If MPs can't pay for their food then who can?

**slofox** · 3rd July 2009, 07:51

Huh. Looks like we have to pay to keep our MP's fat...http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/poli...g-for-Bellamys.
Greedy bastards. Let 'em pay for themselves...they earn more than enough...

**Usarka** · 3rd July 2009, 08:26

Sure they are bottom feeding pond scum, but most MP's don't live in Wellington and the rest of us would expect "the company" to pay for meals while away from home.

Like the whole air travel thing. The shit that's coming out of Goff's gobb is mixing with the jizz on his chin. Comparing the air travel of a government in it's first term against that of a 3 term government on it's way out is juveniley (sp?) dumbarse. New governments need to build relationships internationally. And they fly business class so they can actually do something productive when they arrive at the destination.

**MisterD** · 3rd July 2009, 08:35

"fine dining" hmmm...David Farrar reckons it's not only the prices that Bellamy's has in common with Valentines...

**ManDownUnder** · 3rd July 2009, 08:40

Oh come on.... if free food for the MPs was really such a luxury there'd be a lot overweight MPs.

... I rest my case...

**davereid** · 3rd July 2009, 09:43

Originally Posted by Usarka

Sure they are bottom feeding pond scum, but most MP's don't live in Wellington and the rest of us would expect "the company" to pay for meals while away from home.

Like the whole air travel thing. The shit that's coming out of Goff's gobb is mixing with the jizz on his chin.

Turns out that Treasury got it wrong anyway - Labour spent more, not less.

**Swoop** · 3rd July 2009, 10:49

Originally Posted by Usarka

... would expect "the company" to pay for meals while away from home.

Quite so. However a company that gets rid of its staff, does not have to continue paying for their air travel for the rest of their days.

That practice should stop immediately. A person is elected to a position for a set period of time, and paid well for doing very little. I wonder what "other" reasons were behind bailing out Air NZ... loss of their perks, perhaps?

**MattRSK** · 3rd July 2009, 11:04

Originally Posted by Usarka

Sure they are bottom feeding pond scum, but most MP's don't live in Wellington and the rest of us would expect "the company" to pay for meals while away from home.

Like the whole air travel thing. The shit that's coming out of Goff's gobb is mixing with the jizz on his chin. Comparing the air travel of a government in it's first term against that of a 3 term government on it's way out is juveniley (sp?) dumbarse. New governments need to build relationships internationally. And they fly business class so they can actually do something productive when they arrive at the destination.

Agreed .

**klingon** · 3rd July 2009, 11:28

The food outlets in parliament are all awful! There are other cafeterias other than Bellamy's but they just stock nasty greasy pies & chips & stuff. Fine for a treat once in a while, but when this is the daily nutrition of people making major decisions affecting our lives - it's just not good enough!

I would prefer to see the subsidy diverted into free fruit, veges, salads and high-quality food for MPs. Give them as much fresh juice as they can drink! But if they want to eat sugary, fatty rubbish they should have to go out and spend their own money on it, not mine.

Maybe if some of those MPs lost a bit of weight, did some exercise and ate good food, they might be a bit more alert and make better decisions. Wishful thinking I know...

**slofox** · 3rd July 2009, 12:29

Originally Posted by klingon

but when this is the daily nutrition of people making major decisions affecting our lives - it's just not good enough!

Mayhaps that explains the quality of some of the decisions...

**Winston001** · 3rd July 2009, 13:17

This comes up every few years and of course, no-one likes it. But realistically the amount of money involved is pennies and NZ has much more important things to worry about. MPs perks are just noise - don't be distracted.

**slofox** · 3rd July 2009, 13:30

I wouldn't mind that many pennies Winston...

**Deano** · 3rd July 2009, 13:42

Just how many hours work does an MP put in each week ? It may be quite high, thus justifying their salary and perks.

**Winston001** · 3rd July 2009, 13:43

Originally Posted by slofox

I wouldn't mind that many pennies Winston...

Agreed but the food subsidy works out to about $2,500 per Member of Parliament. Compared with some career civil servants and managers in the business sector, MPs aren't paid well.

Its an awful job 24/7. People moaning and complaining, phone calls at all hours - it would be like being a talkback host 24 hours a day. Then your own party are on your back to perform, keep up with policy, attack the other side. Plus you family are living hundreds of miles away while you are stuck in Wellington.

And no-one is ever happy with you. Consider how you would feel about being disliked by 90% of the population who don't even know you. Sod being an MP.

**davereid** · 3rd July 2009, 17:22

Originally Posted by Winston001

Its an awful job 24/7. People moaning and complaining, phone calls at all hours - it would be like being a talkback host 24 hours a day. Then your own party are on your back to perform, keep up with policy, attack the other side.And no-one is ever happy with you. Consider how you would feel about being disliked by 90% of the population who don't even know you. Sod being an MP.

In my of course biased, and testorone fueled and therefore completely discardable opinion it just gets worse...

As Mr. Worth discovered, if you are a Gay M.P. your sex life will never be discussed by the media. That would be rude and unfair !

But if you are heterosexual then you are fair game.

Offer a bit of nookie, or display any overt sexual overtures to a female then you are err buggered.

Send a hundred grubby texts to a woman and only get 70 replies ? You are a dangerous sexual predator !

A woman indicates you-are-in, you hop in her bed and she says you-are-out ? You leep out like a scalded cat but guess what.

Not a mistake, thats attempted rape !

**Dave Lobster** · 3rd July 2009, 18:01

Originally Posted by Winston001

And no-one is ever happy with you. Consider how you would feel about being disliked by 90% of the population who don't even know you. Sod being an MP.

Nobody is making them do it. They all do it through choice..

Well.. maybe.. how many of them could get real jobs??

Originally Posted by klingon

The food outlets in parliament are all awful! There are other cafeterias other than Bellamy's but they just stock nasty greasy pies & chips & stuff.

Nothing to stop them making sandwiches for their lunch. I'm sure even an MP is capable of doing that.