Life can be tough.

Markit

I feel sure that 100% of politicians would work for no wages.

mugwump

Yeah, and I believe in the Easter Bunny.

harryopal

I feel sure you will all feel sad to see that the French Environment Minister has resigned over allegations of luxury dinners and expenditure at tax payer expense. We are so quick to judge when, as Francois de Rugy explained, these were informal, working dinners in the service of the people. Just because lobsters and wines costing up to $1000 Aus a bottle were served he is made to look like he is rorting the system. What was he supposed to serve.... fish and chips? And okay, yes his wife did use $100,000 Aus of taxpayer money to smarten up their unit but struth what if an important, informal meeting was held at their apartment? Imagine the embarrassment if visitors came and sniffed at the inferior accommodation of a minister of the French government? I think few of us appreciate the sacrifice involved in taking up a government position and decisions have to be made on expenditure. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jul/16/french-environment-minister-quits-over-reports-of-lavish-dinners-francois-de-rugy

SamD

I feel sure you will all feel sad to see that the French Environment Minister has resigned over allegations of luxury dinners and expenditure at tax payer expense. We are so quick to judge when, as Francois de Rugy explained, these were informal, working dinners in the service of the people. Just because lobsters and wines costing up to $1000 Aus a bottle were served he is made to look like he is rorting the system. What was he supposed to serve.... fish and chips? And okay, yes his wife did use $100,000 Aus of taxpayer money to smarten up their unit but struth what if an important, informal meeting was held at their apartment? Imagine the embarrassment if visitors came and sniffed at the inferior accommodation of a minister of the French government? I think few of us appreciate the sacrifice involved in taking up a government position and decisions have to be made on expenditure. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jul/16/french-environment-minister-quits-over-reports-of-lavish-dinners-francois-de-rugy

I much prefer the Indonesian system of entrenched corruption where the entire population has an opportunity to partake in one way or another. It's so much more inclusive and fair.