Spendthrift MPs ... everywhere!
LONDON is upset! United Kingdom is flabbergasted! The world is stunned! One London newspaper headline screamed: "The mother of all democracies is embroiled in an escalating scandal over the misuse by members of Parliament of taxpayers' money to subsidize outrageous lifestyles and multiple homes."
Outrageous lifestyle, eh! Another newspaper wrote: "British MPs are paid an annual salary of around £63,300 ($96,000). They also receive generous allowances for the costs of running an office, having homes both near Parliament and in their constituencies, and traveling between both."
It is this allowance system that has been widely exploited, wrote another. "In the past week, The Daily Telegraph newspaper has revealed a culture of corruption among MPs who have abused the system of parliamentary allowances to pay for an array of items from the bizarre to the absurd -- all funded by the taxpaying citizens of Britain. Reportedly, The Telegraph's investigation has led to around £100,000 being paid back to the taxpayers."
By golly! So, even they do it! Yes, it's not only our Sircas or Selwar, even the British MPs do it! They have learned the trick of siphoning money out of public exchequer to pay for pornographic movies and toilet seat, for growing flowers in private gardens, pay instalments for homes, maintain swimming pools and housekeepers and also to dredge the moat in a country house! Now, what say old chap? Isn't that 'some' public service, spending public money? Hey, doesn't that somehow sound familiar to us? Where have we heard something similar to this?
Forget it. Now, let's listen to Gordon Brown, the British prime minister: "I want to apologise on behalf of politicians, on behalf of all parties, for what has happened in the events of these last few days. Parliamentarians have a responsibility to show that people who enter our profession are there to serve the public interest, and not to serve themselves." But, wait a second, dear prime minister. What about the allegations against you? One report says you had abused the system by paying your brother £6000 for arranging cleaning services for his private home. Blistering barnacles!
Interestingly enough, three senior Tory MPs who had claimed swimming pool maintenance costs, have agreed to repay the money. Some other MPs have also said they would return the money. Ah! Should we tell this to our Sircas and Selwar? Shouldn't they pay back millions they have stashed away from our public fund in the name of this and that?
Frankly, I wonder why should Gordon Brown apologise for the spending spree of the British MPs? We aren't surprised at all, dear PM. It is simply one dark side of the politicians all over the world. Gordon Brown should come to Bangladesh and learn from our politicians how to do it and then defend such allegations. Learn to lie, right and left, man! You have to be bold about it. Take the skin off your eyes. Come to Bangladesh and have a look at those health, gardening and entertainment bills! Even your spendthrift MPs would be amazed.
Mr. Brown, you have apologised on behalf of all the MPs. What magnanimity, indeed. But, if you come here, you will find for yourself that our political party chiefs, the netas or the netris, hardly like to talk about corruption of the party members. One netri chose to look the other way when grocery from MP hostel had gone to a member's personal kitchen. Then the high and mighty inside the parliament building chose to fall sick and then claim millions as medical bills. He chose to entertain guests and then send a mind-boggling bill to the poor people of this poor country to pay. He chose to see flowers blooming in his garden so he asked the poor people of this poor country to pay for his whim.
This latest corruption binge in the UK makes me look at our own corrupt cockroaches in the closet and makes me wonder why should we allow a system to flourish where one can easily lay a hand on public money? I mean, why should public representatives ask for salary and other allowances for having volunteered to do the work of public service? Is it a job they are doing for which they should claim a salary? If it is a salaried job then we should ask for CVs and select the best candidates for the job through tough interviews. Then why the state should spend crores and crores to organise elections?
At least in salaried jobs, one can be put on trial for doing corruption, like embezzlement of funds. But when it is done by the elected MPs, we cannot even touch them! They seem to enjoy some kind of impunity. They seem to ride above the law. So, you see, we organise expensive elections with our (public) money to create MPs, and once elected, they turn into something we cannot touch. The supposed lawmakers become law violators and then remain out of reach of the same laws they create. What an interesting situation!
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