There is absolutely no doubt that the events of the last week have damaged the reputation of politicians and that damage and lack of trust will linger for a long time.
And it took me back 25 years when I was considering a political career. A senior politician was sent to take me to lunch (I clearly remember that I paid for us both) and his pitch was appalling. If he used the term “gravy train” once he used it 10 times, his whole theme was about the perks of the job – service to ones country was not mentioned.
I can remember that luncheon clearly and yet now we have former Ministers of the Crown who can’t remember who they had lunch or dinner with just a few short years ago. It is just rubbish isn’t it?
Much is being made of Shane Jones watching blue movies in his room. Frankly I couldn’t care less if Jones wants to sit in his hotel room watching porn and eating chocolate bars. What concerns me is that this fellow, who has been seen by many including himself as a future leader and therefore perhaps our Prime Minister, is either so dumb that the thinks he could get away with charging the cost to his employers – you and I the humble taxpayers –or so arrogant that, at the time, he didn’t care.
As for Chris Carter – the mind boggles that this fellow may have become our Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Carter will naturally claim that he is being persecuted because of his homosexuality. That, like Shane Jones’ choice of viewing material is largely irrelevant. What is relevant is that Carter headed off around the world with his partner, apparently whenever he felt like it, despite having portfolios with domestic responsibilities and charged it all to you and me.
These guys, and others, have simply taken advantage of their position and for my dough they are no different to the employee in a shop who gets their hand in the till.
When you are being paid from the public purse your judgement needs to be beyond reproach.
A number of our politicians have been found wanting.
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