Possibly by maintaining the stronger stand being adopted lately, rather than trying to convince us that the problem does not even exist. Maybe by doing what Italy is doing. Until some time ago we considered it inconceivable to return the migrants to Libya.

The countries that crashed were those with unregulated financial systems (extreme capitalism) which for example allowed people to take loans left right and center and created a lot of Inequality & false prosperity. (Iceland, USA…). The eurozone helped, but without it we probably still would have survived, because our financial institutions are heavily regulated. Basically the situation the world is in is a capitalist’s worst nightmare, come true.

[Daphne – Yes, right. I think what’s changed are your standards, and you’ve forgotten what things actually were like 10 and 15 years ago. For a start, 10 years ago, Malta was having to deal with the fall-out from the near catastrophe of Sant and his CET, and businesses were half-crippled. You have a short memory.]

While wages are practically the same as 10 years ago, our bills are much higher. Tourism is in disastrous state, go see for yourself. Bugibba has become a cemetery. The last tourism ministers were a joke and haven’t got a clue.

[Daphne – Listen, you really do have to get a grip and read the news. Tourism is in difficulties because the people living in our source markets are in difficulties. Or hadn’t you noticed?]

We’re losing jobs each day.

[Daphne – Ah, but you’ve conveniently overlooked the fact that Malta was gaining jobs every day until a few months ago, when the international recession began to affect us. Unemployment was next to nothing this time last year. So the loss of jobs is relative. And again, get a grip on yourself, and watch some news. See what’s happening elsewhere, people living in their cars, entire car manufacturing plants closing down, century-old department stores with iconic names shutting their doors for the last time. Honestly. If you think this is bad, you really live in a bozza, and if you’re my age you certainly remember that this country was a sink-hole pre-1987.]

We have four-day week jobs.

[Daphne – At least they have four days’ work a week. If they were living in Britain they would be out on the streets.]

Businessmen can’t pay their creditors and you get bounced cheques every single day. Do you blame the people for not voting at all in the upcoming elections, Daphne?

[Daphne – The businessmen who can’t pay their creditors are the ones using the Stone Age system of barter. This is something you can’t teach me about because I’m not an employee. And yes, I do blame people for not voting. What is not voting going to solve = other than the favourite Maltese pastime of cutting off your nose to spite your face?]

[Daphne – I think you mean serves them right. ‘Address issues such as illegal immigration’ – how? By using Joseph Muscat’s ghoxrin punt to stop the boats coming in?]

[Daphne – That’s amusing.]

Two out of five votes were misused against Malta; it seems that John Attard Montalto corrected his vote after realising that the majority voted in favour.

[Daphne – I don’t know how he can bring himself to mix with them, honestly. He’s really doing himself a disservice. It reflects badly on his sense of judgement.]

I am trying hard to hear the candidates speaking about the economy, work and education, but all I’m getting is Joseph speaking against Gonzi on issues which are not real EU topics.

It seems Joseph hijacked the campaign so that certain candidates would not say what they really believe about the EU. Naturally on 7 June he will declare himself THE undisputed winner because Labour will have three MEPs.

[Daphne – Yes, and the polls are showing that if Malta had a sixth seat, Labour would win four and the Nationalists two. This is because the pro-PN pro-EU vote is staying home, while the anti-EU, pro-Labour vote is going out in full force. When Muscat said a couple of days ago that this election is going to be a difficult one for Labour and that the Nationalist Party is expecting its biggest victory ever, he thought he was being cunning in bringing out even more of the Labour vote while getting the pro-EU people to take the situation for granted. As things stand, the Nationalist Party will be fighting even for that second seat. And believe me, I know exactly what I’m talking about.]

BTW . Daphne can you leave enough rope for the PL to hang itself? Since when are you giving free professional advice to a party you love to hate?

[Daphne – Because I just love the way they never take it, and instead pay fools to advise them instead, in the belief that I have A Cunning Plan and am using reverse psychology.]

[Daphne – Or ‘no backbone’. But English uses those descriptions only for individuals who actually do come equipped with a spine, and not for organisations which don’t. Governments are always spineless by nature, so the absence of a spine isn’t extraordinary but ordinary.]