The ongoing MLA spending scandal has done much more than provide media outlets with fresh news copy, it has also served to again fan the flames of cynicism among the electorate.
Because of this, governments at all levels - whether federal, provincial or municipal - now face an even more daunting task of getting people out to cast ballots at election time.
On Tuesday, provincial auditor general Jacques Lapointe announced he is turning over to the RCMP information on one current MLA and four former legislators saying he may have found something illegal with their expense claims.
Since the spending scandal first broke in February, two MLAs have been forced to step aside amid allegations of improper spending that included the purchase of computer, big-screen TVs, fancy furniture, digital cameras and video games.
It's now up to the RCMP to determine if there was criminal wrongdoing and whether charges are warranted. While many want Lapointe to name names, the auditor general is refusing saying he doesn't want to jeopardize the criminal investigation. That has done little to alleviate the anger that most Nova Scotians are feeling toward the system.
There can be little doubt that officials in Ottawa are watching what's taking place in Nova Scotia with a lot of interest. MPs are to this point refusing to give federal auditor general Sheila Fraser the ability to do what Lapointe has done in this province.
The political game has never been highly regarded when it comes to honour and respect and there are just as many jokes about politicians as there are about lawyers, used car salesmen and, yes, even journalists.
With each news nugget that comes out of this still developing scandal, Nova Scotians lose that much more respect for their elected officials and the political system they are supposed to represent.
As much as it's going to take a Hurculean effort to bring back that respect, we can be assured that the long-established culture of entitlemen among our elected officials has come to an end. That makes this whole exercise worthwhile.
