Why life is not always a bed of Red Roses – changing times, changing situations

I was born and raised in an era where political support was a lifelong commitment and not a “this” today, but maybe a “that” tomorrow. Political commitment was an alliance that had to be carried to the end – to one’s grave and normally largely influenced by the family political environment in which one lived.

Having said that, my family had no special commitment, no influence, and certainly no particular policy that one was urged to follow. Throughout my boyhood and youth I cannot remember one single instance during which politics were discussed or in any way attempted to be enforced to influence.

When I was seven, my father Frank rejoined the British Royal Air Force and together with my mother Pauline and younger brother Edward we went off to live in England where I spent my childhood, early youth and the early stages of being a young man.

As a young man I came to know that my mother was staunchly Nationalist Party influenced, not through any particular ideal, but because her father had given her a PN emblem when she was a young girl and she carried it around with her ever since, even when she became an octogenarian and on a daily basis went to the PN Club in St Paul’s Bay to take coffee and biscuits!

My father had joined the Malta Labour Party as a young man but had lost all interest in politics when Pawlu Boffa was ousted by Dom Mintoff and from that point onwards took no further interest in politics.

On my own volition I took an interest in and studied politics and associated myself with the Socialist ideals of the British Labour Party and in turn, on return to Malta aged 21, the Malta Labour Party and the firebrand Dom Mintoff, having also studied the history of the Nationalist Party which I found despicably and undeniably eternally against the interests of the Maltese people.

The local scene then was mainly staunchly “like family, like son” and to show complete loyalty, even when one’s party was obviously wrong, one had to solidly maintain it was in fact in the right. Very, very few were “for turning”, virtually unheard of.

That attitude has now changed. Education, research and knowledge became more freely available and people are more aware and acknowledged to make the choice which they feel fits their ideals and desires.

This has been influenced by strong bouts of cynicism as to the genuine belief in one’s political leaders and their interests and continued to permeate over the last 30 years, nevertheless culminating in a dramatic change five years ago and a change that has continued to strengthen ever since.

However, the system has experienced two shocks over the last two weeks which has once more thrown into sharp relief over the question “are politicians really there just to satisfy their own self-interests?”

Trawling through social networks (not newspapers because they are totally unreliable) I have been surprised by the outburst of protest at two pieces of legislation:

THE VOTE AT 16

AN MP BEING NOW ENTITLED TO A FULL PENSION AFTER ONE TERM.

I agree with the outburst on both legislations.

Not even large sectors of the aged electorate are fully perceptive of their choices and their interests, and children of 16 even less. Yes, they have more technology and information available but for the majority in that sector the importance is to have access to social networks, chatting with friends and exchanging gossip and a hazy concept of having “total freedom” and being technologically “on the ball”.

In fact, yesteryear’s 16-year-olds were far more perceptive of values, despite obstacles in the educational system (mostly financial) strived to succeed, were conscious of the need to create a future and a family. They were fully adult at the age of 18 but still could not vote until 21. Today’s youngsters rarely have these values because today is for today and tomorrow wait and see. Values are a rarity and not a commitment.

I see absolutely no reason why a first term MP should immediately become entitled for a full pension that other people have to work 30 and 35 years for, and probably in later years, even more than 35 years. I know of new MPs who have merely warmed the benches of Parliament, made a quickie Maiden Speech and occasionally asked a few questions – but little else.

Sadly, the overall affect is that I sense a growing rift of belief between swathes of the electorate and our politicians.

Strange to note too that although they struggle and clash over every minute detail in Parliament and sometimes needlessly obstacle needed legislation for weeks, these two measures passed through as smooth as a baby’s bottom – being readily agreed to by both sides.

Charity begins at home? It makes one wonder.

ALBERT JEROME FENECH