Meritocracy
Published:
May 12, 2013 at 12:06am
Sonny Portelli, who PM Joseph Muscat removed as chairman of the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development, replacing him with retired teacher, union man and party lackey John Bencini, has just been made chairman of HSBC Malta.
As the internet comment-ocracy would put it, “any further comment is superfluous”.
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Ah, but Bencini “will rise to the occasion.” Let’s “give him a chance.”
With a good dose of Viagra.
Oh, in that case even Eddy could be chairman of the MCESD.
Famous last words from Kenneth Zammit Tabona when referring to Jason’s appointment: Let’s give him a chance.
This is nothing but a lesson about true MERITOCRACY from HSBC to josephmuscat.com
What I find interesting about this concept of “meritocracy” is a hidden contradiction.
By claiming that the government will only appoint people who are considered to have good credentials, “abilities” or experience in the respective sector (without specifying what KIND of abilities are necessary or sufficient), the government is simply empowering itself to decide the standards and means by which abilities and experience are judged to be adequate.
If no standards are previously made explicit, the government is free to set its own. Another dangerous and open-ended term that captures people’s imagination and sense of social justice, but empowers the government without putting too much of a constraint on itself through people’s expectations.
It’s interesting how people’s expectations of the Labour Party are always so low. Nationalists are constantly critiqued and attacked about the most insignificant of actions.
Having people’s support and legitimating power in a democracy, whether through tangible results or open-ended promises (the latter clearly being Labour’s choice), make for a good platform for an absolute and unquestionable rule.
That’s when a party’s true colours start showing – and what we’ve seen so far has not been promising by any stretch of the imagination.
Regarding meritocracy have a look at this new board of management for St Vincent de Paule Hospital:
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20130513/local/new-board-to-reform-st-vincent-de-paul-home-management.469487