Labour wants austerity measures and if it doesn't get them it's going to stamp its little feet and cry
I think I'll just go back to running Maltastar.
Tony Zarb’s union and Joseph Muscat’s party have thrown a double hissy-fit because the prime minister cracked a joke in public about Zarb’s recent jaunt to Brussels after his stint in Elton John’s Golden Circle.
Malta is doing well despite the recession, the prime minister said, and what do you know, now we’re even exporting unions to take part in anti-austerity protests.
Labour’s news ‘tim’ ground itself into gear and spoke to the secretary-general of the European Trade Union Confederation to see what he thought about this INSULT FAHXI. Egged on by Maltastar, John Monks said that given the “critical climate in Malta”, the prime minister was “irresponsible” to make fun of the GWU for taking part in the Brussels demo against austerity measures.
Today, we heard that unemployment in Malta has dropped to 5%. But Labour is having none of that nonsense. It wants its austerity measures and, by God, it’s going to get them – even if it means barbecuing Zarb at the next Super One fundraiser to make the point that we’re short of food.
This is how Maltastar paints the situation:
Meanwhile the population staggers under multiple financial burdens. There are the huge water and electricity bills made worse by an inefficient and bullying ARMs service; an effective freeze on wages; a secret “capacity building exercise” by Gonzi blocking promotions laid down in collective agreements, and new recruits, in sectors such as that of health, where shortages are badly affecting staff morale and patient safety. And the population watches as big fish facing serious charges of corruption continue to find protection under Gonzi, the same man who says he wants a whistleblower act to stop corruption.
I’m particularly curious about the last bit. Big fish facing serious charges of corruption who are finding protection under Gonzi (who must be wearing a very wide skirt)? If they’re facing charges, then they’re not protected.
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What’s that word behind the Brilliant Comrade? Is it something related to “hate”?
Tony Zarb was always a buffoon. I could have died laughing, seeing him at the Elton John concert. His son is called Elton – Elton Zarb. And then we had to see him protesting in Brussels, imagining him with the union’s campaign banner, Issa Daqshekk.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2n6M9BmpUlY
PLEASE DECONSTRUCT
I’m not sure what Labour want, but the choice is between austerity and more bailouts, meaning more debt.
[Daphne – How can you not be sure what Labour wants, Kevin? Your wife stands for election on their ticket. Go ahead and ask her: “Sharon, what does Labour want, exactly?”]
The global bankers are for more debt, of course, since whether it’s the ECB dabbling in quantitative easing to buy more toxic bonds, or direct loans from the IMF, it all boils down to more interest receipts.
And, given that the new money flows from treasuries to bank accounts across the EU, with fractional reserve banking every deposit magically yields a tenfold amount in credit ready to be loaned to the yearning serfs.
Yes, I should. It wouldn’t be confidential, would it?
By the way, it’s Malta Week at the European Parliament in Bruxelles. Big event by tiny state! They’re erecting huge tents outside the building and will be handing out free food & wine to hobos, MEPs and anyone who turns up.
There will be concerts with Maltese celebrities, exhibitions galore and a dibattitu politiku taht l-awtorita tax-xandir… Sajmint Buzuttin & Co. will be there. Don’t miss it – 5th, 6th and 7th October, morning till night – it’s all FREE but you’re all paying for it.
Yes. It’s all free – like the food and drink distributed at Super One’s weekend fundraiser. They don’t have cash to cover their costs so they beg it off il-haddiema-mkissrin-bil-kontijiet-u-bla-xoghol. Who paid for *that*? Please don’t say you don’t know because you’re wolfing it down in Brussel.
@Kev
How many Labour Party officials are attending this free food and wine event which is open to hobos, losers, etc?
How many of them have had their trip paid for by the party under the guise of ‘educational purposes’?
I suspect you’ll be first in line at ‘Malta Week’, Kevvy. It’s all ‘free’ and free loading appears to be your way of life. Ever really worked Kevvy? Like, REALLY worked?
As if I give a sprout to what Super One is up to during their weekend festini, La Redoute.
Why do I get the impression you’re not a ‘La’ at all, even if ‘ridotta’ is quite apt? And I smell kinship too, the paternal type.
[Daphne – Sorry, Kevin, no kin. Quick-witted people who can punctuate aren’t all related to me.]
Malta Week? Who gives a shit, Kev?
Or perhaps you’re missing Lilliput.
Sorry, Kev. You’re wrong on both counts.
Despite your protestations to the contrary, you care more about the goings on here than you’d willing to let on.
@ Baxxter, you’re disappointing me now, really.
@ Purdie – actually I never attend free food & drinks events, but your comment shows you do.
@ Brian – they are all attending. Sajmint & Co. means Sajmint & Co.
