As much as I hate to admit it, they do have a point. I mean if stealing from the company is allowed where you work, and you go to your boss and say 'Are you sure it's ok if I steal things' and he says 'yes - we're all doing it, everyone right up to the chairman, steal what you like. It's how we top up our wages'.
You do sort of have a right to be a p1ssed off if a new chairman comes along later and tells you you've got to pay for everything you stole in the past. After all you were only working within the rules that applied at the time, and everything was signed off and authorised at the time.
However, Lazygun makes a good point which I can't put any better, so I'll just quote it ..
"Applying new rules retrospectively could perhaps be viewed as somewhat unfair. That having been said, MPs have, for years, been using the public purse and the allowances system as a covert, tax - free salary top up and as a means of having a luxurious lifestyle, with gardening and cleaning services being paid for by the taxpayer. Any of the goods they bought on the public purse remains theirs when they leave public office too.
All those plasma TVs, silk cushions, etc. Not to mention the profits many MPs have made through tarting up a property at the public expense, having their mortgage paid at the public expense, and then selling on having made a nice fat profit - and some have elected to avoid paying tax on that profit too.
Some of these MPs should be in court on tax evasion and fraud charges, so instead they should thank their lucky stars that all they have received is a "Legg letter" and a polite request to pay money back."