Once the required re-thinking of past failures is not being adequately addressed by our parliamentarians, it seems highly unlikely that the next General Election will return anything close to the fresh breath of air so radically needed. That is unless we can muster enough resolve to create a dynamic third political movement with a young spirit, originality and solid arguments.

If this challenge is not taken seriously, we’re bound to be landed, once again, with another government devoid of comprehensive policy-making, direction and ideas. Should the bi-party system persist, a hairline majority either way is envisaged; just like two contending goats, banging heads and getting nowhere, save for the headache and extended stalemate!

Should the present Opposition, somehow manage a victory, this will in all probability not be due to some maverick or laudable management skill on their part, but by pure default.

The plebs might out-vote the present government due to sheer dissatisfaction and/or for the current rumours of shady undertakings and alleged corruption resulting in scandal, which incidentally are totally inconsistent with the core Socialist ideology once loudly professed.

We’ve been exposed for far too long to savages seeking rampant opportunism!

I maintain that the plurality of ideas, that is to say favouring a third and possibly fourth political movement, will increase the diversity of the ‘genetic pool’ which will act as a moderator and a safeguard against those mutations which bring about aberrations that we currently face.

Above all, what is being called for here is for credible people – individuals above reproach, persons of integrity, sound principles and substance to step forward; whilst concurrently, violators who abused the people’s trust, should be exposed, weeded out and put in order. Besides criminal prosecution, permanent expulsion from the House and forfeiture of the fat pension which goes with the job should prove to be sufficient deterrents for any member/s contemplating anything inappropriate.

Then, and only then, can us commoners, once again, look up to them as the Right Honourables they ought to be in the first place!

Ramon Borg-Bartolo

Sliema