NOT GETTING IT
It seems that Labour just aren't getting it, are they?
Up to a point, they were right: the party in opposition doesn't really need to tell us what it's going to be doing eighteen months prior to an election if the electorate hands them the keys to power. The Nationalists were continually taunting them with the emptiness of their leader's promises, it is true, but from their point of view, especially since one of the required elements of their plan (assuming there is one) is to keep their own supporters happy, the "yah boo, sucks to you" response was fit for purpose.
This would also have had the advantage of frustrating the Nationalists, again a result that would have pleased Labour's grass-roots, who have a greater penchant for tribal politics than the other bunch, who tend not to give a monkey's about politics except when elections roll around.
Labour's thinkers, however, have shafted their own tactics big time.
Instead of simply hiding behind the "when the time is right" smug-faced response, which is irritating and shows shallowness to the nth degree, but which at least has the advantage of not really being able to argue with it, they've come up with the astoundingly audacious line that for Gonzi's ten questions to Muscat, the latter came up with fifty-one replies.
Yeah, right, let's just adopt all those solutions, as they are. Leaving aside that quite a bunch are already done or being done, most of the others are simply pious hopes, statements of the bleedin' obvious and barefaced vote grabbers.
What will now start to worry some people is that even while lying in their teeth about these being answers to Gonzi's questions, when they patently are not, Labour is trying to backtrack frantically on quite a number of them. Students' stipends, for instance, are not actually going to be increased, as the so-called "answers" tried to give the first-blush impression that they were, but will be maintained, if things don't change, such as the economy going down tubes.
Which it very well might if Muscat's pies in the sky all come home to roost at the same time (chicken pies, that makes them, I suppose) unless there's something he's not telling us, like perhaps a VAT-hike to make up for the cash he's going to pump into Enemalta to bring down those ruddy bills, albeit that they're lower than many people spend on their mobiles anyway.
Or is Citizen John's investors' solution parked out on Hurd's Bank, ready to steam into Marsaxlokk and save the day?
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Ivan Grech Mintoff
Dec 1st 2011, 17:18
Are YOU getting it? I'm referring to reality...
You know. Things like
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-15981629
and
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20111201/local/malta-retains-ranking-on-corruption-index.396414
a score of 5 or less is indicative of a country being "significantly corrupt." and this year Malta is at 5.6
Not made up by LP (or something just as bizarre as you'll want us believe) but .. reality.
And yet again you try to push the needle round the record once again: "LP is not fit to govern".
Right?
Please don't stop...
Henry Mifsud
Dec 1st 2011, 16:45
So according to ABC, Labour is not getting it but GonziPN is. You are so blinkered that on the one hand you state that Joseph Muscat's came up with pies in the sky and at the same time you state that quite a bunch are already done or being done. So are you suggesting that GonziPN was the originator of a number of such pies in the sky? Perhaps the biggest pie in the sky is the City Gate Project to the tune of EUR 80 million which if it is not going to be for the private investors' money (hopefully parked in Hurd's Bank), we would end up with much bigger ruins than those of the opera house (which would still be in ruins anyway).
Mr ALBERT LEONE GANADO
Nov 30th 2011, 13:15
May I suggest to Bocca that there are two deep pockets for sourcing new revenue which perhaps given the current political climate no party dare mention until of course the EU will eventually intervene to tells us how to better manage our debts and insist that we put our hands into these money mines and not call it pick pocketing.
The first pocket is that of the black economy which could yield enough to cover a reduction in utility bills three times over.
The second is a proper and fairer redistribution of wealth. No proper study has been carried out in Malta on how wealth is distributed but I suspect it would not be far off to that in America where the top 1 per cent owns 35 percent of the wealth and the top 20 percent own 85 percent of wealth. Certainly there are many who should pay more into the public coffers to make life more liveable for those close to the poverty line.
Mr Joe Micallef
Nov 30th 2011, 16:02
I believe the second suggestion is better known as wealth tax.
Recently I had an interesting discussion with a staunch PL activist wherein I was telling him that any future government would need to consider introducing such a tax. He seemed to be all in favour for it, until I told him that it would probably cost him quite a sum - the individual (with all due blessings) owns a three block apartment building (two flats in store for when his two young daughters decide to marry ), a summer flat, three cars, a quasi-Vintage car and some other "common" niceties.
I tried to explain that he would be a target to such a tax but he simply wouldn’t accept it.
Mr Joseph Carmel Chetcuti
Nov 29th 2011, 22:50
If the PL made its plans known now, the PN will simply pinch them ... as they are pretending to do with gay and lesbian issues. And I do mean 'pretending'.
Mr Joe Micallef
Nov 29th 2011, 21:50
For the sake of being fair with the dishonest, Joey did give a good hint from where he will be collecting the money, namely, by adopting the polluter pays principle. That could mean amongst other, tax on refuse collection, tax on drainage connection (Alfred Sant already did that), Increase of road licence and so on - and no one would be able to argue he didn't propose it!
