In his article ‘The Soulless State’, Michael Briguglio starts off by quoting sociologists and philosophers, reminding readers of his academic background. Notwithstanding, his frame of mind is nothing short of political. Of course, there is nothing wrong with that, and he has every right to do so. He must, however, stop selling off his ideas as if he were a freethinker.
For quite a long time now he has shed his apolitical stance, undergoing his last desperate attempt to succeed in his national-based political career, this time round by trying his luck on the Nationalist Party ticket.
In his article Briguglio went to the extent of saying that a Labour government wins popular support by buying votes through patronage and ignorance instead of freeing people from their dependence on politicians. This echoes the new PN leader’s speech on the Granaries in Floriana where he said the government is not building new schools (factually incorrect) as it wants to keep its hold on the uneducated, as it is easier to buy off votes. “This is not real freedom”, wrote Briguglio, but his argument is ill-founded. The government embarked on a lot of initiatives to strengthen the citizen’s position, independent of politicians and of the State. Is this enough? Perhaps it will never be.
However, the question to be put forth is: are we better off than in 2013? Are we freer than in 2013? And the answer is clearly a yes and the changes vary in size and style.
Unlike what Briguglio said, the tapering of social benefits is a concrete example of the fruitful work being done. For decades Nationalist governments left a dysfunctional social benefits system. In recent years the government revolutionised the system, making it in one’s best interest to be in employment. And what’s greater freedom than that of having a job and being totally independent of the State? State dependency is reduced when you are no longer at risk of poverty and statistics clearly show that thousands are no longer at such risk. The high rise between 2008 and 2013 was obliterated in Joseph Muscat’s government’s first five years. Is there a greater freedom than that of no longer being at risk of poverty?
What’s greater freedom than that of having a job and being totally independent of the State?
What Brigulio is suggesting coincides with the same rhetoric that is being used by the new Nationalist administration, an administration which seems to be following his advice, as its predecessor. Its call, even though last June’s outcome proved it might not be its best choice.
One has to have a very limited grasp of what is going on in society to call soulless a State which gave all its children equal rights irrespective of their sexual orientation. In my opinion that is precisely what a State which has a soul and a heart does.
One has to be cut off from reality to call soulless a State whose government has enforced for the first time a legislation through which persons with disabilities are integrated in the work force. That is precisely a State with a heart and soul.
Which State is that which Briguglio calls soulless? That which increased pensions, which increases the minimum wage for the first time? What is he suggesting? That these increases should have never been given and that these persons are ignorant, that they do not seek the greater good of the country and that they vote on impulse?
Moreover, Briguglio said we should have a smaller government. There are plentiful examples of where Muscat’s government reduced its powers.
The appointment of the judiciary is one. As it stands today, a prime minister has much to answer if he decides not to adhere to the advice given by the board on whom he appoints independent people and constitutional authorities. The same will happen when a parliamentary committee will be set up to scrutinise public appointments.
Maybe some will say this is not enough. In the past five years we managed to accomplish that which in 25 years was unheard of. A very good start which we had longed for.
No doubt Briguglio will not be pleased. He has fed off from Simon Busuttil’s negativity, with whom Briguglio shared his political experience in what should have been the Forza Nazzjonali. Muscat’s victory did not go down well with Briguglio and in his writing he even implied that Muscat won because the people are ignorant.
Arrogance of this sort parrots a politician of the past. No wonder people in the Nationalist Party believe they have not gained anything when he joined them in the past months.
Aleander Balzan is the Labour Party’s director of communications.