Too frequent serious traffic accidents; the ever spreading use of drugs even in public spaces with ugly consequences among young and older people; difficulties experienced in some larger localities to cope with public cleansing and waste collection; flagrant abuses in the construction sector; growing public and private indifference toward the inconveniences we create for others by our behaivour (noise, harrassment at places of entertainment, wild parking, unacceptable dress and speech in public, plus more)... all happen no matter where.
A silent majority in the country wants full scale action to face such problems and clear them with determination. Perhaps just one word describes what is wished for: discipline. Or perhaps two: more discipline. Unless it is: a lot more discipline. However, as a term, discipline sounds antiquated, and (it is reckoned) damps down voters' political commitment.
In the past, in Europe and beyond, authoritarian movements of fascist and nazi stamp, progressed on the back of slogans that matched those in favour of discipline. It would be a mistake if democratic forces ignored the need for civic discipline, as on occasion they did.
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INTEREST IN POLITICS
From one generation to the next, popular and committed interest in party politics, not necessarily partisan in scope (even if many think it cannot be otherwise), has declined or seemed to. Mostly among younger people, but not only. Nor does it appear that this sentiment, which was always present, has been losing momentum. Less and less talented and idealistic people have shown a readiness to enter the political fray.
I remember many long years ago now, when good souls were scandalised because I said that young people already then were keeping at a distance from politics because they didn't find it was sexy.
That critique still holds. Obviously one understands the word "sexy" every which way one wants: the truth is that the appearance and reality of politics have become loaded with the judgement that one goes into politics to see what one can make out for oneself, not because as an activity it offers valid and beautiful aims for one's life activity.
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OUR NATIONAL HERITAGE
There's no need for many speeches in order to assemble a consensus around the statement that our national heritage must be safeguarded and promoted with the best possible means available. Questions remain about what really constitutes that heritage... and what must be done to protect the natural, historical, urban heritage? The language, the architecture, the culture of the past and of today? And what needs to be done in order to allow this heritage to be renewed? Replies given to such questions are not always coherent.
Actually quite a number of worthwhile and sustained initiatives are being undertaken by Heritage Malta and other institutions to uphold the national heritage. Even so, two major doubts remain to undermine these praiseworthy efforts: whether the society really appreciates the value of our national heritage when faced with the ever increasing demands of work, consumption and recreation in the country as a whole; and whether the dominance of the construction and "development" sectors is allowing an effective protection of the natural and urban environment of the island to really be done.