The minister of tourism has resigned so all is fine in the kingdom of this land of fools, charlatans and crooks. Aren't we all just living it up in a dream-like existence where all is glitzily fine?
A few days ago, the head of government, the Prime joker of the lot, assured us that there was no need for the minister to go but rumour has it that some other misdeed was about to be unearthed, so Robert Abela thought it was time for Clayton to go.
Sadly, I'm sure Clayton Bartolo's new scandal, even if bigger, meatier and more horrific can't be of much interest to any of us. There are so many of these scandals that one added to the whole lot couldn't possibly tip anything over. Compare it to the abhorrent national custom of shooting any lovely bird that passes by: whether the bird, poor blighter, is shot at once or ten times does not really change the horror of the scenario.
What should be given more and more importance is the utter nonchalance we all now exude towards corruption at the highest levels of government, and the lowering of standards and values in society.
The words "it always used to happen" and "it's everywhere and hard to eradicate" should not even be contemplated, let alone uttered. 11 years ago, the vast majority of Maltese electors were taken in by the Labour mantra of meritocracy, eradication of corruption, and that Malta would be the best in Europe. What a climbdown from those dreams of squeaky clean Labour to the nightmare we are living through now, with society so accepting, so resigned, to all the chaos that has engulfed us.
This minister has gone. For how long? And what cushy job with a higher pay than he has now will he be given? How can we tolerate such behaviour in public office, in our country's highest institutions, and expect our youth to exhibit any good moral compass? What society has a Prime Minister who was found by the Standards Commissioner to have acted unethically but refused to even utter a miserly sorry?
How can teachers and parents face children who are bullies and are asked to change their ways, or at least to admit they are wrong, if our most honourable representatives act unethically and don't even apologise? And apologising is definitely not enough to get everyone off the hook. Let's see proper action against the perpetrators.
How can we expect anyone of any age, in any position, to act decorously if our best are so tainted, arrogant, and ready to break all rules, as long as they or their close buddies get unjust desserts?
Clayton Bartolo is not some solitary Labour man who erred. And his erring wasn't just a trifle. He did wrong, then made it all worse by justifying it. Because that's how bad these honourable people are. When caught they go berserk, and even if some do utter a brief, whispered apology, they then unleash a barrage of attacks against whoever in society is trying to fight for uprightness in our country.
That is why the Labour party and their rabid gang of propagandists and oddballs attack Repubblika and Arnold Cassola, who constantly and consistently fight and point out any wrongdoing.
You might not agree with all they do and say, but what they want - both Cassola and Repubblika - is good governance, better institutions to safeguard our liberties and life, and real and proper meritocracy.
Whoever stands for these standards is derided or branded - by Labour and anyone caught in any misdeed - a PN agent. This is because, with the Labour Party in power, we have had an ongoing series of corrupt deeds and something worse and more sinister.
Labour party people have tried in any way possible to cover up all their wrongs, all their blatantly obvious schemes to just milk this country dry. They made the country a conduit to get more power and to fill their own pockets with money.
People who - against all odds - are caught in wrongdoing, are never really chastised or chucked out of their party. They remain there waiting for their recall, usually to grander things.
Till this stops, till this attitude that all can be forgiven and ultimately forgotten is ditched, we will continue experiencing a lowering of standards in Malta's fabric.
This is not what this country should be. This is not what we should strive for. This is not a dream world we are living in. It's more of a nightmare. Malta absolutely deserves better.
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