Sunday, 9th November 2008
ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON
It’s a coolish Sunday afternoon in Gozo, with the rain threatening on and off and I’m missing the MLP National Manifestation.
Oh, the shame.
Precisely what it is the dear chaps are manifesting about escapes me, just at the moment. No-one likes paying taxes or having to fork out hard-earned dosh for electricity and fuel, but does anyone really think that having a stroll down wherever they’re having a stroll down actually means anything?
I suppose, when you think about it, some people must think that. The same sort of people who answered the timesofmalta.com survey saying that the budget measures were not what the country needed, presumably.
They’re right, of course, what the country does need is to find oil in great and copious amounts, and for someone to give us a refinery all nicely set up and ready to mint some of the folding stuff, turning us into a country that is totally independent from the vagaries of the world’s economic turbulence.
Then we won’t have to pay taxes, our public facilities will become the best in the world and all our troubles will be over.
In the meantime, however, someone’s going to have to run the country and impose measures that a very high percentage of people will find annoying. When this high percentage makes its opinion felt, for what it’s worth, a Lil’Elf will then seize on this fact and make what he imagines is a pithy and erudite comment.
You can click on the previous edition of this blog and check out what I’m saying.
Of course, what everyone forgets, including me when I fill out my tax return or open that flipping envelope that seems to come from the Water Services Corporation every other day, is that these measures are the best we’ve got, mainly because no-one else has proposed anything which is any better.
Oh, sorry, I forgot, Joe Muscat and his merry men have proposed something: they’ve proposed that we get up our courage and demonstrate. Why these poor deluded souls think we need courage is a question to which I don’t really have much of an answer.
Joe Muscat himself certainly is too young to remember the way demonstrations were treated in the good old days when Labour (mis-)ruled, though Toni Abela and Anglu Farrugia are, on the other hand, old enough to remember what was done to people who dared take a position that was different to the government’s.
The thing is, Toni Abela, as far as I recall, could only ever have had third-hand experience of demonstrating, since he wasn’t on the side of the protesters, while Anglu Farrugia was, admittedly, closer to the action. Way closer. He was in the police force then.
So, calling Sunday’s protest – oh, sorry, manifestation – a thing of courage is twaddle and twittery of the first water, I’m afraid, demonstrating, or should that be manifesting (!?) that the MLP haven’t the first idea of how things should be done.
They remind me, so help me, of the way we used to mess about when we were students, before things got serious and we had to man the barricades against the regime (not sure if Anglu was around then – he was a cop, but I don’t remember seeing him on the other side of the lines)
Back then, we’d footle around, issuing press releases condemning the Shah of Persia and the Nabob of Watusiland and the Satan in the White House for doing something heinous, for all the world as if our press release was the only thing that was needed to provoke the masses into an uprising, sweeping away the horrid ones for all time.
The words that spring to mind now are “ineffectual”, “impotent” and “irrelevant”, and with hindsight, these descriptions are entirely justified. Far be it from me to cast aspersions on the manifestation of pluck and valour that’s going down as I write these words, then, but you’ll forgive me if I have a yawn.
There’s only so much I can write about this torpor-inducing topic, so I’ll switch subjects now and muse about a reference to mortal sin I saw in one of the only two local papers I buy on Sundays nowadays.
Apparently, according to the bloke who wrote the bit I read, the PM is in something of a quandary. As a good Catholic lad, he’s got to make up his mind between allowing divorce to be introduced and remaining a communicant.
What utter rubbish. This piece of claptrap is almost as downright insulting to anyone with half a brain as another item that appeared on Sunday, though I don’t remember if it was in the same paper.
The second gem to appear suggested that a referendum should be held on whether or not divorce should become part of the law.
Referenda are held to decide on issues of national importance, issues that affect the populace as a whole. Divorce is an issue that affects individuals and the great unwashed has absolutely no right to interfere in what I choose to do or not to do in my personal relationships. And don’t give me any guff about family values and similarly nebulous concepts being the concern of society as a whole, either.
There’s no ruddy difference between a separated couple the individual constituents of which are merrily having it off with each other’s former best friend and a divorced couple doing the same thing.
The former is hypocrisy at its best, a real manifestation of the “Christian Morality” practised by so many people over the years, while the latter at least has the virtue (ironic use of the word, there) of some residual honesty.
