One of the accusations levelled against the Gonzi government was the way it detached from the citizens.  Anytime anyone tried to approach a Minister, Ministry or Secretary or who-ever they were met with the platitude about Institutions having the power and they are unable to intervene.  Eventually, Gonzi tried to bridge the gap by email contact.  It just threw the ball into some other court and kept on bouncing.

Well, now we are hearing and seeing the same coming from Muscat and his government.

Whether it is about the situation being faced by those people living under the poverty line, the Air Malta employees, the Marsa residents, the traffic, the environment and especially the hunting and killing of protected birds in the hunting season, our appeals are met with denial, or with that refute that simply shifts the problem to some bogus authority. 

Words and figures are twisted and used to deny the truth and conjure a totally opposite impression to reality.  The poor, so, are not really poor because economic figures say so.   The PM tells us the dead protected birds are protected by the Ornis committee.  Trees are now the responsibility of Transport Malta as they are stripped out of the ground at will.  Our polluted seas are a Waste problem and construction extending onto the narrow pavements are an issue for the Council.  And the mighty building industry is in the hands of the Malta Developers Association. 

And finally, to be sure that there is order in dysfunctionality, the opposition is now headed by a similarly expert person, on trend with the jargon.  A few noises here and there and a handshake or two and the stage is set to really stitch up the poor, the ambitious, the money-makers, the protesters and the intellectuals. 

The media is shared amongst the opposing forces so that there will not be any more imbalance and getting an independent view will be the equivalent of finding a precious "tartufo" in the woods, where a good sniffer dog manages to dig it up.

Without any blood being shed, under pretext of democracy, the revolution is complete and all classes have been brought down to the one class.  The irony is that it is not one socialist working or middle class but one capitalist class of crooks and thieves in a bogus liberal establishment.  The Maltese have always been good at having two or three faces, changing as often as the wind.

Like the London, Soho days when Maltese ran the district, these phoney establishments of government and opposition, now have the island under their control to run their illicit affairs and to strut their bling in fancy restaurants and holidays they cannot afford on their own income.  The shady groupies have emerged from their past, like rock bands in a revival tour. 

Contemporarily, under the umbrella of a free vote for moral issues, the right-wing is quieted. 

In time, though, the opposition will stumble because the funds needed to keep it afloat and to wage campaigns will not be found and there will be no moral or human backbone to support it and attract the votes.  In draining the swamp, they will run it dry.  The leader is resting on a few votes to qualify him for the job, one for which he is like a player on loan for a season.

The country now operates with compromised institutions and authorities and not much alternative when it comes to government.  It is not a matter of giving a chance or giving time and seeking unity.  The level has dropped and anyone who stands above it has no place or comfort.  Surviving outside that area of compromise requires principles and independent minds.  Freedom of information and access to good education are going to be very important as Labour gain more power.

We will probably become more reliant on so-called bloggers in a sea of trolls and gossip.  Trust in the media and the political parties is like hoping your drug dealer will take you to rehab. 

The same with institutions, committees and persons whose job it is to ensure security, protect citizens and their property, enforce the law impartially and select persons on merit for boards and high office.  Either we are a free and democratic country or we are the servitude of some.  That is not how a country should be run, no matter the economic performance or the votes gained. 

Two other members of parliament were elected in the Forza Nazzjonali of June 2017 under which the PN and the PD ran.  Marlene Farrugia and Godfrey Farrugia, the hybrid of PN and PL, the combo of the fight against corruption and the protest at hijacked institutions with an honest commitment to serve the people.  Their presence is the one reminder of what got them there - the Panama gang's corruption.  Probably more so than Simon Busuttil's still occupied seat.

As long as we are not afraid to remember, we should not forget that the election came 12 months ahead of schedule and the labour party changed its deputy leader three times, its Police Commissioner five times, along with several other ministers being displaced, the Prime Minister opening a court case against himself in the Gaffarena scandal, the members of the PANA committee remaining sceptical and offended, decisions reversed and state property and funds diverted to the labour party not to mention the numerous positions of trust that enable the management and control of events and outcomes and completely distort the merit system, crippling efficiency.

Being efficient, or being seen to be efficient is an essential characteristic of a successful leader and government.  The big display by Muscat's team to make a show of complicated flyovers and bridges and re-surfaced roads is meant to show-case this efficiency much as Putin displays his army and weapons.  He failed to deliver the power station on time and it is still not in action and probably costing us millions of euros.  The Gozo ferry is still limping its journeys without any fast ferry to show-off near it.  We are now faced with a serious waste problem as the Maghtab mountain seems to be erupting again.  No new schools, protected birds shot from the sky, crowded hospital wards and long waiting times at the A&E, the elderly paying out their pensions for care they should be provided with by the social system, Airmalta changing its role more often than a woman changes her mind and homelessness becoming a reality on our streets.

Having a financial surplus is not necessarily efficient and can never compensate for the inefficiency of those who will not do their job in order to please the hand that feeds them. 

Only when we find integrity with efficiency can we say we have found a good leader. Till then, it is more of the same.  Those who like it can look forward to a good time ahead.