Wouldn't you think, given the state of national and world economies, that politicians would be too busy to have time to fiddle their expenses? Is it very surprising that the greedy bankers who got us into this mess aped the behaviour of government ministers who were themselves abusing the system? Don't we, the electors, have a right to expect better of members of Parliament who crave our support every few years on the basis that they are only in politics for our good?
As the Daily Telegraph has released more disgusting details each day the guilty ones have whined "I've done nothing wrong" or "I made a mistake". And they've gone on to blame the system - which they and their colleagues initiated and over which they have signally failed to execise discipline or morality.
Regular readers of my thoughts will know that I have never had much time for most politicians. I am willing to concede that some are not corrupt and try to do their job with sincerity and honesty. But the rotten apples in the political barrel seem to have polluted most of the rest who privately complain they are not paid enough and have to make up their money somehow.
What rubbish! If most of them were paid on performance they would have trouble getting half what they are paid as MP's - with no expenses, Indeed, they'd be out of work at present because their efforts would have been found wanting and their cost unjustifiable. Meanwhile they continue to ride the gravy train.
Very soon they will be bleating to the electorate about low turn-outs at elections. But their collective behaviour has destroyed any inclination I might have had to vote for any of them.
Finally, you might wonder what all this has to do with farming in which this strand is supposed to specialise. Well, look at the title. And then please pass on my apologies to pigs for associating them with politicians.