So three omnibuses had a prang on Wednesday and the world came to a grinding halt. Not for me, I hasten to add, I got to a meeting in Floriana perfectly on time and I got home afterwards in normal time too. The fact that I ride a bike (motor, I’m not a health nut) might have had something to do with it, of course, but, hey, people, traffic snarls up every so often and that’s not a reason to have an emergency debate in the House.

I exaggerate, as one does, for effect, though, for all I know, by the time I finish writing this, that Franco Debono person may have asked the Speaker to have Arriva put on the agenda for yet another emergency debate.

It’s amazing he finds the time, when you think about it. What with shovelling his spluttering rants into the blogosphere (if you want to encourage him by increasing his hits, have a look, if only to convince yourself that he’s more than slightly over-awed by his own greatness) and sending his speeches in the House to the Police Commissioner (huh?) and asking for an emergency debate about the “Affaire Dalli” (did you notice how even Labour told him to take a hike on that one, incidentally?) you have to wonder whether he gets any sleep.

My point is, what is it about this country that we find ourselves so far up our own fundament that everything is like a scene from a Greek tragedy?

For instance, consider the matter of the time it takes to get seen at Mater Dei Hospital. Do you think, you, over there, who is getting all hot and bothered because your sprained ankle hasn’t caused A&E to come to leap into action, that you’d get seen any quicker, or better, in the Hampstead General?

No, you wouldn’t, it would probably take a sight longer to be seen, though the standard of care would probably be as darn good as it is here.

What about, for instance, one of Labour’s recent hobby horses, the one on which they think they’re taking Gozitans for a ride? “Jobs in Gozo for Gozitans” is one of their watchwords, adopted as a signpost on their road map to electoral success after a show of hands.

If memory serves, it was the heartfelt lament of a mother, who was feeling mortally wounded because Little Johnny, attending Tal-Qroqq on a rather handy stipend (not a loan against fees, a freebie, mark you), was having to do his own cooking and washing, poor lamb, that helped raise hands to take the empty slogan on board.

In normally-sized countries, Little Johnny would be many miles from mummy’s cloying grasp, fending for himself and working as a dishwasher to make ends meet and the more significant of his worries wouldn’t be having to cook but having something to cook at all.

You’d like another example of the fussiness of spoilt brats?

Here you go: I forget which Labour pundit wrote it, I suspect it was that erudite epitome of philosophical discourse, Joe “Resign” Grima, who referred to the 80,000 or so of our “brothers” living in poverty. It was written, I think, in his slightly (I understate for effect) vulgar defence of John Dalli by means of an open letter to Barroso.

I ask you, as an educated reader, having seen what real poverty is, and not in India or similar environs but in many European cities, do you give any credence to people like Grima and their doomsaying? The Lil’Elves and Peculiar Pundits will immediately weigh in at this point and call me all manner of names but the fact remains that there is very little real poverty around, which still needs to be addressed but not in such a panic.

Have you received your electricity bill recently? High, was it? Compare it to the amount you spend on your communications facilities and having a pizza over the same period, both of which are not as essential to your well-being as being able to switch the lights on.

The bottom line, friends, is that we’ve developed into a predominantly middle-class society that leads a relatively comfy life: we worry about the things that affect us (and not about those among us whose lot needs to be improved) and that is the segment of the voting market that Labour is addressing, the segment that thinks that a change is needed, simply for the sake of it and for no other reason on the face of God’s green earth.

After all, why would Labour be saying that they’re going to build on what there is rather than suggest anything new? Or suggest anything at all, for that matter.

imbocca@gmail.com

www.timesofmalta.com/articles/author/20

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