My theory has always been, that if we are to dream, the flatteries of hope are as cheap, and pleasanter, than the gloom of despair.

Thomas Jefferson

So it’s been two  years since Castille changed hands, and  yet many argue that there  is hardly any sign of the new  hands changing 'Castille 'or what it stands for.

The general impression remains that a group of egocentric individuals, who care only about themselves and their multifaceted advancement, has replaced the previous group of people who had similarly become adept at patronage and  simultaneously blind to dubious activity  by what used to be called ' the 'untouchables'.

Worse than that, the conglomerate of untouchables and policy moulders is now encompassing the cream of the crop of the befores and afters of the  March 2013 general election, which means that power is now entirely in their hands. Any opposition by  our democratically elected opposition is smashed by virtue of the PN’s inability to shake off the cloak of dirt inherited  from the previous  legislation. The local media, most of it grappling with financial difficulties, is free only as much as it can be free in this sorry suffocating situation, having to choose between exerting an element of caution and being able to squeak here and there, or being hastened into bankruptcy and total silence.

The Civil Service and our institutions are being progressively dismantled, not just physically but by virtue of their being bypassed or psychologically beaten into submission as  the potential dismissal of main actors  is written on  the proverbial walls for them to see.

Multimillion euro contracts or settlements are handed out without due process, the Auditor General's Office is trying to keep up with anomalies, and our guardian the Ombudsman ends up taking  the government we elected to court.

If it wasn't so tragic, it would be hilarious. Just like the video of our armed forces in training, and poor Chris Fearne's ill-fated statement about dabbling with our Hobza to improve public health, and his complete silence about unfolding and imminent environmental pillage that threatens public health and silence about Hfo still powering our power stations. This is compounded by the silence regarding the fate of the hazardous waste produced by the now Chinese owned, cancer-factory yet Enemalta saving power station. 

No conversion to diesel, no conversion to gas, no word from our Health Secretary. 

So is it all doom and gloom? Of course not. The Government has delivered considerably in other areas. Our economy is doing very well, unemployment has gone down and most people have more money  in their pockets - though there would be more money going round if squandering is curtailed). Civil rights have been given by legislation (though others are threatened by the heaviness in the air), tax cuts, free childcare, and a general feeling of hope still render the general feeling mildly optimistic.

But that optimism can be greatly multiplied if the government works harder on its act.

Its lack of transparent, amateurish tactics need to be checked now before the image we painstakingly built becomes permanently blighted. We can start by throwing more light on the MOBC contract, focussing more on PBS's preferences for making use of public moneys and following up on the auditor General's report on the Cafe Premier deal. Then we can proceed to clarify many other things.

There is still time for this administration to grow into the government the people thought they had elected two years ago.  The question is, if the will to do so still exists or whether it existed at all in the first place.

Meanwhile, no government can afford to remain in its toddler years, even if it’s only two years old.