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editorial
The
difference between a Nationalist and a Labourite
It is hilarious to overhear those who insist that they could never
be a Nationalist because they have always been a Labourite and vice
versa of course.
The debate becomes increasingly puerile when one talks of ideology
or better political poles.
What poles may we ask?
Today, as we all know, we cannot see much of a difference in ideology.
Or any ideology at all.
Both political leaders address their folk in slogans and little
more. They treat them as idiots.
We all recognise that the Nationalists have introduced taxation
measures similar to those found in socialist-run democracies; we
have a Nationalist party that talks of EU membership as if it were
part of the Socialist international.
And we have a Labour party that argues against taxation measures
and entry into the European Union as if it were a vehement Republican
(not the French type) offshoot.
Nevertheless, there are those from both parties that continue to
argue in terms of political ideology.
This is conceptual rubbish.
There is very little ideological depth between the two parties,
apart from the nostalgia, and as we have said before, it is only
a question of tribal trends. Those who talk of being in love with
socialism are usually swimming in vast amounts of money and those
that talk of Christian Democracy are traditionally glassy eyed idealists.
In an article written by one of the younger Labourite stalwarts
in the GWU newspaper the other day, it was stated that the Labour
party must create its own English medium because of the English
newspapers' anti-working class attitude, or something to that effect.
A cursory look at the professions and aptitudes of Labour MPs reveals
little or nothing to differentiate them from Nationalist MPs.
Indeed, one discovers the same number of Catholic zealots, GPs,
lawyers, accountants and businessmen in both parties.
It has to be said that the accusation that all the media are against
the working class is not a new one.
It happened in the time of Lorry Sant and before that.
Speaking for ourselves we can only say that we are not against the
working class, but cannot support the notion that the Labour party
has the divine right to glorify and defend such an old fashioned
term.
We are perplexed, more so, when we see that new apparent leaders
of this party have incomes running into five digits.
No upstart should have the right to present a warped view of political
allegiance in Malta.
And another valid reason that the independent press has more reason
to flourish as an alternative to the political media is because
it is free to change allegiances any time it considers it pertinent,
unlike the political media which is administered by spin doctors
on both sides of the divide.
Goodbye Friday, hello Sunday
This is the last issue of MaltaToday on a Friday; as from next week
MaltaToday will be issued on a Sunday. It has been one full year
and three months and we have been very pleased with our initial
results.
The decision to leave the Friday for a Sunday was taken after a
careful analysis of reader's views and current indicators of where
the media is going.
MaltaToday will not be changing its style or editorial policy -
not at all - but it will be offering more, in line with the aspirations
of the English-speaking public.
With MaltaToday we are very confident that we will not only continue
to sustain our present readership but also reach new limits.
We are confident that this will happen because we are not afraid
to be different, fresh and daring, editorially, assisted by an innovative
design.
But at the end of the day, out best judges are our readers and advertisers
and we thank them for their support.
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