Eric the Merciless

the lookalike of the Kremlin guy Alexander Putin now President, but once upon a time NKVD or KGB officer, used to be Special Minister of State for Electoral Affairs - code name for Boss in charge for keeping PM Howard in Office.
He held an "enquiry" about electoral funding and other election matters. One particular submission was that people who were not Members of Parliament but who were contesting the election had to resign from their job and get no income, they had to answer their mobile or home phone themselves, they had to buy their accommodation in pubs as they moved around the electorate, they had to buy stationery and printing supplies, they had to buy stamps and pay for phone calls, they had to buy petrol to put in their car, they had to make bookings for halls, they had to buy breakfast, lunch and dinner. On the other hand, a Member of Parliament who was recontesting his seat kept his office and staff. The staff answered his phone, booked accommodation, rang up to book meeting halls. The office paid for stamps and phone calls. The electoral allowance paid for petrol, meals and accommodation.
"Yair, so what? What's wrong with that?" says Eric the Merciless. "This is a democracy. People are free to stand for election if they want. They just have to pay, not like us sitting members."