Comment of the morning – you really have to read this one
Posted by Matthew S beneath last night’s Comment of the Evening:
It is heartening to see that there are people out there who still focus on real issues.
A couple of days ago, Joseph Muscat found himself having to reassure investors that his Labour government will not meddle with the markets.
The Times, Friday, July 6, 2012
Labour vow to investors – ‘We will not meddle with the markets’
It is very telling that time and again he finds it necessary to repeat words to this effect, and yet they are still not convincing. He protests too much.
A look at the few Labour proposals that have been made public give the impression that Joseph Muscat fully intends to meddle with the markets.
How can a living wage be introduced without meddling with the markets?
How can energy bills be arbitrarily reduced without meddling with the markets?
When the Labour Party launched its attack on Carm Mifsud Bonnici and Richard Cachia Caruana, people asked what the Labour Party stands to gain.
I think that its gain is simply a distraction from the issues that really matter.
Joseph Muscat knows that if drawn into a debate with Lawrence Gonzi on economic issues, Lawrence Gonzi will wipe the floor with him.
He has successfully used diversionary tactics to get us talking about and focussing on the problems caused by Franco Debono, Jesmond Mugliett and Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando, rather than on the massive problems that lie immediately ahead with a Labour Party about to govern without a plan or the right people.
During the last general election campaign, Lawrence Gonzi was already talking about serious trouble ahead. This was before the recession.
As soon as it was re-elected, the Nationalist Party embarked on all kinds of reform. Malta Drydocks, Air Malta, pension reform, the public transport reform and investment in capital projects immediately come to mind. This was coupled with incentives for the IT and financial sectors to operate from Malta.
When trouble hit, the government quietly helped companies which were struggling to invest more in Malta rather than give up on it.
People think that Malta has (so far) survived the crisis because Malta is cute and cuddly and a special case, but the truth is that the government has been busting its gut so that Malta’s economy doesn’t crumble, taking us with it.
While the rest of Europe was discussing what would happen if Greece leaves the euro, we were busy discussing Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando’s and Franco Debono’s very personal grudges and issues.
We heard not a squeak from Joseph Muscat about bail-outs, the future of the euro, Greece, Spain or Cyprus, and this from a party full of pseudo economists. He even went as far as to avoid the only TV debate possible with Gonzi (on Dissett) a couple weeks ago.
Lawrence Gonzi keeps trying to talk about these issues but he is unfortunately dragged back to talking about government (in)stability because that is what Joseph Muscat keeps attacking him about with the collusion and cooperation of Franco Debono, Jesmond Mugliett and Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando.
One must not forget that the Labour Party was jubilant when Francois Hollande won the election in France. If Muscat looks up to Hollande, then businesses are in for a rough ride.
At the G20 summit, Cameron, half jokingly, said that Britain would welcome the exodus of businessmen and high earners leaving France after Hollande’s tax policies are introduced.
The truth is that business and socialism don’t mix.
Muscat knows this. That’s why he’s removed all references to Labour and socialism and talks about being moderate and progressive instead. But his statements, when analysed, betray his true thinking.
Even the word ‘party’ was too much. The vague and meaningless ‘movement’ suited him better. This is why the party logo had to be changed and red had to be changed to blue.
With this bit of window-dressing, he has managed to hoodwink people into believing that:
1) the Labour Party has nothing to do with traditional socialism;
2) Malta’s biggest problem is its government instability.
Before the last general election, Lawrence Gonzi promised ‘par idejn sodi fuq it-tmun’.
Although it’s hard to believe when one looks at all that has been going on, the hands on the helm have arguably never been firmer.
It might have passed most people by, but this week it was reported that Malta’s unemployment rate is the fifth lowest in the EU after Austria, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Germany.
Now if only Malta’s big egos find it in themselves to stop trying to sabotage the whole thing. But in the little land of out-sized egos, that might be too difficult.
