Snouts In The Trough
Not all politicians are corrupt, but it often seems that way. What's going on?
We're all familiar with the expression "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely".
Sadly, in modern politics, this phrase has become less of a warning and more a token of apology; something to be uttered with a resigned shrug of the shoulders.
Politicians of all flavours, and our politically controlled mass media, suggest that it is the great burdens of office and duty that cause 'public servants' to behave in dishonest and self-serving ways; "he is a good man, and his heart was always in the right place, but..." is the line that they typically take.
All of this is, of course, complete and utter rubbish.
It is not true that power corrupts—rather that the prospect of power leads those already corrupt to pursue it, for their own ends.
Lord Acton, whose dictum is quoted above, was all too aware of this, and clarified what he was attempting to say lest anyone think that he was excusing corrupt behaviour from 'honest' men and women:
"And remember, where you have a concentration of power in a few hands, all too frequently men with the mentality of gangsters get control. History has proven that. All power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely."
Funnily enough, you never see this particular quote used by the media.
As long as we continue to have an all powerful state in this country, corrupt individuals will be attracted to political life; the possibility for those of little talent and less integrity to live—like parasites—off the honest earnings of others, dispensing their grace and favour in return for freebies, personal advancement and lucrative commercial positions with organisations that they've awarded public contracts to is simply too great a temptation for them to pass up.
Libertarianism will cut this cancer from the body politic. Because we advocate as small a state as is possible—within the boundaries of protecting personal rights, liberties and our national defence—the opportunity for politicians to 'milk the system' for the benefit of themselves, their families and their favoured cronies is removed. The less power the state has to wield, the less corrupt it, and those exercising power within it, can be.
On The Make, On The Take
A 'bog standard' backbench MP is paid a salary of £60,675 a year. They get 18 weeks holiday a year, and can participate in a generous final income pension scheme.
They can claim up to £90,505 as a staffing allowance, and many use this to 'employ' members of their own families. They are also entitled to an Incidental Expenses Provision of up to £21,339 per annum, and an Additional Costs Allowance of up to £23,083 a year, to cover nights spent away from home.
For the year 2006/07, the average expenses claim for each MP was an incredible £135,773.
You would think that MPs must work damned hard to be worth these levels of pay. However, the Register of Members' Interests shows them involved in so many lucrative sidelines (paid TV appearances, company directorships and so on) that it would be amazing if they actually had any time left over to do their real jobs—serving our interests.
To add final insult to injury, even when a failed MP is kicked out of Parliament at an election, they receive a golden parachute in the shape of a Resettlement Grant. The size of this payment is determined by a combination of factors, but it is always a minimum of 50% of their final salary, with the first £30,000 utterly tax free.
Isn't The Libertarian Party Seeking Power?
As you read about our philosophy and our policy positions on this website, you'll see that libertarians don't believe in coercive or aggressive actions. So yes, we are seeking to gain some control of the political debate in this country in the only non-aggressive and legitimate means open to us—via the ballot box. However, our aim in doing so is rather different from that of other parties; we will tirelessly use the influence that we gain to work towards reducing the power of the state, to allow all individuals the freedom to live their lives as they best see fit.
Don't Trust Us - Test Us
Sadly, we're all so used to corrupt politicians saying one thing and then doing another, that we would understand if you were to wonder why you should trust in our integrity. Don't—test us. Until some honesty has returned to public life, we will require that any candidate standing for election in the name of the Libertarian Party will make the following commitments:
- the full details of any and all expenses that they claim in the execution of their duties will be disclosed in their entirety on this website within 30 days of being incurred
- they will not employ their spouse, or any other member of immediate family, using public funds
- they will not participate in any pension scheme associated with their public position
- they will not accept offers of hospitality, travel junkets or similar freebies, which could be seen as an attempt by any individual or organisation to gain influence or favour
Whilst placing restrictions over and above the current state of the law on our candidates is distinctly unlibertarian, as a party we are prepared to swallow our principles on this to ensure that you, the public, don't have to keep swallowing yours in respect of how the political class currently abuse our trust.