From now until the festive season is over, politicians can drive themselves hoarse preaching their political mantras but the people, or most of them anyway, would have no mind listening to them. Christmas is one of the few times during the year when many take a break from politics, switching off their antennas to turn to other things in life and to enjoy the season as best they can.

This leaves little or no space for politics, although politicians would do their best to make their presence felt at certain events, just in case people might think they had gone into hibernation. The break from politics helps to rebalance, as it were, the environment after a long period of stifling political discussion, for, as against other times, this summer was not quite politics-free either.

For a stretch now, people would rather take a second round of the vuvuzelas than hear another word about the Budget, the deficit, stipends, corruption, BWSC, the recycling plant, the water and electricity rates, ARMS Ltd, Lawrence Gonzi, Joseph Muscat, visions of good times ahead, excellence, SmartCity, Eco Gozo and so many other words and phrases that politicians, especially the leaders of the two main parties, often use in a string of political sentences that people have come to learn by heart. Enough of all this, at least for a while.

For the truth is that, while in much bigger countries one may well be able to shield oneself from the impact of the mad political contest that goes on at the centres of power, it is difficult to do this in such a tiny place as Malta. Well equipped with their own television and radio stations, websites and newspapers, the political parties make sure they keep hold of their faithful through the constant reeling off of propaganda, which, for most of the time, is so unadulterated that leaves those seeking a measure of objectivity gasping for breath.

In such a tight political framework, there is little or no room for the promotion of a semblance of balance. With this legislature already half way past its term, the language of both parties is already hardening. When politicians start insulting each other, using in public such words as liar, or describing the opposition as disease, it is clear the water is getting murkier than it should. If this is not checked in time, it could lead to greater use of inflammatory language, giving rise to unnecessary political tension well ahead of time.

The political environment has definitely changed for the better since the 1970s and 1980s but there is still a great deal of raw intolerance, as shown, for example, by the tenor of the comments so often posted by readers when responding to news stories on websites and also in some newspaper columns, editorials and, even more so, in party and national television programmes.

One programme on the national television station the other day had most of those taking part fighting for every second they could get to drown the opinions of others in a spectacle that put them, and the programme, to great shame. It was a classical example of intolerance that, unfortunately, is happening far too often. To boot, they were supposed to be discussing the merits or demerits of different religions.

So, to all those bent on being intolerant and to politicians generally, please take a backseat, at least for the coming few days.