George Orwell once wrote: "In our age there is no such thing as 'keeping out of politics." All issues are political issues and politics itself is a mass of lies, evasions, folly, hatred and schizophrenia. "Political language...is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable and to give an appearance to the wind." (Politics and the English language)

At the time, George Orwell surely never had in mind our island nation, as we were still a British colony serving Big Brother. In the meantime, all members of the Maltese Parliament worked hard to bring about Independence and an Island Nation without favour or obligations. But within a generation since becoming a Republic and our own masters, this cancerous disease has contaminated our mind set and our way of making politics to an extent that the above paragraph now fits Maltese politics like a glove. We, the goyim (cattle in Hebrew; in Maltese naghag ta Bendu'), are being spoon-fed, inundated and indoctrinated from dawn till dusk with political jargon - written and broadcast propaganda. I do not know of any country, other than in a banana republic, that a political party is the owner of a broadcasting station, citing pluralism as an excuse. Observe the supposed independent state broadcaster featuring daily news; most if not all are of parliamentarians and secretarial ministers, along with their entourage, cutting ribbons and given credit on trivial and at times ridiculous situations as if they had invented the wheel.

Politics is so engrained in our DNA that of the 28 members of the European Union, we have the highest percentage of voters in local elections and not only. One reason, in my opinion, is that the 'I scratch your back you scratch mine' syndrome applies to us because it is the custom, which has never been eradicated but has increased considerably, to call on a parliamentarian at his office, who will attend to one's personal needs in exchange for the vote. That is what politicians mean when they say 'to be near the people'.

Then there is the cunning Machiavellian who knows nothing of party politics and its history, and whose only concern is being in the shadow of a prospective parliamentarian to receive benefits. This is where the political scoundrel finds refuge and there are quite a few of these. To top it all, along comes the unsung hero, the anointed one. He forms part of the clique for whom the highest positions such as chief of staff, chairmanships, persons of trust are reserved. Many other inventive occupations cater for the 'hbieb tal hbieb' whose only credentials are that of being party to the party's hierarchy or one of the family. Such individuals become heads of government entities and parastatal bodies. Government officials - the principles, ECOs, the heads of departments are the ones who issue the order of the day while the minister takes the credit. A case in point of a figurehead is the recent ministerial musical chairs. The last general election saw seen a record of contenders on both sides of the political divide, from school leavers to others who just wanted to be in the game, as well as individuals wanting to be in the limelight. No wonder there was a dearth of men and woman of integrity who have much to offer but find it repulsive and objectionable to be a 'yes man'.  

At present, we have only one choice - Hobson's choice. Effective means must be found to justify having 69 Members in our Parliament; one third of them are there simply warming their seats and be regarded as semi-gods. The result of the last election typifies how the newcomers only gained their seats in Parliament due to inheriting numbers and not on their own merit. This anomaly has to be rectified. It is unbelievable what has been suggested - that NGOs participate in parliamentary sessions. Is this another way of suffocating and stifling any dissent? Political street vigilance is being encouraged by more street leaders being involved, which is in effect KGB supervision with a red and blue notebook, and of course a black one.

Until a remedy is found to distance politics from our daily life, the frenzy that makes our political life such, will continue to be contaminated, as Orwell said, with lies, folly, hatred and schizophrenia. Just open any daily local newspaper on line and read bloggers spew venom, bitter and vindictive malice, on anyone who even slightly disagrees and does not toe his or her political party line. May men and woman of good will and above party politics let their voices be heard for constitutional means to be found so that there is more reasonable people's representation.

I know it is wishful thinking and I feel like one shouting in the wilderness.

Until then, we have to lump it and live with it.

Francesco Simon Mercieca

Fgura