Anything you can do I can do better. That is the feeling I get when faced with comments and actions I read about wherever. Comments on newspapers are loaded with extremism and this is becoming the norm not the exception. Extreme rivalry is appearing once again in this country. It baffles why newspaper editors allow libellous comments to be published.

This has to be stopped.

The same applies to radio and TV. Some political programmes literally make you puke.

Not even village feast and carnival have been spared from unbridled rivalryand division.

So it comes as no surprise that political parties and their supporters have adopted these extreme rival attitudes in their daily exchange of insults. The bad example they are projecting and the bad manner in which they are influencing the public are there for  all to see. Warnings of doom and gloom, demands for resignations, allegations of wrongdoing, innuendoes, mud-slinging, half-truths and hate writings are daily fare. If one party says white, the other says black. No grey or middle-of-the-road versions exist.

Political maturity is practically non-existent among a good number of our politicians. Supporters on all sides vie to outdo their masters in their bad attitude and are becoming not only disrespectful in their words, behaviour and outlook but rightly outlandish and violent.

One does not need to resort to physical force to be violent, after all, the pen is mightier than the sword. A word can do much more damage than a fist. Violence through writing goes much further and also remains for posterity.

Good governance in all sectors is a must

In Parliament, in political reviews and newspapers, moderate and reasonable tones are being replaced by mud-slinging. People in authority, from whom normal citizens expect guidance and leadership, are becoming so disrespectful, arrogant and rash in condemning others. Apart from dishonouring oneself, such behaviour impinges on the sort of image that our parliamentary representatives should enjoy.

This sort of attitude is not only contributing to division among people but also bringing about a dangerous atmosphere.

Is this how politics should be done? Is this the way to set an example? I believe not, especially now that parliamentary debates are being aired on TV. Disrespect is also being shown to the Speaker of the House of Representatives. This can only negatively affect the high standards that Parliament and the Speaker deserve and should have.

The public expects intellectual debates with solid counter arguments on the policies and visions as how to improve this country. Notwithstanding all our faults, so far all administrations have managed to better our way of life and raise living standards. Progress is being achieved year in, year out. We need to continue behaving correctly so we may continue to enjoy what we have achieved. We all travel abroad and, therefore, can easily compare our situation with that of others. We win hands down.

Good governance in all sectors is a must. Transparency is a must. Politicians must respect not only themselves but also the public.

It has recently become clear that politicians occupying high office have had contacts with big businesses and businessmen. After leaving office some politicians used such contacts to join such companies. This transmits the wrong message because, to me, it appears that the contacts made when in political office only served as a personal investment for one’s own future.

I believe that no European commissioner can partake or be part of any institute/business society that had been under his/her jurisdiction. Sadly, this has not been emulated in Malta but it should immediately. If not, then normal citizens would be justified in wondering whether a politician, when in office, uses his/her contacts for the benefit of the country or oneself.

In my opinion, political parties are in duty bound to properly vet prospective candidates not on the basis of how popular they may be but mostly with regard to their political convictions and what really are their future aims and prospects in terms of the general well-being of our islands.

I also encourage political parties to ensure that all prospective candidates attend informative seminars on how Parliament works and about all the ins and outs of daily procedures. These will help those elected to be totally informed of what their duties and obligations are and not thrown into  the deep end of the pool as happens now. The time of amateur and part-time politicians is long past.

Lino DeBono is a former Labour MP.