No matter how many elections they lose - 5 out of the last 6, plus the EU referendum - and no matter how many leaders they change - 3 - they are the embodiment of one of the best slogans ever invented: 'Some Things Never Change. Jack Daniel's Is One Of Them.' The slight difference is that, unlike Jack, the PL persists in error. Not necessarily ideological or even political. Just tactical. Here's one of them.
Previous Labour leaders have systematically opposed all key PN government policies, independently of their merit. A back of an envelope list would read something like this: import liberalisation, pluralism in broadcasting, local councils, political party participation in local councils, privatization, Partnership for Peace, VAT, EU membership, the building of Mater Dei, every President ever appointed. I could go one but you get the drift.
Eventually, and as sure as night follows day, either stark political reality or voters at the polls force the Partit Laburista to recognise their mistake. Frantically, and with a mob of activists verging on political schizophrenia in tow, they start embracing what they originally rejected. In each and every case. Life moves on until the PL finds yet another key PN policy to oppose. And the cycle begins again.
Is Joseph Muscat falling in this tactical rut as well? When he was elected to lead the party he gave signals suggesting that he was not. Today, the evidence suggests that he has. Rather than draw up a list of key PN policies he opposed, I invite you to draw up a list with the ones he embraced. I guarantee that it will be short and insignificant in the general political scheme of things.
I can already hear dissenting responses coming my way. Isn't the democratic role of the Opposition to oppose? How could Joseph Muscat be the prime minister in waiting if all he does is silently wait till election time?
True, but not fully.
First, the unyeilding routine of opposing everything desensitises swathes of thinking people to the key difference between what Labour thinks is fundamental and what isn't. When the PL carpet bombs the public with ten press releases and several speeches a week, all having the same scorched earth tone against GonziPN, the net effect is that it all sounds predictable, just poltical noise.
Secondly, harsh, categoric and knee jerk opposition narrows down future options. And as a rule of thumb that is never a good idea in politics. In the past and today, the PL treats every policy as if it were a boxing ring in which it instinctively takes up the spot diagonally across from government. At PL clubs on a Sunday morning this tactic draws enthusiastic applause. But when the PL leader peers over its shoulder the next day he realises that he's in a corner. Yet again. And applause is replaced by deathly silence.
Finally, when Labour paints a black and white world, people and the media invariably turn their attention directly to the Mile End glass palace for immediate black and white answers. If Joseph Muscat keeps repeating that Lawrence Gonzi has all the wrong answers to current political challenges, it stands to reason that they expect Joseph Muscat to have all the right ones. On everything. And that is very, very slippery ground for a political leader to occupy.
9 comments:
Ignoring all the typos and other mistakes...
...what's the whole point of this?
oh right... that ominous smell?
Dear Bondi,
Can you kindly ask Dr Muscat the following two questions:
1. Are you in favour of a large or small cabinet? Old MPs or New Mps in the possible future cabinet?
2. Will you keep the current remuneration for cabinet members or reduce it?
Thanks
@AL
This was good advice to the PL - genuinely good advice! However, the PL will see it as a ploy to get them to slip up - and will therefore ignore it - which is precisely the result we need!
:)
R
The problem with the PL is that it has created it's own vicious circle. To actively support the PL, as it has existed for as long as I know it, leaving aside those persons with chips on their shoulder against the PN, one must suffer from some deficit in reasoning skills or in character.
Now, from such individuals, the party is made, hence it can only continue to attract likewise.
How could any intelligent, carefully evaluating and smart individual possibly vote to create Alfred Sant as leader of the PL? Nothing personal, but he obviously does not cut it for the role.
Neither does Joseph Muscat. He may be conciliatory, but he is showing little substance otherwise, he may at heart be a "good guy" but competent to run a country? I think that deep down he is petrified of the idea and only the thought of possibly writing his place in the history books prevents him from crapping out.
Again, self-propagation of sub-standards in the PL.
The vast majority of the PL's members and supporters tend to think in terms of "Laburisti" and "Nazzjonalisti" i.e. us and them, as if they were speaking about a couple of football teams, the latter to be antagonised and possibly eliminted at all costs, rather than, as logic would have it, attempt to attract them to their fold by means of policies of substance.
They always see themselves as the underdogs, as second rate to "Nazzjonalisti" especially the successful ones (as most successful individuals are smart folk and hence vote PN as is perfectly logical), as people who are owed something, whether it be by "il-gvern", "tax-xoghol" or society at large.
I seriously think that another stint in the Opposition will be good for the country, as maybe, just maybe, another upheaval will take place within the PL.
But where would they choose their new talent from?
It is indeed sad that the thinking voter does not have a choice, for most certainly the PN has it's faults.
Dear George Soros,
As a voter, you are entitled - nay, obliged - to put those questions to Joseph Muscat yourself. As an investor, your alter ego is equally entitled to ask those same questions in a different way - how is Joseph Muscat's governance going to avoid bring about the collapse of the Euro?
Well I hear many people from the Nationalist fold remarking how inadequate, empty and superficial Joseph Muscat is. He may be all this - but no I don't think he is stupid. On the opposite I think he's crafty and clever. I think he has some nasty surprises ready for the Nationalists (you know like the MP pay bombshell last January).
If I were in the Nationalist party rather than belittle him (this is never a sensible idea folks) I would be very very careful and look at his every move, before it's too late...
Always respect your enemy - underestimate him at your own peril.
Dear Matt,
You overestimate Joseph Muscat's abilities. His followers will vote for him whatever he says or does. He has no need of nasty surprises. All he needs is sound, convincing policies and the means of delivering them.
He also needs the brains to see beyond the immediacy of securing the hot seat, but let's draw a curtain over that one.
Joseph Muscat is not prepared to take the responsibilities of the PM.
The job is too onerous. He knows it but can't tell this to the party faithful.
Lou, on your show last year he said that his job as the Opposition leader has aged him. I can't imaging what will happen to him if he became the PM.
Some people are born without vision while ours are born to lead.
Well well well it looks like Josanne Cassar has it in for you and anonymous commentors like moi. Take a look at
http://josannecassar.com/hot-topics/if-malta-is-so-free-why-are-people-afraid-to-use-their-real-names/
She's having a dig at
http://www.azzopardinicky.com/
and someone else has joined the fray
ilovemalta.tumblr.com
Love it!
R
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