Chile Forum

Afterburner wrote:

Compared to the "Cradle of Western Civilisation", Greece, it ain't doing too badly.

What was that saying about "She was considered attractive only because her sister was so incredibly ugly" ?

This thread is either out of date or you are prescient about who is going to be the next president of Chile.

patagoniax wrote:

Afterburner wrote:

Compared to the "Cradle of Western Civilisation", Greece, it ain't doing too badly.

What was that saying about "She was considered attractive only because her sister was so incredibly ugly" ?

How about compared to old Blighty or Uncle Sam?

I see the UK ranks just above Chile in Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index with the US and a host of European countries ranking below it.

And while "perceived corruption" may not be the most scientifically reliable measure, certainly the UK is lucky to be included in the top 20 (at 20):

One quarter of the House of Commons will stand down at next election as more than 170 MPs plan to retire in the wake of the Parliamentary expenses scandal, the Daily Telegraph can disclose.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstop ... enses.html

I wouldn't want to be a politician in South America is where I lie on this. They have to be so careful, not to give the communists or anachists a reason for popularity, or be compared to dictators and shunned from their home country. You can help the country easier and safer here by aiming to do well in other professions!

Afterburner wrote:One quarter of the House of Commons will stand down at next election as more than 170 MPs plan to retire in the wake of the Parliamentary expenses scandal, the Daily Telegraph can disclose.

I will believe that when I see it, too many on the gravy train and avoiding having to work for a living. The sacrifical lambs were sent to jail, the others got a rap over the knuckles and a big shock and things just carry on in the same old way, but not quite so lucrative.

The anomoly is in the system. One MP who has a constituency 200km from London was quoted as saying that he wasn't able to claim for his 'work' calls on his phone, yet he could get free First Class travel on the train to London, claim the taxi to get him to Westminster and then get free phone calls for his constituency business. Bizarre.

Remember many are, like me, part of the post war 'bulge' and coming up to retirement anyway so that would account for some. If they were going to go they would have by now. Too many perks to give it up that easy.