Easy_Rider":n9ba4yl2 said:
We agree on your last point. As for the other, I can see your view and maybe i'm slightly less overs to the idea of people using it other than what the rules set out, but I still wouldn't use the scheme unless I was using it for it's purpose because IMO I do believe it was brought in more for reducing (or being seen to try and reduce) congestion rather than boosting the cycle industry or making people healthier. Maybe just splitting hairs.
FWIW, I agree completely with your standpoint on the scheme.
Unfortunately, there's an ever increasing degree of "Me, me, me..." in society today, where it seems society has evolved into many taking what they can, largely, because they can.
And to be equitable to that position, I'm not as charitable as you've been about the politicians. Not that I don't get what you're saying, and not that I believe that they should all be in the dock, merely that many seemed to take what they could, rather than what they
should. That and the belief that were they normal people, playing fast and loose with expenses with normal companies, and found out, they'd almost certainly have lost their job, and be lucky not to be facing charges (as
2 or 3 are).
To be clear, I believe that they got off lightly / favourably, compared with (hypothetically) the average Joe, because of the position or status. And not that I don't see your point about the, somewhat unofficial, usage of their expenses system, as a means of providing adequate compensation, but all the same, if that's what was needed, it sould have been done better, or been reformed in such a way as it would be palatable to the general public - which I think was most peoples' dismay - 1) it was with public money, on public bidding (so to speak) and 2) the belief that they got favourable treatment when found out.
As I'm inferring from your position, I think there's some whiff of hypocrisy that people are seeing this as fair game, whilst baying for blood over the MP's expenses scandal, if there's context for people "abusing" the cycle-to-work scheme, then surely there's context for the MPs.