With economic crises (plural) ahead, Malta needs the Nationalist Party in government more than ever. It certainly does not need a former Super One reporter in charge, surrounded by relics from the golden age of Dom Mintoff and Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici, like Leo Brincat, Karmenu Vella, Alex Sceberras Trigona and others, coupled with unbelievable specimens like Silvio Parnis.
Although The Sunday Times polls are worrying, I await the start of debate about real issues.
Maybe then, Malta’s standing in Europe will be put into some perspective, track records will be discussed and the parties’ visions (or lack of them) will be made clearer to electors.
That is the point at which we will finally get to see whether, after milking the Debono, Mugliett, Orlando saga down to its last drop, the Labour Party will have anything left in the tank.
Joseph Muscat’s aim is now obvious: to force a general election before he is challenged to reveal the policies that nobody in his party is capable of conceiving. He is doing all this, with the help of his three friends in the Nationalist Party, to distract us from talking about what really matters: him.
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Gvern gdid, immexxi minnii….
We haven’t heard those words in a while, because they remind people of the true alternative to the Pulllicino Orlando-Mugliett-Debono soap opera.
Muscat has also said he’d meddle in the functioning of the law courts because he doesn’t like delays and, anyway, labour supporters deserve to have their car-purchase VAT returned to them, whatever the courts decide.
Incidentally, have you noticed lately it’s “Gvern Gdid”, not “Gvern Gdid Laburista” or “Gvern Gdid immexxi minni”. Are they ashamed that it’s Laburista or, indeed, that Joseph Muscat would be leading?
No and no, because they’re shameless. But that doesn’t mean they don’t realise that they really do scare people off.
Even the most basic of arguments is screwed up, figures changed or gists twisted.
He’s retracting on land reclamation now, contradicting Mepa’s own findings and it’s remit to financial feasibility, which in this case, is essential to the research. Then he goes one better and comes up with a conspiracy theory that documents are being suppressed. In other words we’ll never know, might as well trust him.
It’s not a coincidence that the lead was gained in the last six months, given that he was losing steadily up till December, where he had just tried his hand at a budget speech with his 51 points and walked right into the Sargas disaster.
He cannot face anyone in government, he’s used to spin, not argument, let alone face the PM on Dissett.
He won’t go for a prolonged campaign, needs a snap election.
He’s instant, convenient and in individual packets. Once opened, to be consumed within days.
Excellent post.
I am convinced that the PL hasn’t got a clue on how to run the economy, especially in the looming difficult times ahead. I hope that the 10000+ ‘floating voters’ will decide on these issues, and confirm the PN in government.
For all their failings, Lawrence Gonzi’s team have proved that they can run our economy successfully.
There are no floating voters. There are only PN voters who are afraid and Labour voters who are ashamed to own up.
“…the PL hasn’t got a clue on how to run the economy…”
That’s why he needs three stooges to do the job now ably handled by one minister.
Kollox hu possibli ghall-Labour Party, “bi ftit tbazwir ‘l-hawn u ftit tbazwir ‘l-hemm” (Fredu Sant).
The word he used was “nillapazzaw”, Francis.
Prosit Matthew S, so very well said and explained.
Results speak for themselves.
Whatever good for the nation successive Nationalist governments did and achieved has always been taken for granted by everyone.
Labour has always been associated with uncertainty, negativity and malice.
The present team does not even qualify as a responsible opposition, let alone an alternative government.
But unfortunately, many Maltese need to experience another couple of years under Labour to appreciate what Fenech Adami and Gonzi have managed to bless us with. The way the Carm Mifsud Bonnici and Richard Cachia Caruana sagas were orchestrated is just a taste of things to come.
Excellent, simply excellent.
One hell of an article which has totally and unconditionally unmasked Labour and their dear Joseph for what they really are and what is behind the smile and fancy ties.
This piece deserves to go viral and brought across to as many people as possible especially those Nationalist who have decided to vote Labour or those who are considering voting Labour.
