When politics used to be compared to a circus I never thought it was the clowns they were referring to. Now our politicians aren’t all just clowns—some of them in fact make less sense than the worst buffoons and dress up just like them in garish garb.

A load of politicians have ended up red in the face—redness caused by oil, ice, lies and murders. Yes, we have also had a vice-premier-to-be shot down, politically of course, a few weeks before his glory. Oh, the misery.

But this madness is endemic all over the world, not necessarily confined to the world of politics.

We have a Scottish cardinal from Britain who has resigned just after advocating the removal of obligatory celibacy for priests. And his resignation wasn’t a result of wishing to emulate the now former Pope. Neither did he resign because of his call to end celibacy—he resigned because of accusations of lewd acts back in the days.

In the meantime the King of Spain’s son-in-law is accused of corruption, a union leader in Mexico is involved in embezzlement and the Liberals in Britain are a mite too liberal with their ways and the truth. Ministers in Germany resign for having plagiarised their doctoral thesis. Our neighbours in Italy vote for a future more uncertain than ever but also give quite a boost to that old goat Berlusconi. And the only one gloating over the election result is a comic turned politician whose main policy is to insult and oppose.

Now what if we emulate the Italian loons and vote in the Ajkla guy? Then we’d see the two big parties humbled and bowing to his soaring demands. The polls don’t predict any success for him but in Malta the last time polls were believed was back in the last election when Sant, Jason & Co thought Labour was going to romp home to a colossal victory.

Some others in Malta’s top posts, who should know better and who should be completely above rebuke, have followed the lead and done all sorts of silly things.

As they say somewhere in entertainment, the show must go on—and we, the happy herd, must bow our heads to the leaders of society. Then what are we poor souls meant to do—follow their lead and add to the confusion?