Trust (in somebody/something) is defined by the Oxford Dictionary as the belief that somebody/something is good, sincere and honest and will not try to harm or trick you. Now hold on a minute. Can the dictionary be trusted?

Because in the latest polls published by Malta Today the Prime Minister still enjoys a nine-point lead over Opposition leader Simon Busuttil. I have no doubt that these figures are correct. But can anyone beyond his kitchen cabinet really, fully, truly, hand-on-heart trust Joseph Muscat?

I would accept that he is a superman at acting, a great showman, a superb manipulator. I would also agree that he is a great salesman and even a greater communicator.

But trust?

That I’m afraid cannot be true, not if one considers how he hoodwinks us all... all the time. He has in his time as Prime Minister hardly shone in what he promised - good governance, transparency and meritocracy.

His government has hardly been trustworthy in ethics, the environment and in giving us a new style of politics.

If the people love an ever-smiling salesman who will say whatever he wants, then good luck to them. Who cares what the Ombudsman, the NGOs or a few silly columnists and bloggers say?

Speaking of trust - the Nationalist media needs to brush up its news coverage if it wishes to be trusted in the old meaning of the word (see above for dictionary definition). In reporting the results of the poll findings they mentioned all the good points but omitted anything that reflected badly on the PN.

The survey shows the PN is edging very close to the PL and of course this was given due importance. But that Busuttil lags behind Muscat in trustworthiness by nine points was not considered newsworthy.

Why are we surprised that people lose trust in all political parties? Clean up your act at the PN newsroom and show the way to true reporting. That would be sane, proper and shows you trust people’s intelligence.

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