“We want divorce and we want it now” is what I imagine Joe Muscat’s boys and girls are chanting as I prepare to click on the send button. Or perhaps not.
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Comments
The two main rebuttals were the reference to the allegation of the Nationalist government hiring 600 individuals around election time and the other was the alleged spending of e70 million also around the time of the last election, both politically motivated.
Both proved to be more than allegations. In fact the Prime Minister gave exact numbers in both instances of which Joseph was so critical in his speech. The PM asked why should he be ashamed of hiring 324 teachers, 200 health related graduates as well as another 100 police persons. He also gave a breakdown of the much talked about e70 million. The PM tabled the statistics relating to the two much criticized government actions.
What is disturbing is the fact that while Joseph may have not cared to research what the hiring was about and where the e70 million were spent, not even the shadow Minister of Finance cared to make sure that Joseph doesn't misinform the public.
This leads me to believe that the MLP still treats the majority as simpletons.
Homosexuality, adultery, the use of condoms, priests and nuns ignoring their vows of celibacy are all acts condemned by the church by none of them are against the law. Why should divorce be different? With regards to referendum, the opinion of the vast majority does not have any legitimate right to impose its religious belief on any member of the society more so if it infringes their civil rights.
A Catholic myself I no longer regard Malta as a particularly Catholic state and not being Maltese I am not blinded by patriotism and sentiment.
Turning to economics (though I am no economist) the main source of income is tourism (particularly British tourists) and a general clean up of the island together with a cessation of certain wicked practices by such as ‘bus drivers would result in floods of visitors from personal recommendation.
I have known Malta for over eighty years and been a tourist for the latter half - including a stint as agent for Maltese friends with flats to let.
A fascinating but exasperating place. Malta has so much to offer for both inhabitants and visitors but the wittering that one reads in these postings together with many letters in your press demonstrates the “Lilliput” attitude of much of the Republic of Malta.
Finally the inability of some gentle readers to convey one or two (or even three) ideas within the 200 word limit is indicative of loose thinking.
Regards, Peter P.
Perhaps you would like to tell us what an additional fiscal stimulus package beyond and above what was introduce in the Budget would achieve. I can only think of one thing -Higher Defecits, in other words, the Mortgage of our children future.
@ Joe Vella. Your last contribution (in two parts) offers a good base for a sound debate, I do not agree with most of your points but I still consider it as an intelligent contribution. My last sarcastic remark wasn’t referring to this one but to the one about the budget deficit. I still get the feeling that that was your namesake’s. Please clarify this situation.
You or your namesake had already made the erroneous conclusion that you are repeating here with regards to tax revenue; you assumed that there are only two elements that have the potential to increase the government’s tax revenue-economic growth and\or tax increases.
On numerous occasions John Dalli boasted that through his vigilant efforts to decrease tax evasion and increase the efficiency of collections the VAT and Income tax takings had increased dramatically. There you have the third element.
You need to try much harder than that.
Given that there is no decrease in economic activity in Malta, and that Maltase’ manufacturing base depends on foreign orders for their product, I see no reason/rational for a fiscal stimulus at this time. Unless, of course, Joseph Muscat want to increse the deficit for the sake of it. Fiscal simulus works the same as credit cards. Credit cards simply facilitate future consumption to be brought forward. Fiscal simulus do the same - they provide for future capital project to be built before schedule, rather then when fiscal prudence dictates they should be build.
Once this is achieved, people will once again start buying cars, appliances and other finished goods. Industry, on the other hand will start to invest once again in machinery, building and ancillary activities.
The result being that Industry will start once again ordering parts/components that goes in the finish product, being a car or an appliance, from their supplier which translate in economic activity further down the economic ladder.
Now since Malta, by and large, only produce parts/components that goes into the production of the said finish products; I see no point what benefit there is in Malta introducing a fiscal stimulus package as Joseph Muscat suggested.
Statistics also show, as Joseph Muscat pointed out recently on Xarabank, that Government revenues from taxation increased year-over-year. The Prime Minister rightfully pointed out to Joseph Muscat that in the last three budgets income taxes have been reduces and the VAT rate have remained the same leaving one to conclude that the increase in Government revenues from taxation, year-over-year, can only be contributed due to increase in economic activity.
The Times of Malta is reporting the following from Joseph Muscat speech in Parliament.
"Turning to the infrastructure, Dr Muscat claimed that the budget failed to mention new infrastructural projects at a time when the country's economy needed to be revitalized. The government only mentioned the regeneration of the Grand Harbour and allotted the meagre sum of €600,000."
