We’ve long been told that ideology died when the Berlin wall fell and globalisation spread. I never believed this fairy story but have always been impressed by the fact that so many did.

I remembered the claim during a sitting of a European Parliament committee at which speakers described the loss of their rights by workers and employees. Trade unions have been drained of their strength. Laws that safeguarded workers’ positions were largely diluted. As a result, jobs became more precarious. Job security declined for one and all.  

Ideology was/still is a way by which people understand the nature of their interests in society and how they can protect these interests through a widespread cooperation with other members of the community.

It is strange that just when the interests of working people came under strong attack, the death of ideology was being  proclaimed.

Meanwhile, inequalities continued to increase in Europe and elsewhere.

If it is true that ideology has died the death, the time has come to see about resurrecting it.

 

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THE ENVIRONMENT

I find curious the conclusion arrived at by certain people that the environment has at last become a central feature of Maltese political activity. It certainly deserves that spot. The crimes committed over the years to undermine and destroy this country’s environment in the name of profits constitute some of the worst scandals that we lived through.

However, since way back, I noted how when the economy is doing well, controversies revolve mostly around the cost of living. When inflation too is less likely to trigger complaints, next in line by way of negative attention come corruption and/or drugs. Could it be that since even the last two have damped down as battle cries, the environmental call has taken over?                   

It would be an optimal scenario were the environment to start dominating the political agenda. However to conclude from this that it has become an essential element of local politics still seems to me to be a leap too far.

  

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SELLING AND BUYING

Where should a company which operates in a number of countries pay its tax dues? It could have work stations in different places to produce parts of its output for sale. It could have offices to manage marketing, finance and warehousing in different locations.

The question being asked is whether such a company should pay taxes according to where it is making sales and profits, or somewhere else?

Which raises questions regarding how company expenses are being calculated, especially when say, components manufactured in one country are transfered to the country where the final product is being finished. Who shall verify that the transfer price being charged from one country to the other is not being set high or low in order to ensure that the profit where the product is being sold can be declared high or low, as the “need” arises. 

Such considerations are putting pressure on European countries to all use the same base to establish company accounts covering receipts and expenditures for tax purposes.