While most of the interventions seem to be radically biased, I for one see things for what they are and not chose to bury my head in the sand instead of indulging in constructive criticism.

Is it a fact or not that for the last two years we have had an astronomic increase in the price of utilities, making our cost of production rise exponentially?

A cost which was completely unforseen by local enterprise and which has driven several businesses out of competition. The price of gas during this last year, for instance, has risen by over 120%.

If you are feeling propserous, I wish you well but this was hardly the time for a parliamentary honoraria increase while so many are struggling to stay afloat and during a period when cash flow has been systematically reduced from the price of utilities alone.

Regrettably, while you are feeling so prosperous, one has to take into account that business employ people and the first to bite the bullet are employees. Government induced inflation has had a direct impact on the economy these mostly due to years of persistent inefficnecies at Enemalta and the WSC.

Just because you see a lot of people buying cars, taking holidays, and going to the beautician does not necessarily mean that our standard of living is on the improve.

It simply means that domestic debt is also on the rise and this is being fuelled by low interest rates which are goverened by the ECB ( as opposed to the CBM prior to the Euro entry). These low interests will come to haunt us in the no so distant future.

Whilst I agree that Labour is definitely not an option, I am so disappointed by the fanaticism you write in pretending that all is so smooth and sunny.

Is this their mindset?

Do they really expect us to consider such gall as a legitimate position taken by a party aspiring to represent all of us when in government?

Apart from the fact that the opposition has a role to play, an obligation to contribute to the evolution of political dialogue and well being of society. Something, it seems, completely alien to these individuals.

Why do they insist on being the antistate? What a waste.

How do they intend dealing with the stakeholders? Haven’t they learnt that this is what makes investors run?

We’ve already been through it, witnessed the tantrums and picked up the pieces.

Someone has to, I suppose.

I think it should be clear to all that the ‘devils we do not know’ are only interested in being elected in government in order to be able to have something to add to their personal CVs.

Unfortunately until such time that they prove otherwise, with the first step being the disclosure of their policies, thereby allowing a serious economic debate to commence, there will be no hobson’s choice of the devil we know and the one we don’t. We know them both and the choice is obvious, warts and all.

The common citizen can afford new cars, holidays, meals out, trips to the beautician, hairdresser and bars, cigarettes and much else. No, Lorna, the PN have given us democracy and prosperity.

On the contrary, they pursued their 500 euro a week parliamentary increase while the nation is bone shaken by the recession in going through a period where cash has become a very scarce commodity and everybody seems to be feeling the pinch of the massive overnight utility increases.

I agree that Labour is not an alternative but die hard Nationalists are feeling betrayed and cheated and know full-well that it is only those within the inner circles that are reaping the benefits, if any.

While the rest of the common folk are struggling to remain afloat and while businesses are having to face an uphill struggle to compete and make ends meet. And while the saying goes……”better the devil you know”…people don’t want a devil, thy want firm leadership not uncertainty about costs which were brought about by years of relentless inefficiencies and overstaffing at Enemalta!

This is why they don’t care:

Ghax issa ibni, meta jitilghu taghna m’hemmx ghalfejn thabbel rasek biex issib xoghol. Immurlek jien ghand il-Ministru u jsiblek x’imkien hu. U harja f’wicc min huwa kkwalifikat ahjar minnek ghax il-post tiehdu int.

Meta nitilghu m’hemmx fier jew mhux fier. Niehdu dak li rridu ghax ahna hadd ma jista’ ghalina.

X’jimpurtana mill-ekonomija, jew x’tghidilha, meta l-Ministru taghna jqassmilna l-gid, jaghlaq ghajn wahda u jaghmlilna l-pjaciri?

Meta jitilghu taghna inkunu qisna rbahna l-lotterija. Fhimt?

Prince George asks Baldrick what their campaign will focus on, whereupon Baldrick replies that he will focus on issues not personalities, because their candidate doesn’t have a personality.

Labour seem set on doing the reverse by focusing on GonziPN because they have no policies.

On second thoughts they are even worse; they cannot even focus on their own personalities since they are not at all appealing.

Interesting. Exactly my thoughts, but not only of Labourites, but of anyone who has committed him or herself to being a “Laburist” or “Nazzjonalist”.

Such people seem to equate support for a political party with support for a football team.

Unfortunately, the analogy is totally incorrect.

In football, one supports the team, the players. The supporters are not directly involved in what happens on the field. In reality, whatever the team does, does not affect the supporters one jot.

In politics, the political party or government is NOT the team. It is the COACH, giving guidance to the team, which is the POPULACE, which is completely involved in making the country work, and which will solely bear the consequences of the coach’s decisions, very directly.

Sadly very few people seem to realise this.

And some people will support the coach no matter how good or bad the guidance is. But only in politics.

Is there something wrong in this statement? in 1992 the swing was of almost 20,000 f I am not mistaken, huge by our standards. But I could be missing something.

[Daphne – In 1992, around 45% of the electorate voted for the return of KMB as prime minister. Yes, 45%.]