Doing away with the deficit – Labour style by Tony Abela [TMID 4 March] almost started to put some fear in me and made me think that life could get very tough under a Labour government. I have always voted Labour, even when it was a mortal sin to do so. However, the article by Dr Abela gave me some food for thought and made me inclined to search for an alternative next time round. All I need is a little peace of mind from Dr Abela or any official exponent of his party.

I have strong inclinations towards Dr Sant’s Labour but sometimes I lack the courage to face the future. A national debt of Lm1.4 billion is no mean hurdle to overcome, and I hope that the Nationalist Party have found the means of delivering us from the perilous situation they predict if Labour is elected.

Putting away the horse’s blinkers, I see the difficulties for both Labour and Nationalists in admitting to us that there is no way of putting our house in order other than to face the music. The Nationalists, however, seem to have better bedside manners and are promising us that all will be OK if we give them our vote to continue their mission. But then I remember that it was they who got us in this mess in the first place.

Notwithstanding, after reading the scary story by Dr Abela and other arguments on NET TV and Radio 101, in that Labour will introduce severe austerity measures, I get cold feet and would think twice before voting Labour again.

It will be a noble gesture from Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi to reaffirm his previous promise that his party will give us peace of mind but additionally, a solemn assurance that he will not allow his party to adopt any of the alleged Labour party’s proposals to heal this country’s ills and\or different measures which amount to the same bitter medicine. Please, no more scaremongering about Labour’s past. The people are talking and asking a simple question. Did the Nationalist Party find a way to pay our national debt other than through taxes imposed on our hard-earned cash?

When peace of mind is guaranteed to us in this regard, I will vote Nationalist next time. After all, we are now enjoying a new spring within the stability provided by the European Union. All that is amiss is a little debt of Lm1.4 billion and after this problem is solved we will all be living life to the full.

Charles J Buttigieg

MELLIEHA