The expenses scandal

[wellinghall]

[Poll #1401674]
And while we're at it, I'll point you towards today's Matt:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/matt/

Comments

[arda-unmarred.livejournal.com]

I am somewhat perplexed by all this hoohah: seriously, is anyone _really_ surprised? People in power buttering up themselves: I mean come on, tell us something new...

[wellinghall.livejournal.com]

My take is that it is a combination of three things:
- the sheer scale of some of it, with some MPs claiming in "expenses" more than their salary (and this is before taking travel costs, staff costs etc into account)
- their efforts to hide this from the public, and lies about why they want to hide it - saying it's for security, while really it is to hide their "flipping" of second homes etc
- their affrontery in thinking that by paying some of it back, everything will be okay; whereas someone over-claiming benefits or under-paying tax simply doesn't have that option

Not that I'm arguing with your basic premise, though!