Discerning comment by former Prime Minister Gough Whitlam: 

 The punters know that the horse named Morality rarely gets past the post, whereas the nag named Self-Interest always runs a good race. [1] 

  In May we heard of the sorry tale of Western Australia’s former Treasurer Troy Buswell’s affair with a Green politician. Apparently, neither the adulterous extra marital affair nor the perceived ‘sleeping with the (political) enemy’ were sufficient triggers for the Treasurer’s resignation! What caused him to resign? His misappropriation of $300! As a blogger commented, this whole sordid episode was a failure of trust, respect and loyalty. (Countrykid posted 6.47pm on [2]) 

Surely those who corrupt trust, respect and loyalty, thereby destroying the moral will of society, are as complicit in the society’s destruction as those who steal its gold and silver? 

See also  Barnett will sacrifice more if he doesn’t sack Buswell  and   Has guilt gone out of fashion?   and   Self-interest and marginal seats.