Moreover I recently heard him praise the Swede Social Democrats during the PES gathering/ Thier tax policies are quite interesting!
Andrew Borg-Cardona
Nov 29th 2011, 21:47
I didn't start the rumour, son-of-Nestu, check out http://ilovemalta.tumblr.com/
Victor Laiviera
Nov 30th 2011, 15:02
Actually, I was talking to Julian Borg - but if the shoe fits, you are welcome to wear it.
Thank you for pointing pout that I am the son of one of the most widely respected Maltese politicians of all time. Would that there were more like him today.
Victor Laiviera
Nov 30th 2011, 15:18
I seeeeeeeee ..... you got it from an anonymous blog!! So it MUST be the gospel truth. Please accept my most abject apologies for daring to doubt its veracity even for a fleeting moment.
How, but how, could I gave done something like that?
Guzi Abela
Dec 1st 2011, 09:18
And a very objective and impartial blog it is. How could the likes of us doubt such a profound and neutral opinion?
Julian Borg
Nov 29th 2011, 12:42
There's a rumour doing the rounds that the VAT rate will be increased to 21% when Labour get in Govt - to pay for the electricity tariffs. Not surprised - they did that last time with CET and we got an even higher rate of tax - not to mention the economic frog they managed to create!
And I bet the GWU will keep silent when it happens LOL
A. Tabone
Nov 29th 2011, 20:27
What sort of Socialist Valhalla would that be? You burst my bubble! There I was thinking outright take over of the means of production, with Comrade Joe dictating what we should produce, were and how. He did mention a five year plan once too... is there room for a Supreme Soviet at Mile End?
Please, can someone, anyone, tell me what the PL proposes to do in its second day in office? I'm assuming it will decrease utility bills - in an as yet to be explained manner - and remove the honorariums on its first day. But then what? I hope for everyone sake Joseph Muscat's merry band of has beens won't be given any power over our lives!
Victor Laiviera
Nov 29th 2011, 20:30
Let me guess how this rumour started - you dreamed it up, right?
What do I get for guessing? A signed photo of Gonzi hugging Gaddafi?
Antoine Vella
Nov 29th 2011, 21:04
They won't admit it will be to compensate for the lowering of the tariffs, of course. They'll claim it's because of some ħofra left by GonziPN.
Mind you, Joseph Muscat famously said that an increase in VAT would hit lower income families worst. He was wrong but he did say it, so it will be interesting to see how he justifies it. Probably with another of his U-turns.
Angus Black
Nov 29th 2011, 22:04
@ A Tabone
What will Labour do on their second day in office?
They will follow Joseph for a trip to Sicily for a quick plate of spaghetti to celebrate their victory. It will not be a 'free' meal, to the disappointment of their supporters, but a fund raiser to pay for the Mile End Gallarija.
@ Victor Laiviera
You think that we are as naive as Labour 'imzazen'?
Is the LP printing euros at its Marsa plant? Is that one of Joseph's cards held tightly to his chest? Or will it be his magic wand coming to the rescue?
Hallina Vic!
Mr Joseph Carmel Chetcuti
Nov 29th 2011, 22:53
Victor, you have to remember that is is all part of rewriting history. The PN is so good at it that it is even forecasting the future.
Antoine Vella
Nov 29th 2011, 22:54
Of course, they won't admit the VAT increase will be to compensate for the subsidised electricity tariffs. Instead they will blame some imaginary "ħofra" left by GonZIpN.
Joseph Muscat has famously said that increasing VAT would hurt the lower-income families. He was wrong but he did say it so it will be interesting to see how he can justify 21% VAT. probably another of his traditional U-turns.
Increasing VAT would also hurt the retail trade because online purchases would become even more attractive than they are today..
Antoine Vella
Nov 29th 2011, 22:54
Victor can you exclude categorically that VAT will not be raised?
Victor Laiviera
Nov 30th 2011, 15:06
@ Anto9ne Vella.
Logic is not your strong pint.
It is an axiom that is is the accuser who is obliged to provide the proof.
So it's up to you to show that this is not an invention dreamed up by the PN spin doctors. (Which it obviously is)
When do I get that photo (Gonzi hugging Gaddafi)? I'm thinking of selling it to Benetton to use as one of their ads.
Andre Cilia
Nov 30th 2011, 19:27
@Victor Laiviera
you might as well use this photograph in the mean time
http://mazzun.files.wordpress.com/2011/08/gaddafi-mintoff-1970s.jpg
Also... your reasoning disgusts me and whoever has a pinch of reason. Thanks, and no thank you for "commenting"
Victor Laiviera
Nov 30th 2011, 22:49
@ Andre Cilia
Two points:
1) That photo was taken at the beginning of Gaddafi's career, when there was no indication he would become the despot he later became.
2) It was not the LP who started the "who was most friendly with Gaddafi" game. Now you can't complain if you find that they can play it better.
Please choose the reason of your report below: