You can’t expect an indecent person to do the decent thing
The leading article in The Times today, under the title ‘Another appointment from hell’, is excellent (link below). It makes the point that we can’t expect the prime minister to rescind John Bencini’s appointment to the chair of the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development, because “it takes a great man to admit he was wrong”.
Therefore, The Times said, it is up to Mr Bencini himself to respect the fact that he is not wanted by those who will have to work with him, thank the prime minister for the appointment, but refuse it.
But we couldn’t expect him to do that either, could we. Just as it takes a great man to admit he was wrong, so you can’t expect decent behaviour from the pathologically indecent.
Given John Bencini’s dramatically attention-seeking behaviour, and his absurdity, over the last couple of years, I think we should have fully expected him to impose himself on those who are unwilling to have him, and to actually enjoy the experience of doing so.
And that is what he did.
I do have the occasional flash of insight into a person’s character. The fact that the social partners don’t want him is what makes John Bencini want even more to take up the position. This is the sort of man who gets perverse satisfaction from being a ‘skifuz. It is also a sort of ‘revenge of the nerds’ scenario.
They look down on me and think me incapable, he says to himself, but the more they don’t want me, the more I’m going to stay, push them around and make their lives difficult. Ghax issa ghandi l-power.
Meanwhile, the prime minister has defended his choice of Bencini – note that the word consultation, which is obligatory at law in this case, does not exist in his lexicon – and told the press that he believes he “will rise to the occasion”. Indeed. The question is – what occasion? The prime minister’s arcane agenda or the job he is meant to do as chairman?
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http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20130405/editorial/Yet-another-appointment-from-hell.464236
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20130405/local/pm-defends-bencini-appointment.464313
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20130405/local/mcesd-meeting.464331
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20130405/local/Cloud-hangs-over-first-MCESD-meeting-today.464253
Malta taghna ilkoll. Naghmlu li rridu. Tindahlulix.
Three weeks into legislature and Muscat’s already alienated all stakeholders.
Netnews carried phone interviews yesterday.
UHM is worried about the jobs+ document signed by both leaders, it seems Bencini can’t stand it when someone comes up with a good idea, GRTU’s defiant, MHRA doubtful to his credentials, the Chamber and the MEA ditto and the CMTU, given his personal animosity in its regards, is simply disappointed.
Way to go Joseph, let’s have your movement repeat 1981.
Pity this Malta won’t play along, and whose fault would that be? Meantime, any advantage we enjoyed, is out.
Daphne, have you ever came across the definition of what is known as the ‘Peter Principle’? This principle is named after Laurence Johnston Peter a Canadian-born US educationalist and author. The definition is as follows: “In a hierarchy every employee tends to rise to his level of incompetence”
This best describes the PL in government, they were all raised to their own level of incompetence!
Preliminary reports in the press indicate that the GRTU came out of the meeting metaphorically carrying a white flag, appeased by the suggestion that the chairmanship will henceforth ‘rotate’, being nominated from the different social groups making up the MCESD – which is absolute nonsense.
At time of writing, not a peep from any of the other members who broadcast so loudly their resentment and objection regarding the choice and method used in appointing Bencini. So one can assume that it is now white flags all round.
If the MCESD is to function at its optimum level, as it should given its importance, then the chairman appointed should be the best person for the job, as regards personal qualities, qualifications, and who should also enjoy the widest level of respect among the members of the council.
In other words, exclusively on the basis of merit.
Now where have we heard that word before?
I have to say this in Maltese. Kemm baqghalu biex jizmaga?
The Times can get off its high horse, pronto. It spectacularly failed in its duty to call this government to task when it was a *prospective* government. Had the paper done its job when it should have, this editorial wouldn’t have been necessary.
I’ve written to The Times about my personal experience with Bencini.
[Daphne – Will you send in a link, please, when it is published?]
Hear, hear.
he “will rise to the occasion” – with a good dose of Viagra.
If Anglu Farrugia has risen from the dead, why shouldn’t John Bencini rise to the occasion?
Rise to the occasion?
That comment in itself shows the Muscat himself has no faith in the man but was forced to appoint him in return of services rendered.
So he’s not up to it but may rise to the occasion? Was there nobody already capable of doing the job in the vaunted meritokrazija?
Mhux huma ivvutawlu? I’m sorry but I cannot stand people whining as though the Prime Minister elected himself. The PN had said that this would happen but it got labelled as “negative”.
A swing of 19,000 must have included so many members of the organisations represented on MCESD
I’m sorry I have no sympathy now. Let them have Bencini, who’s not even presentable. La krewha joqghodu ghaliha. They should have seen it coming.
The meeting should have been boycotted – in principle.
Fully agree.
It would seem that quite a lot of PN supporters are still reeling after such a battering. Calm down. Do not spread any more hatred as it might come back to haunt you
[Daphne – I can’t speak for my readers, Norman, but I’m actually having a lovely time. ‘Spreading hatred’, eh? Bit of a cultural gulf here, I suspect. Might I suggest that you crack open a couple of beers and unwind watching Super One. But if you want something really positive, download a couple of Lucille Ball shows from the Fifties.]
John Bencini betrayed us teachers. He took the MUT out of the CMTU and joined the Forum without any consultation whatsoever.
He is not a man to be trusted.
While he worked for EU membership 10 years ago, probably he expected something in return, which he didn’t get and thus he preferred to join forces with rich pilots and protest against the electricity tariffs while ignoring the problems that we teachers face in our sector.