Marcus Aurelius on Westminster MP's...

From reading and listening to the many news reports coming out about MP's expenses, it appears to me that some of our(?) MP's have been actively pursuing a hidden career in property acquisition and profiteering - all paid for by the tax payer. No wonder they wanted to avoid public scrutiny. No wonder they wanted anonymity from the Freedom of Information Act. Some of these MP's like Anthony Steen believe that we common people are 'just jealous' because he has a large house. Marcus Aurelius has a different view. This is what he has to say on the matter... 'Men seek retreats for themselves, houses in the country, sea-shores and mountains; and thou too art wont to desire such things very much. But this is altogether a mark of the most common sort of men,...'. Hmm, I like that. It suggests a certain vulgarity about Mr Steen's comments and behaviour, which of course is something he appears to have in common with a few other MP's. Out of interest Marcus Aurelius goes on to say... 'for it is in thy power whenever thou shalt choose to retire into thyself. For nowhere either with more quiet or more freedom from trouble does a man retire than into his own soul, particularly when he has within him such thoughts that by looking into them he is immediately in perfect tranquillity; and I affirm that tranquillity is nothing else than the good ordering of the mind. Constantly then give thyself to this retreat, and renew thyself; and let thy principles be brief and fundamental'. Perhaps a new-born Parliament should look to Marcus Aurelius for guidance on principal and moral virtue before rising from the ashes of disgrace.