So. The expenses scandal rumbles on and on. OK it's not shipping related but it's still the number one topic in the UK.
Trouble is we just talk about it. What does it take to get some direct action around here? Iran has what might be a dodgy election result (nobody actually seems sure where the "corruption" occurred) and 1 million people are out on the street, this despite the threats of imprisonment, violence etc. Here in the UK we're told we mustn't protest near the Houses of Parliament anymore and we just swallow.
The Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 bans all unlicensed protests on Parliament Square.Brian Haw (the anti Iraq War protestor)is allowed to continue living in a tent outside parliament because his protests precede the date on which the laws were instigated (he's been there since 2001). The rest of the population can go whistle. Now the Captain is the last person to incite a mutiny, you've got to worry though when a succession of elected figures blatantly steal money from the Public Purse and then all cry "foul" "I made a mistake" & "I've done nothing wrong". If you've done nowt wrong why feel compelled to repay thousands of pounds?
So why aren't we rioting in the street? Maybe it's because the truly good (British) people just don't do this. Maybe they have faith, misguided or not, that the next election will sort it out (sorry if I don't sound too enthusiastic on that one)
With everybody hollering for the head of their MP at the moment my thoughts turn to all the Freight Executives I have known. Should the microscopic examination of expense accounts become a fashion I can think of a few who might quieten their outrage as the all seeing eye turns toward them. No. On second thoughts Freight Execs are far cleverer than the average Politician – you might know they’re “at it” but pay anything back….. I don’t think so. Anyway, they’ve always got receipts (of a sort). And the “Public Money” argument doesn’t wash guys – did you pay tax on it all?
And maybe that's part of the problem. Is it such a great gulf between stealing from an employer and stealing from the Public purse? If you convince yourself that dodgy expense claims are OK because of all those extra hours do you feel you have the moral right to criticise your MP. You might grumble with the masses but take to the streets? I think not.
Am I making you a little uncomfortable?
That’s funny – everybody just logged off!




