We all face problems in life, and we all want nothing more than quick and easy solutions to them. We all want that silver bullet to land on a plate in front of us: a solution to bring the end to our respective woes in one-fell swoop.
But in many cases, there is no silver bullet. That can very much be said about solving the problems that our country faces across the board.
In the economy, the government has recently presented its Labour Migration Policy. It's an important document, with important proposals which will - if properly implemented - have a considerable impact on the situation when it comes to foreign workers. But it's no silver bullet.
In the environment, the government opened up Project Green and embarked on over 100 open space projects across the country, from major gardens, to rehabilitations, to pocket urban green spaces in a €700 million commitment. But it's no silver bullet.
In transport, the government embarked on a seven-year, €700 million programme to fix up and expand Malta's road network. But it's no silver bullet.
Even with new Labour Market Policy, there is little to suggest that Malta's economy will go through the seismic that the government - and indeed many others - wish for. Even with all the pocket gardens being built, open spaces elsewhere continue to be taken up for new developments. Even with a seven-year programme for new roads, people are still stuck in traffic every morning and evening rush hour.
One cannot blame any government for going in search for that elusive silver bullet. After all, a government remains a government only as long as it remains popular with the people - and it only remains popular with the people if it solves the problems that the people are facing.
The fact of the matter though is that the silver bullet is the least glamorous of all: long-term strategic planning. A holistic vision to take into account all aspects of the problem and see what can be solved in the short-term, medium-term, and long-term.
This country needs to be broken out of the five-year cycle of planning that just so happens to coincide with electoral cycles. The PL government's publication of a document to take Malta to 2050 has the right idea - but documents are only worth their weight when what's on them is implemented.
Malta has seen plenty of "national strategies" and "action plans" that lay out ideas - but how many of those same documents have been implemented?
So while the search for the silver bullet may go on, in many scenarios that search will almost definitely be in vain. Change takes time, and the solutions for many of the country's problems are not easy.
What the country needs is long-term, strategic planning, and that's the silver bullet that we cannot forget.