Ever since the last election I have come to realise that few Maltese are truly European. The rest feel more comfortable going back to being the poor islanders forever being conquered by some ruling power, to whom they have to beg for something in return, and to whom they are grateful for whatever they get even if it is far less than what they deserve.

In Malta’s villages this is often described as Us and Them, and unfortunately it is rather endemic.

‘Bhalissa l-aktar li qed tregi l-ghajta Malta taghna lkoll’. U veru, sewwa qed tghid.

Naf b’wiehed li, wara l-1987 kien jghajjat f’nofs ta’ triq “Ahna Nazzjonalisti, naghmlu li rridu”. U veru wkoll, ghaliex kwazi dejjem ghamel li ried u ftit kienu jiqfulu.

Minn sentejn ‘l hawn l-ghajta tbiddlet u saret aktar qawwija – Malta taghna lkoll. U hadmet, tafx,

Dak li taht gvern Nazzjonalista ma kienx thalla jaghmel ghaliex kien abuziv, issa nghata l-permess kollu biex jaghmlu.

Call me an (old) wet blanket, but the transfers, promotions and benefits dished out prior to the 1987 elections still garnered 48.9% of the vote for the MLP.

Many chose to ignore the violence, the corruption, the failed economy and the anti-democratic policies which ruled the day.

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20130307/elections-news/hollande-endorses-joseph-muscat.460620

Now Muscat is rolling down hill in the same fashion as Hollande is doing.

I can’t imagine joey and the hundreds of his cronies ever looking forward to running out of THEIR OWN money.

When they run out of other people’s money, they will know that it is the time for them to disappear – together with their own treasure chests.

But Saviour Balzan only restricts journalism where it suits his beloved Prime Minister. He did not stop to harass Police Commissioner Grech when he had an extra marital affair, and was forced to resign.

As with Malta, Hollande, is now seen as a joke.

There were many, in France’s regions who thought “Moi, Président….” was going to finally introduce change where Sarkozy – in his first battle with the Unions – had backed off. Crazily, they entrusted him with their vote.

When personality cracks like those appear in the case of Hollande and Muscat/ Muscat’s team there is no turning back the clock. The fissure endures and widens – even amongst those of average intelligence.

In the regions, where – remember – 70% of French have to survive on their meager under 1500 – 2000€ per month salary (in most cases where the take home is on the 1300€ level), where heavy taxes and accompanying enforcement measures are in place so that the French can only “have a life” between July and August (this is when they receive their Tax bill, and October, November the other two), life is pretty sparse. A vegetable garden is not only a hobby, it’s a necessity. People join up even to get a good deal on meat.

The French don’t like not travelling because of language difficulties – as it is largely said. The average French man can’t afford to max out and live on his salary otherwise.

That is why jeans make up the French wardrobe. That is why any household economy, even 2€ here and there counts. Even hobby fishing needs a paid for licence. If you want to go out fishing for a day with friends – you each need to pay for a day licence and then the fish gets put back in the river etc.. It gets extremely basic. And then you have French pride, style, and values, that covers up for all that. Despite the hardship that they are not even aware can be different in their lifetime, they cope.

The mentality is so very peasant post-revolution.

ADSL entered France about 6 years after it did in Malta.
Regional town halls called big meetings to explain it to the villagers. The knack of French large companies is that they introduce the big bits but leave out the convenience of the small packages. But the French remain totally unaware, screened off from the possibilities and alternatives offered to others.

Literature is translated with another 6 / 7 year delay.

Film dubbing is not exact.

The market of Medicines is so protected that only what is made in France gets offered on the National Health system.
Some medicines are free to the French, but they do have to pay 30% of all medical bills, unless this is covered by a separate insurance.

In all levels of French life there is a filter that cuts off reality for that 70%.

The conceptual limits of the general French can be equated to keeping a whole population stupid.

Germany today is very different.
In Italy conceptual limits have always been wider.

The UK has the great advantage however you put it. Perhaps it’s the humour that helped, over the years, in addition to the existence of the eccentric.

We have no idea how lucky we were in Malta. How advanced. How fast things used to get done.

In Malta too, reality has become very different.

In Malta, mob mentality rules. The screen of stupidity that put these people there allows them to do whatever they like.

And they know it.

Matthew S. you are a genius. Well done.