Having listened to the speech myself leaves me no doubt that Joseph Muscat was referring to the failure of the Government in rolling out a Fiscal Stimulus plan like is the case in the USA, Britain, Germany, France and other industrial countries. I am no economist, but I believe that the Maltese economic fundamentals are totally different from these countries.
The sole purpose of the above countries in implementing a fiscal stimulus is to kick start the economy to address the hundred of thousands of loss jobs. Over one Million of loss jobs in the USA this year alone. The trust of such fiscal stimulus is to provide employment immediately to the thousand of workers who have lost their jobs and to install confidence once again in the economy.
The MLP during these past years strongly opposed this and Government had only to accept that all military vessels had to observe this clause. Now in my opinion the same principle may also be applied, that we have an official religion in our Constitution, that is the Roman Catholic Apostolic Faith. If divorce be introduced in parliament, one must note that this goes against the principles of our faith and the ten commandments of God. Others must respect our rights and they are not to object as it's our right. So if good for gooset, be-it good to the gander - but don't shoot them, we're Catholics.
Further to the document "Congregations to the Doctrine of the Faith," It also stated that "In the case with laws concerning abortion and euthanasia (not to be confused with the decision to forgo extraordinary treatments, which is morally legitimate). Such laws must defend the basic right to life from conception to natural death. In the same way, it is necessary to recall the duty to respect and protect the rights of the human embryo, the family needs to be safeguarded and promoted, based on monogamous marriage between man and a woman, and protected in its unity and stability in the face of modern laws on divorce: in no way can other forms of cohabitation be placed on the same level as
The opposition and GWU both strongly opposed this and Government had to accept military vessels that observed this clause. Now the same principle may be applied to our official religion that of the Roman Catholic Apostolic Faith, because if divorce is introduced in parliament, this goes against our principles that being of moral & faith, besides the ten commandments of God. We did always accepted the right of others to give comments, but they must also respect our rights to do same. What's good for the goose is good for the gander. We know of difficulties of separated, but we together must find a solution, but our faith must be respected at any cost.
Where did the e60 million go?
Where did this figure come from?
Your problem is that you believe every word which comes out of the mouth of Joseph and the one before him and the one before that one, the big zero and of course,one could never forget the master of doublespeak himself.
You seem to know where the millions went and Joseph knows too. I don't, but I know for sure, they did not go to building villas or roads in the middle of nowhere to service a secluded ghorfa. You know what I mean.
And finally you can never accuse the NP for hanging on to power because the election of 1981 immediately comes to mind.
Quite ironic that the mastermind behind the hanging on to the 1981 government was the same mastermind who wrecked the 1996-1998 Labour government. Wouldn't you agree?
The Budget deficit skyrocket because of two items that were not budgeted for. Mainly, the Malta Shipyards workers' scheme and the Electricity/Water subsidies. Before you repeat something, it would be more prudent to question and assure oneself that the info is correct. Two fools doesn't make one right.
What Malta needs is to have engineers manning the Ship of State.
You don't need to strike oil. Just capture the energy in the waves of the sea surrounding the Island. (Wave-energy-converters is a mature technology -- tailor-made for Malta.)
On the subject of Divorce ... If I were domiciled in Malta and found myself in an intolerable marital situation, I would seek a competent lawyer to file for Annulment, under Article 19(1) (f) of the Marriage Act, on the basis of which, the marriage of A and B was declared null, by Judge Joseph Azzopardi of the Family Section of the Civil Court, on July 25th, 2008. (Great decision. Kind of vitiates the need for a separate Divorce Act.)
Dr. ABC being a prominent lawyer, chances are that I would seek his professional services. I wonder what he would say.
>I'm voice ferocious about what is happening to our Party 'today' not as a Labour supporter but as a true Maltese seeing people hurting.
Thank you for being honest.
I'm sure that your sentiments are genuine and (like others here, of the same political background as yourself) patently honest.
I have absolutely no doubt that your post is not a malicious one but one that only wishes your party the BEST. This would in turn translate to the BEST for the country...
Be prepared to be called all the names under the sun for such a stand!
That's because, another amusing side to this blog (sic!) is to see the usual ‘cavalry’ jump in 'to the rescue' with incredible defensive statements (that I'm convinced are not done with a clear conscience)... whenever someone says something that might paint the govt in a bad light. Even if it happens to be true!
