They have come to determine the personal behaviour of many, since people end up impressed with how many individuals are keyed up to disparage with total carelessness no matter who. Apparently, the volume of insulting and derogatory personal messaging is consistently rising, while the statements that attract most attention reek with prejudice and bulk with fake information (especially about immigration and people of colour).
I believe that such messages are perceived as important because people continue to give them attention. If one ignores the gripes of fanatics, their messages do not travel beyond their limited networks. And fanatics only number some few thousand.
Social media are a marvellous tool by which we can comunicate with each other. But equally, they can be poisonous if they get used to communicate envy and hate towards others. Unfortunately it seems like we’re moving this way.
There is no consolation in noting how it is not happening in just our country. Others which are much larger have preceded us down that direction.
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BREXIT IS STILL WITH US
Many had believed that the Brexit soap opera was over with the agreement reached between the UK and the EU by the end of last year about the former’s exit from the latter.
Not so. True the UK’s exit is done, but regarding the ties that the UK would have in future with the EU, fresh negotiations still had to be carried. They’re proving to be extremely tough. Both sides have been doing all they could to get things done their way wherever they could.
Both sides insist that right is on their side. No way have they shown as of now any intention of trying to compromise. If both sides continue in this hardline mode, the negotiations will surely fail.
It is a vital issue. Failure to agree would likely mean that European economies, the UK’s included, would in addition to the hit dealt by the corona virus outbreak, also have to absorb further economic difficulties at a time when they could have done without them.
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SMES UNDER THREAT
All over Europe, the very existence of small and medium sized enterprises is under threat. Given how their sales have collapsed, they have lost the financial oxygen that keeps their operations going on a month to month basis. With the help of governments, banks have continued to pump cash in their direction so that they could stay afloat.
But it is a delicate exercise. There are limits to how far it can be taken. And it is likely to come at a hefty expense, both for the banks and for smes as well.
In the foreseeable future there can be no alternative except for governments and banks to continue to give support to smes. Which is why in recent weeks practically all governments sought to reverse lockdowns, even at some risk to the health of citizens. In any case, these were beginning to turn against the constriaints they have been subjected to.
Yet should the corona virus pandemic begin to roll again in a big way, smes would likely be its first economic victims. It is not usually said so frequently but they happen to constitute the sector that provides most jobs, in Malta as well.