The Wrong Type of Person

There seems to be growing outrage in the country over the issue of MP (and MEP) expenses. The message seems to be finally sinking in that the likes of Derek Conway are not the exception, but rather the rule. Sadly, that outrage hasn't reached a point where people actually do something about it, but I am hopeful that will happen soon. Because the stories aren't going to stop, and we are simply going to here about more extravagant examples of MPs pillaging the public purse in more inventive ways. As DK points out:

Given the amount that our MPs defraud the taxpayer, these revelations about MEPs—whom we have always suspected of living high on the hog far in excess of their national counterparts (and that's saying something)—are hardly surprising.

Depressing?—yes. Appalling?—yes. Surprising?—absolutely not.

Quite. Because - whether you care about the expenses of our elected and unelected representatives or not - the problem here is indicative of a wider problem with our MPs, MEPs and Peers of the Realm. They are simply the wrong type of person to do the job. MPs enter Parliament these days as another, more profitable, stage in their careers. They are there on the gravy train, to milk it as much as possible, before they lose their seat. That's why Jacqui Smith was so outrageous with her second home scam; chances are that after the next General Election, Smith will be looking for another job. 

And even those who do have some ambition - those who seek higher office with Parliament to apparently change things - are vain, egotistical beasts. Brown and Cameron can be united in their belief that they know best, and they need some way of finding their place in the history books. Neither one of them would have any compunction about extending the powers of the state over you - if it fits into their arrogant beliefs that they know best and are guaranteeing their place in history by shafting you. Both men are the same in that they don't actually believe in anything other than their own desire for power. They lack real belief, and real political ideology. Why else who Brown U-turn from policy initiative to policy initiative? And why else would Cameron be so struggling to define himself politically? Because they actually believe in - and stand for - fuck all, apart from themselves.

Even politicians I admire, like David Davis, who make a stand on the issues that matter to them seem to be driven more by vanity that by actual belief. Yeah, Davis resigned over a point of principle. But he's been quiet since then, hasn't he? After the drama of the resignation and of the by-election faded, Davis seemed to fade away as well. Making me think that he enjoyed his moment in the spotlight, and is now content to wait until the Tories are back in power and he can claw his way back into a position of supposed influence in the next Tory government.

And don't get me started on the utterly, utterly pointless Nick Clegg. 

So greedy, vain and egotistical. These are the people who rule this country, this are the people who decide the levels of freedom you are allowed, and which new ones you should lose as Prime Ministers seek their historical legacies. If you are sick of these people - and surely to fuck everyone must have had their fill by now - then there is another way. It is the party that I am a member of, and have just renewed my membership of. LPUK. Go take a look.

There will be vain members of LPUK, and (if the party ever reaches a place of political power in this country) probably some greedy and corrupt members as well. But this is a party set up to fight corruption and greed within this country, and is also a party that sees you as in control of your own destiny rather than a raving egotist preening themselves in the House of Commons. It is your choice, but we don't have to stick with the status quo. There is an alternative. Get the right type of person into power by not voting for the wrong type of person. 

Don't support the status quo.