To quote one of these horsemen..."In the end, it is a farce to behold."
As the great Barb would have us understand:
"Better a witty fool than a foolish wit."
@ lawrence zammit
>You may use all the tricks in the book to try to derail your readership from the real issues of today ....
I think we (well most of us!) agree that this is more or less what this blog (sic!) is all about... pity as il-Bocca's pen could be used for much better purposes no doubt.
>..your defensive attitude and the use of Labour's past history you are not even succeeding to convince the simplest amongst the fools.
I keep trying to point that one out too. If I was il-Bocca, I would actually be quite ashamed of such clear messages being relayed to me. This message has now been repeated several times by Lil' Elves and non Lil'Elves alike. It has been reiterated by those with different political points of view.
And yet the proverbial head joins the proverbial foot in very dark and normally inaccesible regions...Pity.
@ABC: GonziPN is not the PN we have been supporting for years. Maybe it's not in YOUR best interest to admit that.
You may use all the tricks in the book to try to derail your readership from the real issues of today but hey when the momentary applause ceases, when the muck hits the fan and the bills start arriving your theatrics will all be forgotten and become vividly clear that they were uncalled for.
this is not the cry of a lil'elf , as you call them, I had never voted Labour but certainly do not identify myself with the Times ' 23.7% PN diehards and I strongly believe that with your defensive attitude and the use of Labour's past history you are not even succeeding to convince the simplest amongst the fools.
In the past I had demonstrated the wrong doings of Labour in goverment not because I supported the PN but because my conscience dictated so, today I'm voice ferocious about what is happening to our Party 'today' not as a Labour supporter but as a true Maltese seeing people hurting.
With all that new found wealth created by once unproductive work force, the new investments from the privitization of the Malta Shipyards, Smart City, the regular foreing investment that continue to come to Malta, the 800 million Euros from the EU over the next five years, MALTA'S FUTURE/PROSPECTS REALLY LOOKS BRIGHT.
Every theatre needs leading actors (MLP & GWU) and a supporting cast (Social partners joining the 'manifestation' and GWU's protest).
In the end, it is a farce to behold.
I fail to understand why you had to get so upset with a brief observation by a known Labour supporter on your other article . Had that result been the answer to a different question I personally wouldn't have given it much weight because we all know that The Times readership is predominantly PN supportive .
You will need tons of courtroom theatrics to convince that PN goverment decision, which is being regarded as a bad measure by all the constituted bodies, and all is not an overstatement , by all the free thinkers as well as by the vast majority of die-hard PN supporters and only outwardly supported by 23.7% out of 4000 that in their majority are PN supporters, is a non event .
I suppose the police of the 60s were the remnants of the police in the 50s (55-58) and the forruners of the police of the 70s and 80s.
Isn't there a common thread somewhere?
Isolated incidents are one thing - common everyday abuses of power lasting years on end (16 years at one stretch) are another.
@ CHRISTOPHR (Christopher) PACE . Why not provide a list of those 'clientelism' cases to Joseph so he can hold another manifestation condemning such practices? You say there were a few hundred such cases? A pale shadow when compared to 8000 or so taken on the government's payroll in Labour's time. While yours are just allegations the 8000 are facts.
With regards to the 8000, ABC would have just ripped the Labour government apart as did the majority of the country sending Labour in exile for the last 20 years running.
Ten years ago as a Nationalist I criticised, rightfully so, the fact that the then PM got his calculator out and threw the burden on families, businesses and industry across the board. But how is this govt. acting differently?? How can the govt. tell us that it is protecting jobs and keep a straight face about it when the FOI, Chamber of Commerce, UHM, GWU, MUT, MUMN, MHRA and the CMTU ,some of whom are major employers, are telling it that these Bills could leave a devastating effect???? You can't be in favour of jobs on one hand and literally flagellate the employers with costs on the other!!
How can I ever accept paying for enemalta's inefficiencies?? Why should I pay for a monopoly when I detest them and fight against them?? Why are the bills retroactive and benefits will have to wait till god knows when??
In this Budget the Govt. fudged.......GHAFFEG..........HAWWAD.........A big qassata right on his doorstep!!!
Furthermore, I dare not think what Borg Cardona would have written wrote had such measures been implemented by a Labour government, but I bet my life that his whining would not have stopped: very intellectually honest!!!