Oh that's right
I remember seeing footage of mass student protests a while ago.
I guess the royal weddings haven't helped keep the people distracted then?
( b3th Not shit. Not mod., Fri 7 Oct 2011, 11:47, Reply)

It wasn't only students
and it was reported on the news so badly, as if they're complaining for the Goverment cuts, like in Greece. It's not like that; it's people from all sections, complaining about politicians being legally paid absurds ammounts of money (you wouldn't believe it) and stealing even more, and going home free after 4 years of "work", not having to do a job anymore.
(Aberracion Life's getting very complicated, but a lot of fun., Fri 7 Oct 2011, 11:50, Reply)