This is a thing that has always puzzled me, but has jumped into my mind again this week because a few of the news stories.

Two people come to mind :

Greece’s prime minister Mr Papandreou, and Italy’s own Berlusconi.

Both are very rich men (rich enough to retire and bask in luxury for the remaining days they have)

Both are almost certainly finished politically.

Yet both continue to try everything they can to cling onto to what ridicule remains to them – for neither have any respect left, and very little support.

So …. why ?

As a prime minister you have to spend long hours trying to sort out various problems, deal with factions, stop and start arguments, etc etc etc – It’s a hard life.

If you had the money to stop wouldn’t you ?

I would.

If you knew that you were having no effect at all on the current situation and that the popular opinion towards you was closer to hatred than respect, would you continue, or say “bugger off, I’m alright Jack, sort out your own problems – I’m off to a luxury villa some where” ?”

I would.

But this isn’t just a political thing, it spans all walks of life.

Pop stars who have more money than they can eat insisting on hitting the road when most doctors would warn them to stop – just keep going and hoping for another hit that will never happen.

CEO’s who captain’d epic disasters and are left with pension funds that will last several generations – just roll into another job when most of us are looking to retire.

Self made business men who work themselves into the grave when they could have handed over the reins and retired to a life of absolute luxury.

It’s mad.

Have we turned into workaholics or is it just a buzz thing – “the power – I need the power” ?

Personally I would love a life of leisure, and if I ever make enough to pursue it, you won’t see me for dust as I park my bum on a sunny beach somewhere.

The world is a strange place.