@ Daphne – I’m sure he’ll appreciate your appraisal of his chewing style.
La Redoute – of course I care about the goings on in Malta. It’s still my country. And I own property there, if you want a less romaticised view. That does not mean I need to keenly follow your petty, local-council styled politics. I’m into real politics, not red-blue charades.
@kev, you may not like attending FREE food and drink events but your wife sure likes FREE stuff, like the computer she bought off me and never paid for – all in the name of EU Observer.
@ nobody – And you are…? Please give us your name, otherwise you’ll be considered as just another nobody.
@Kev
“Yes, I should. It wouldn’t be confidential, would it?”
Do you mean to say what Labour want for this little rock of ours is top secret?
That really explains Labour voters doesn’t it!
I just hopped over and sadly the Malta Week food & drink spree is not totally free. You pay €6 for a 15 cm ‘Maltese platter’. But it’s not entirely a rip-off. The platter is a ceramic Malta souvenier which you can keep and so are the wine glasses (also at €6). And if you’re not into platters, you can still get a few snacks for free. The highlight is tomorrow’s dibattitu politiku taht it-tinda. Edward Scicluna is chairing while Commissioner Barnier crosses swords with finance minister Tonio Fenech on ‘Europe’s new financial supervision package’. I can’t wait.
Well, if you don’t want to part with six Euros – and I guess you wouldn’t, having mocked the rest of your countrymen for ‘paying’ – then you could always eat your words.
“I’m not sure what Labour want” – that wouldn’t be a problem, Kev. The problem is that Labour does not know what it wants.
The only thing I know for sure is that it wants to run with the hare and hunt with the hounds.
Mintoff’s strategy in the 1970s was painfully clear: the Gozo Hospital is too big; if I’m in power I’ll stop the project. Same with the Msida and Siggiewi bridges.
I’m sure he became less popular with the Gozitans and the people of Msida and Siggiewi with these pre election crazy promises. Still he won the election.
John, I don’t do red-blue theatre anymore. It’s boring.
I’m Kevin Taliana, trading name (when the computer was bought but never paid) … Point Solutions, the amount owed was Lm625! And now what?
Nice photo, by the way. Dak tal-precett?
I am under the impression that it is a citizen’s duty to make fun of politicians and trade union leaders. Last time I checked, Gonzi is a citizen, Zarb is a trade union leader ergo, I rest my case.
Too many Maltese believe they are a special snowflake. With mummy repeating it ad nauseum in their ears, it is no wonder they get insulted so easily.
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20101004/local/unemployment-drops-to-5
GWU reps have nothing to lose, just a small break in Brussels. Free ticket and accommodation and off we march for the protest.
So John Monks thinks that the climate in Malta is critical.
How did he deduce this? As secretary of ETUC he should know that the Maltese climate is not critical at all.
How does he expect to pocket close to half a million euros per annum to talk crap?
The climate in Malta (weather, economic, employment, health, social, political, religious, security you name it) is relatively benign.
Monks, this must be a Freudian slip. You must be having nightmares of the climate back home. You know it is Armageddon there thanks to you and your mates in the political party which you have always supported and financed.
I credit you though for having had the wisdom and the vision to jump ship seven years ago when it became pretty clear that the once Great Britain was heading for the rocks.
Hands off Malta, please. We are doing very well without your unwelcome intrusions, thank you very much.
How easily they forget. Remember ‘l-indhil barrani’?
Given that Tony Zarb is nothing but a leader by proxy, I conclude that the affinity he feels with Monks speaks volumes about the latter himself. Same applies to the leader of the European Socialists! Birds of a feather flock together.
IF LAB OUR WILL BE ELECTED I WILL THROUGH TO SIBERIA WITH ALL YOU HATE. DO YOU GO TO CHURCH BECAUSE IF YOU DO IT IS FOR NOTHING JUST FAKE. ALL THE PEOPLE ON THIS BLOG ARE NON MALTESE WITH ALL THE STUPIDITY.
I think Maltastar may be interested in seeing your CV.
What, exactly, is your point?
Unrelated but I had to put it somewhere. I read the bit about defamation in today’s The Times. I should think tha it is clutching at straws for survival! (Al buon intenditor, poche parole)
The Labour Party’s constant aping of leftist European parties and their rhetoric is just a symptom of its embarrassing and unattainable desire to play grown-up politics.
So even though Maltese political issues are a universe removed from those in Europe, they still think the same language can be applied to both contexts.
Presumably, this is in part a legacy of Joseph Muscat’s stint in the European Parliament, brushing shoulders with political hacks in Strasbourg. Putting him in charge of a party, never mind the country, is akin to handing lookout duties to somebody that doesn’t know which end of a telescope you’re supposed to look into.