POLITICIANS AND CHAOS

“ A story is told of three men -- a doctor, an engineer, and a politician--debating which of them belonged to the most honourable and ancient profession.

 The doctor said: “Mine is easily the oldest. Don’t you remember that in the beginning Eve was made out of a rib from Adam’s side? Well, there’s a surgical operation for you.”

 The engineer said:“Yes, but before that happened, don’t you know the whole world was created out of chaos in six days? Now, there’s an engineering feat for you.”

 “Ah! But who created chaos ?” said the politician.”.

Reader, Walter Fernando from Ratmalana (DM, 25.05.17) hit the nail hard where it actually belongs with his thought-provoking letter “Scrap the perks given to MPs” which was really food for thought.  It is really tragic that some ageing and also not so old female film stars who just served one term of 5 years in the previous Parliament are now enjoying pensions – without contributing anything positive to the task of governing .  Another thorny point is duty free permits to the politicians – who at the end of the day enrich themselves by selling those permits, thus denying the customs duties due to the government.  Not to talk of the sumptuous meals enjoyed by the parliamentarians at highly subsidized prices – getting fatter and fatter in the process. When they enter parliament, the MPs develop so many sicknesses such as body aches etc. where they cannot travel in ordinary cars but need luxury cars to go all over the country in order to “serve” the people who voted for them. By and by, what the politicians have created for themselves is a Shangri La or an Utopia where they feel that they are a super breed, which in fact they are not. 

Those who volunteer to come forward to “serve” the people cannot be classified as “professionals” who are entitled to so many benefits much more than the actual professionals who render yeoman services to the country on pathetic salaries and have to put in about 25 years service to get a meagre pension in their twilight years.

Chaos, Indeed !