We have noticed a disturbing trend in recent times, of European politicians flaunting their wealth in public, and generally demonstrating the fact that they are nothing like the “normal,” members of the public because they are busy spending money from the public purse. The recent G 20 summit in the South of France for example saw insane amounts of money being spent. A good example was the closing of the local interstates between the Nice airport, and the city center where the summit was being held, while politicians rode stretch limousines to their destination.

In order to achieve this closure, the French government imported 30,000 gendarmes to police the area around Cannes. No private boats were allowed to approach the beach, no private cars were allowed to enter the designated area, and the interstates were closed for hours at a time, with dozens of policemen stationed at every exit. It is difficult to gauge exactly how much money was spent, but seeing the world’s top politicians swanning around and acting like movie stars caused something of an uproar.

One of the politicians wives was seen flaunting her collection of pink sapphire rings at a table on the sea front of Cannes, and given the fact that members of the family were supposed to be staying at home and not have the vacation paid for out of the public purse, this also caused a bit of an uproar.

It is hard to know what to do, given the fact that the French government owns most of the media in France and there are very few independent newspapers or television stations left, so we tend to get the watered-down version of events spoonfed to us. Unlike the United States of course were similar situation is in place, only the media is owned by private individuals instead of the government, but they invariably have a vested interest.

Money on display