“The truth is that business and socialism don’t mix.
Muscat knows this. That’s why he’s removed all references to Labour and socialism and talks about being moderate and progressive instead. But his statements, when analysed, betray his true thinking.”
Yes Muscat knows this – it is in his doctoral thesis.
Yet he defends Mintoff’s policies (within his thesis) and argues that without such a policy set (e.g., student worker schemes, statutory minimum wages, worker participation schemes like Korpi tal Pijunieri, GWU on the cabinet and so on) Malta’s capitalist base would have never taken off during Mintoff’s leadership years.
Excellent post. I expect the more important media in Malta to question, challenge and grill in a professional manner the labour leader on the economic issues. This would expose the mediocrity and insufficiency of the labour party. After all the labour party is only familiar with the socialist economic models of the Mintoff era and completely alien to open market ones.
Jekk jitla Muscat fil gvern ha jitef kullhadd. Fil-kaz ta’ Carm mifsud bonnici, il-Maltin jafu li dan kien ragel fuq rgiel, imma Muscat sorta wahda qaccatlu rasu.
Fil-kaz ta’ Richard Cachia Caruana il-Maltin ftit jafu dan il-bniedem, ahseb u ara kemm jafu bil-gid li ghamel, u x’gid qed ikompli jaghmel ghalina l-Maltin kollha.
Kullhadd jahseb li l-affarijiet jigu bil-kumbinazjoni.
Has anyone read Rules for Radicals by Saul Alinsky? I may be mistaken, but Joseph Muscat seems to be following these rules to the dot. Alinsky is the mentor of Clinton, Obama and closer to home, Zapatero.
You may be right but Joseph Muscat has not succeeded on the first requisite, which is credibility.
He may be applying bits of the other rules but these will not be fully effective if there is no credibility.
Excellent article. Too bad that half the country doesn’t understand what is at stake.
Winning national elections has been difficult for MLP yet that is the easy part. Soon Muscat will realize that governing is the hardest part. Obviously he has no clue.
The three stooges must be politically punished and ridiculed on Thursday. Then Muscat will be forced to discuss the real issues that are important for our future.
This website, and the comments on it, let me retain some hope that there are still people who think for themselves. Will they be enough to keep PL out of our hair?
In the end, people that lived the 80s will never vote Labour but it does not mean they are an easy vote for PN. Many I know would rather stay away from the booths on that day.
Then they might as well vote Labour because the end result will be the same.
The PN should start distributing pictures of what Muscat’s cabinet is likely to look like, with slogans like, ‘Do you really want these Mintoffian Fossils and Rejects running your life again?’
I know it’s a negative campaign, but it would target these lazy bastards who have forgotten what it was really like under the old regime and are taking for granted all that Malta has achieved since then.
Interesting how the acronym for Debono, Orlando and Mugliett spells DOM. Now that’s a bad omen.
Unfortunately Joseph Muscat is getting away with murder regarding important issues.
One of the main issues is Muscat’s position about the euro. Does he intend to stay in the Eurozone or not? He should be challanged to give clear answers.
http://maltastar.com/dart/20120710-bullied-in-uk-because-of-his-maltese-surname
This guy really hit the nail on its head! Ghali li jista ikun, xi hadd ma jafx jekk dahalx xi hadd mid-dar tal-hgieg l-isptar b’musmar imsammar go rasu hux?
‘Incentives’ – the magic word. If that’s not meddling with the economy…
Yet I agree. I’d rather have Lawrence Gonzi meddling with and ‘running’ the economy, than Joseph Muscat.
Yes indeed, Joseph Muscat is aware that the economic policy of the government led by GonziPN has left its impact on our economy.
And that’s why he is telling investors not to be afraid of his Partit Laburista.
But his past still haunts him and his writings against the European Union membership and the entry in the Euro Zone are still clearly written on the wall. These are still there and no one will ever erase them.