Yes it is a hard road being a polly.

Continually fail at what you attempt and you still get paid. Gillard's pay soared by $90,000 to about $470,000 - more than either Obama or the British PM is paid. While Abbott's pay packet swelled by $74,000 to $333,000. Or stay on the back bench for $200,000 a year.

Enjoy the free car and petrol; use the credit card to fill the wife’s car.

Travel to exotic locations on tax payer funded junket holidays.

Stay in the job for a few terms and you get a lifetime pension, one that beats the pants off the basic $16000 we plebs can look forward to.
Recent MP retirees MP’s like David Hawker is on $120,000 a year, Lindsay Tanner $111,000 a year, while ACT MP Bob McMullan hits the jackpot with nearly $130,000 a year.

>>To lose your father, and continue under the spotlight, making speeches, taking advice from the hollow men, standing up and leading a country<<.

No sorry Houelly I can’t see them as a protected species because the nature of the vocation does not attract wallflowers. If they can bear the weight of a minimum $200K a year and the perks, they can bear some atrociously poor moral judgment such as Jones comment to Gillard. Jones was using it as a cheap shot condemnation from the grave, but it was water off a ducks back to Gillard, and a god given opportunity to talk about anything except her failures and garnish some sympathy.

>>We're kidding ourselves, we have the politicians we deserve.<<

You speak for yourself of course, I do not deserve duds.

>> standing up and leading a country.<<

Not in India though. I heard several women on talk back radio comment about Gillard’s topple."I laughed and laughed and laughed, am I a misogynist, one lady asked the announcer". I and my bride also laughed and laughed and laughed when I told her what I had heard on the airwaves.

the one thing that gripes me with our pollies is that they just have to do one term & they're guaranteed a handsome pension immediately. We have to wait till we've worn out our minds & bodies because of their dreadful performances before we can get our Super/pension.
Why don't they have to wait ? Any decent pollie (silly question) out there who'd care to tell us ?

H I do not believe the post above is true.
But am baffled by some answers.
I think strongly, the subject is the best I have seen this year.
I do not think we can judge by the numbers who contribute.
Not by the quality of contributions.
That here however is telling.
It seems that no room exists, to give any thanks to any one in politics.
I will be told,despite a post history proving it untrue, I am propping up my party.
By some, who by their post history, prove they never do other than, prop up their party.
IF we are Representative, I am afraid we deserve the Governments we get and fail any test on our understanding.

Belly,
This is not a Party issue because neither major outfit has rejected or is asking for a change of such policy. Pollies grab as much as they can get. It's a shame because if one lot turned around at such immoral pay rises & benefits & said enough, no more for time being than we could say well, they're showing some decency, but none have said so as yet.

It is not wrong to hold politicians to a high standard. Most politicians underestimate the goodwill and intelligence of the electorate.

It is not even about betraying one's principles. Blind Freddy understands that this is sometimes necessary in a democracy because a democracy is about representing the electorate and should a politician's principles no longer match those of the electorate, then they have to be put aside. Abbott has come to this realisaton to some extent on women's issues and maybe he has had an honest change of heart in some respects.

Yes, politics is a difficult job, and yes the hours are long and it is impossible to please everybody. I am sure most politicians enter politics with the noble idea of doing good and somehow along the way, after a few jaded years, some succumb to career sustaining politics instead of representative politics. Now too busy with backroom deals, poll chasing, politicking and nit-picking the opposing team to remember the purpose of their role. It is also easy to lose track of what is happening out there in the burbs when much of the lobbying is done by special interest groups. This may, in some cases, blur reality.

Give people some credit, they are fed up with the nonsense in the House and in the media. Yet the politicians are not listening and continue down the same merry path.

In Julia Gillard's own words to the media (taken from The Australian newspaper): Ms Gillard said the media could head off criticism by lifting its game. "If I could put it as clearly as I can . . . 'don't write crap'," she said. "Can't be that hard. And when you have written complete crap, then I think you should correct it."

The same goes for politicians.

Pelican well said there are Buts.
Yesterdays ACT voters spoke.
What they said will have every side giveing a different view of just what it was they said.
My slant? in Canberra? home of the Greens, Labor?
They confirmed the greens are dieing.
Labor is in very real trouble, nation wide.
Now having said that, if we put every poster who ever posted here.
In race form, Melbourne cup style.
You know post history.
Would we find a few, who no matter the issue judge much more harshly one side than the other.
Pelican great differences exist between fair judgment and some wildly wrong thoughts.
It is that difference, the chance to understand it, that see,s me claim this is the best subject of 2012.
If we judge every side on a fair honest basis that judgment becomes a foundation for better out comes.
I think that should be what we all want, it would still bring about a change in government, it is my belief Gillard has much to hide.
So saying I highlight my post is not about politics but outcomes.