The Role of Civil Society | Your Vote

https://timesofmalta.com/article/protestors-call-justice-people-wake-vitals-inquiry.1092577

Winds of change | The role of civil society

“There's a time for daring and there's a time for caution, and the wise understand which is called for.” Keating (Dead Poets’ Society)

As a Maltese citizen I am proud of our country and find it refreshing to finally, again, see the movement of people protesting against injustice, corruption and political prejudice, despite the “establishment” (i.e. incumbent government) still vehemently opposing this at every opportunity.

Protests should not be undertaken for frivolous reasons. But when the incumbent “establishment” brands members of the judiciary “political terrorists” and increasingly mobilizes the public sentiment of the panem et circenses crowd, then it becomes worrying. Every democracy, unfortunately, has this significant segment of acutely blinkered voters. Incumbent Minister Edward Zammit Lewis referred pejoratively to the ones within his own, Labour, camp as “laburist gahan”. But there is also no lack of them in the blue camp. Sadly, when these float for generally purely egoistic reasons, they are the ones that cause result swings in elections. We have to live with this fate until people learn that – in a democracy – one’s vote is not a right. It is an obligation. It is an obligation that carries heavy civic responsibility. This becomes very clear when we look at Malta’s history over the past 10 years or so, that is ...

• the country’s grey-listing,
• the contract killing of a journalist resulting in global condemnation and continued systematic distain towards journalists,
• Prime minister named ‘man of the year’ for corruption,
• whole cabinet backing of the then prime minister. Most of the cabinet members then are still incumbent members now. An incumbent prime minister that was legal counsel to that cabinet then,
• An incumbent prime minister that appears to mistake majority vote for rule of law,
• An MP justifying, pigging out, because others in power are also/already doing it. Despite this blatant statement, the incumbent prime minister continues to defend her stating that she has paid the political price,
• the selling of citizenship and passports at the expense of Malta’s reputation. Sadly, this is a scheme that both major political parties agree on,
• alleged corruption (again of global proportions) in healthcare and energy,
• a systematic erosion of the establishment’s executive by the removal of key career civil servants and replacing them with “persons of trust” Some of these key persons of trust have been implicated in alleged wrong doing over the years,
• Apparent inaction (or covert action?) by the public prosecutor’s office and the police in cases where they should arguably have been more pro-active or effective. To add insult to injury, unless the chosen attorney proves to be David against the Goliath he is facing, respectfully, its unfathomable how a young and relatively inexperienced attorney would be tasked by the Public Prosecutor’s office to take on the Vital’s case.
• Systematic public land grab and destruction of our diminishing green enviroment.

Despite all of this, members of the governing “establishment” continue to act not as national stewards but as partisan leaders with their sound-bites and vitriol (Galdes, “PN has the courts, we have the people,”; ?Abela, “We offer solutions, others protest.”)

It is also refreshing to see that authors and influencers of different political leanings (the latest being Zammit Marmara) taking a stand against corruption. Whoever is against corruption and injustice is not necessarily against the government. But if the incumbent “establishment” fails to realise this, they are digging their own grave. Eventually, even the panem et circenses segment turns (or, in its great wisdom, casts an invalid vote).

“You must strive to find your own voice. Because the longer you wait to begin, the less likely you are to find it at all.” ... "Most lead lives of quiet desperation. Don't be resigned to that. Break out!” “No matter what anybody tells you, words and ideas can change the world.” “Seize the day. Make your lives extraordinary.” (Dead Poets’ Society)

Your vote | An obligation not a right

Every citizen in a democracy should be taught from an early age that our vote (like our fiscal and social insurance responsibilities) are an obligation and not a right.

Unfortunately politicians have often taught us otherwise because they see the vote as their ticket to parliament and therefore, like money, an instrument owned by (and therefore a right of) the voter which they have to someone “purchase”. The 2-party system has also not helped Malta in this respect.

But it is an unalienable truth that the vote is an obligation and not a right. It is also an obligation that each voter in a democracy needs to take seriously without fear or favour or political blinkers. What ultimately matters is the common good. This is what good citizenship is and this is something that should be taught in schools from a very young age.

There isn’t a fine line between being a politician and a statesperson. Regrettably we have had very few of these since the Amery-Milner 1921 constitution in Malta. Most of our elected representatives have not behaved much differently from elected councillors in village band clubs or village football clubs engaging in puerile pissing contests and pitting people against each other in the process. We have had very few statespersons in the midst of all this. Enrico Mizzi, Paolo Boffa and Edward Fenech Adami come to mind and Roberta Metsola is joining their ranks. But I struggle to find more. The entrenchment of partisan politics at local council level has also not helped this granular polarization to farcical (if not tragic) proportions reminiscent of Goscinny’s and Uderzo’s representation of Obelix's and Asterix's gaulish village.

In the midst of all this, it is heartening to read Metsola’s, “Defend it. Shape it. Live it. Vote” piece in newbook.mt At least, there is one states-person that has the grace to hold herself, while those around her crawl (with apologies to Sir Elton John). She makes us proud as Maltese to be Maltese. It’s reassuring that , reading between the lines – she also views the vote as a citizen’s obligation - as she encourages people to vote.

?“O me! O life!… of cities filled with the foolish; ... that the powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse.” What will your verse be?” , Whitman | Keating (Dead Poets’ Society).