Are our politicians corrupt?

Why does power make people so greedy?  It seems that as soon as a position of power has been gained, that person becomes corrupt.  The most recent example of this is Ben Ali of Tunisia; after gaining power he ensured he stayed there by rigging elections.  When the people of Tunisia began violently demonstrating for political reform, his wife Leila Trabelsi fled to Dubai after taking £38,000,000 worth of Gold Ingots.  Ben Ali fled to Saudi Arabia where he is said to have billions stowed and has plenty of rich contacts to aid him in this, his hour of need.  What a joke!  He will probably never need again after milking his country for all its worth whilst the country suffers with low employment and an over population of graduates. 

The west do nothing about these democratic dictators because they are happy that they keep out the islamists and continue to spend money in the capitalist countries.  It seems the leaders of the west are more than happy to milk the residents of these type of countries as long as their own country is benefiting.  As long as countries are in need of the technologies of the west then the leaders are content to continue to supply them.

The next question of course is, are the politicians in the UK taking a share of the money for themselves.  It would seem not, however, how would we ever know?  The amount of money people, businesses and corporations pay in tax is astonishing.  The Government continue to dream up new ways of taxing money such as the inheritance tax; a tax on money that has already been taxed and has to be taxed again.  The money would never actually go direct to the politician, it would be invested in a project that maybe lucrative for the politician in the future.  Is it so difficult to believe?  Tony Blair has amassed a huge fortune since leaving office which may not be corrupt money, however, it does prove that politicians are fuelled by their need for money.

Another example of this, is the expenses scandal.  Half the Government were involved, with most claiming that they thought it was normal practice.  Not a very good excuse considering the supposedly high intelligence of these people. Tony Blair's records were mysteriously destroyed, conveniant!

In my opinion the greedy powerful people who lead countries have not learnt that it matters not how dormant society may seem. It will react when the dividing line between the rich and the poor becomes to great.  The rich assume that as long as the plebians or working class are amused enough to keep them ticking along, they can continue to take from them.  I would even venture that the working classes are actually relatively well off at the moment when considering the creature comforts that our predessesors never had such as constant hot water and heating.  However, to look up and see businessmen and footballers living life so lavishly whilst others struggle to keep their family fed is an example of how wealth is not redistributed properly and the greedy will do whatever they can to ensure it stays that way.

  

Clever Quotes

"Going to war without France is like going hunting without a piano". 

Stormin Norman Schwartzkopf.

History Teaches Us Nothing

Why does it seem so difficult for the government to learn from history when considering the future of the Armed Forces.  With the current financial climate as it is, cutting the budget for the forces was inevitable, however, where and how they cut it is not so clear.  The government always seem to focus on what's happening at the present time with little regard for the past.  It is for that reason that they are now funneling money into buying equipment suited for the war in Afghanistan; conventional weapons such as battle tanks and Nimrod aircraft are being scrapped with little thought for the future or, respect for events of the past.  It is easy to forget that the British Navy was about to be cut in size before the Falklands War, it then proved to be crucial to the outcome of the war and has kept its size since. 

The British nuclear deterrent has also come under scrutiny from the government with a view to cancelling the proposed upgrade.  Yes, it is expensive and it has never been used, but as a nation we need it to ensure that rogue countries out there know that if they do manage to obtain the technology to launch a nuclear missile, retaliation will be swift and powerful.  This sounds unlikely in this day and age, however, history indicates that while democratic governments concentrate their efforts on achieving peace, there are always people out there who have no respect for democracy and peace.  There are a growing number of dictators in countries such as Venezuela, The Ivory Coast and Belarus, to name a few, who have only their own interests and power in mind when they make decisions for the countries they run.  These leaders would be a huge threat to the rest of the world if they achieved nuclear proliferation.  Iran and North Korea are currently the greatest threats to the diplomatic community as long as they continue with their nuclear programs.  North Korea has now agreed to allow inspectors in to their nuclear facility, however, Iran has not and does not look likely too.  Failed states such as Somalia also offer a threat  to the world, although the threat of retaliation may not be a deterrent if this was the case. It would likely be terrorists if a launch was made from a failed state, retaliation would not be much of a threat to fanatics.

The old enemies Russia and China have embraced capitalism and are said to be to reliant on the rest of the world in terms of trade and the requirement to import supplies from other countries for the populous.  This may be true, however, if Vladimir Putin regained power of Russia, he would undoubtedly steer his country back towards a more protectionist Russia with a single authoritarian leader; a style of leadership the Russian people are used too. 

As more countries enjoy the freedom that democracy brings, there are just as many not enjoying the rule of a an individual who fails to relinquish power.  The government of this country cannot ignore these countries and the threat they pose to diplomacy.  Unfortunately diplomacy can sometimes only work with the aid of coercion and for that we still require a strong military with an improved nuclear deterrent.

The Fight for Control of the Economy

It seems the control the government once had over big business is disappearing fast.  All the promises made in the election campaigns regarding the subject have failed to materialise.  They now feed us with excuses relating to the requirement of banks to be competitive and the loss of banking talent to other countries if we do not stay competitive.  Further to this the government have scrapped proposals such as the the bonus tax and the legislation that required banks to reveal what they pay.  Why have they done this?  In one word "Greed".  Money controls everything these days and those in control of it will ensure that it stays that way.  The behaviour of Corporations has such an impact on the economy that the government are powerless to dictate exactly how they should conduct their business for the benefit of the country and allow them to continue to appease their shareholders and fill their own pockets. 

Most banking CEOs refused their bonuses last year as a result of the financial crises, however, this poses the question, how did they earn bonuses when the tax payer had to bail them out of the mess they created for themselves?  This year none of them will refuse their bonuses and feel they thoroughly deserve them.  Well they do not!  The CEOs bonus is dependant on the shareholders who will happily endorse it if they receive their yearly dividend; these bonuses can range from  2-8 million pounds.  How is that fair when there are people in the UK without home's or jobs who are struggling to make ends meet.  It is not as if there aren't thousands of qualified bankers out there who could step into the shoes of a CEO if he/she were to go abroad.  These people are not as talented as they seem and it requires the government to realise this if any of the money from profit is to be injected into the economy and not the pockets of the greedy. 

The government have lost control of the wage difference between the CEOs and the average employee with CEOs now earning 81 times more than the average pay packet; up from 47 times more in 2000.  How long will the public continue to put up with this income inequality caused by the greedy and irresponsible behaviour of the financial elite?  Only time will tell, the government and public seem to be the puppets at the moment with the banks and corporations controlling the strings.