This morning on the radio a lady who called in to the programme, happened to mention that she was washing her clothes.  The DJ immediately sensed that this simple statement merited some further enquiry, as to why this woman did not have a washing machine.   He very responsibly asked the caller to wait on the line until he could return to her call privately.  After checking back with her, he told his listeners that she was alone, living on a pension, having to pay for her accommodation and that her circumstances meant she could not afford to buy a washing machine.  He promised that he would visit the lady and see if help was needed and if so, that it would be provided.

He did all this very naturally and instinctively. 

On the other end of the spectrum, we open the daily papers and read about the extravagance and deception on the New Year’s  video of Prime Minister Joseph Muscat.  But this video, over- the- top and blatantly propagandist as it was, is just one of the many times that the public’s coffers have been misappropriated and the nation’s government has been used to serve PL party interests and personal agendas, with a blank cheque.

All the while, we, the public still wait to be informed about the costs involved in all the expensive brochures, festivities, video’s, presentations, promotions and events involving creative direct orders, most recently for the Valletta Summit and CHOGM.  Of course, it is to be expected, as we wait for accounts to be published, that many suppliers are astute enough to provide some tents, venues, printing, filming production, transport, lighting, security and general services at, shall we say, a discounted rate?  Or maybe like Dr Chris Cardona’s Portomaso contract, the bill is paid on vacating the premises rather than when in power?  Can a change in government mean that the bill will be owing?  

We see with our own eyes the brochures sent by Transport Malta and the many advertisements that were placed in the newspapers to inform us about the diversions on the Coast Road and the new bus routes.   It would have been better if some money was spent on consultation rather than on publications, because many localities are not at all happy with the new bus routes. 

The Prime Minister’s wife also remains a question mark.  What sort of funding is involved for events at Villa Francia and why were the auditors not allowed to do their job and take an inventory as they needed to do at the time?  Why is the place used for various activities and not for the official functions which was its real purpose?  Instead, private venues are contracted costing money rather than using the Villa.   What expenses and allowances are involved in her position, apart from the driver and her parent’s residential care?

Another wife is Sai Mizzi who now has really taken up residence in the hidden city.  We pay thousands of euros a month to her as though we are her serfs and Malta is her fiefdom.   At least in the past we had a British base and they paid us, rather than we pay out to an unknown lady for little more, it would appear, than the privilege of having a hostage in China. 

Then we should also add up the phenomenal value of all the lands and building permits that have been handed over in tailor-made deals.  All ready to be approved by tailor-made authorities.  Any scrutiny is brushed aside and impropriety is valued in how much benefit is rubbing off on others.

If, as believed before, people were suffering to pay their water and electricity bills, they can now sit quietly with envy and lower their self-esteem, when they see that the bargain kitchen they have at home came without appliances and with a monthly installment.  Like the super slim photo-shopped models in magazines, they believe that the reality for all other people is the shiny new designer kitchen in the open-plan flat and their own figure is the exception.

We are never far from envy and comparisons, starting with the relentless comparisons to the PN, to what they did, to what they achieved, to where they are now, to how things looked then and how they look now.  It is a constant case not of governing but of bad Public Relations.

The trouble is that this government has so little to show of its own in the way of projects, investments (genuine ones), economic long-term planning and cultural or environmental initiatives in favour of the country that it can only resort to PR stunts to try to impress the public, much as Putin would keep his peasants happy by playing the part of the patriotic and invincible ruler. 

In truth, the free Child-care initiative is not a novel idea but an extension of what began under the PN whilst the minority rights are also an evolution of popular opinion and Human Rights issues, which, some may argue went too far and actually distorted the common respect and understanding of the values and rules.  In respect of the Power Station the jury is still out as we have as yet, no new power station, contrary to what was promised.

The last time a politician tried the kitchen stunt was when Labour opposition ex-leader Ed Milliband was filmed in his own kitchen only for it to be inadvertently leaked by a friend of his, that the plain, empty surfaced units in the narrow room where he and his wife stood filmed, was a little spare kitchen where he could mix his gin and tonics and open a packet of nuts.  The real home kitchen was in another part of the house.  Mr Milliband was trying to give the common feel to his image, when it backfired terribly, showing him up to be the champagne socialist rather than the worker’s best buddy.

The time will come when people will get fed up of all the show, excess, envy and greed and just turn off.  That poor lady who is still washing her sheets and towels by hand is not alone.  There are others whose reality is in stark contrast to the flashy images and generous hand-outs to Jordanian contractors. 

Ultimately, the people will ask if they are better off or not, not just materially but also where respect, values, solidarity and honesty is concerned.  How has this government, the nepotism, the favouritism, the state media, the justice system, education and the wonderful economy benefited them? Did the reduction in water & electricity really exceed the artificially high prices on petrol and diesel?   If they deem it to be positive, then all the costly machine may be considered as good value for money.  If not, then all the money has been squandered just to satisfy one man’s ego and create nothing more than a fairytale.

Somewhere, though, the film has been edited because democracy was never just about the few but about the many.  Not just the better-off but also the ordinary citizen.  Zooming in to one kitchen is easier than focusing on the different stories but that is just one fraction of the general population and the rest should not just be a number but the very foundation of the success against which the country’s leaders will be judged.  Let the orchestra play.