WANTED: MEPs who want 12 weeks holiday, plenty of perks and little accountability

An article in the WSJ looks at the elections and writes: "Wanted: 736 Europeans to earn $120,000 a year with 12 weeks off, plenty of perks and little accountability." It goes on to say, "For a job with such sweet terms, getting elected isn't all that tough. Election turnout is so low - as low as 20% in some countries - that winning election can require little more than getting on a large party's ticket or appealing to niche constituencies."

The article also looks at the EP's Europarl TV channel, launched last year at a cost of $13 million, and only available on the internet. When asked how many hits it gets, an EU official is quoted saying, "You won't get me to answer that".

READ WALL STREET JOURNAL

From Brussels, with love (and cash) Your tax money at work.

Here's a new take on buying off a politician.... slip your hand in their pocket for once!

Some European officials who joined a matchmaking agency have apparently been targeted by suitors who were not after their hearts - but their cash.

Bernard van Pouche, a divorcee, says his own wallet has been cleared out more than once (more than once?...the power of the "other" brain) after he was courted by female newcomers to EuroSingles, but then found out he was left to foot the bill for all the wining and dining that followed.

Dumb enough to let it happen more than once, and dumber, to publicly admit it!

READ ON TO SEE HOW YOUR TAX MONEY IS SPENT