Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1016519
13 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 19 AUGUST 2018 NEWS re-elect Konrad Mizzi to parlia- ment. And this has left the Maltese left bereft of a prudish sense of propriety which in other coun- tries feeds that expectation of left-wing leaders to lead sober lives, and to send strong, ethical messages against the impropri- ety of opening offshore compa- nies in tax havens like Panama. It remains shocking that this has not been the case with Malta. Indeed, the pain felt by the PM and his wife at being falsely accused of owning a se- cret Panama company should make them empathetic of the anger of those shocked that a cabinet minister and the PM's chief of staff owned such a structure. But it is this particu- lar category of voters who are often dismissed as self-right- eous and 'holier than thou' by those in Labour camp who are completely disconnected from socialist values. The angst of the 'holier than thou' In as highly a partisan set- up as Malta's, there is always the risk that people tend to be 'holier than thou' only when it comes to the stink coming from the other side of the divide. And it is also very possible to be disconcerted and profound- ly uneasy when confronted with crass racism, episodes of conspicuous consumption, and the defence of corrupt or in- appropriate behaviour. When lack of education is coupled with social media dependence, such voters are easy targets for politicians like Donald Trump, Matteo Salvini or Nigel Far- age, who can exploit ignorance while demolishing democratic rules. In such a topsy-turvy world these characters are depicted as working-class heroes. But sure- ly it is also our duty as parents to educate children to grow up as citizens who are not easily exploited by demagogues. As I try to expose my son to sound political values and steer him clear of partisan prejudice, I realise how difficult this is becoming in a consumeris- tic world that values material wealth over spiritual develop- ment. Does this make me and others like me holier than thou? In some ways yes. One has to recognize that displays of self-righteousness, even when motivated by sound values, tend to be counter-productive – not just in the art of political persuasion but even in the up- bringing of children. Too much zeal in promoting certain val- ues may well create a "forbid- den fruit" effect. But still in the post-Brexit and Trump world, many sensible socialists are being immediate- ly shot down as snobs who hold the masses in contempt even when they question the very structures of oppression that keep the class system intact. Like when the Milibands were shot down by the UK tabloid press over their Marxist father Ralph, or when Jeremy Corbyn is ridiculed for his sobriety and reluctance to indulge in the grotesque spectacle of popular culture. And this is so wrong. Class conflict in private schools So why am I taken aback by the sudden interest in 'class prejudice' when class is frankly ignored in most other aspects of Maltese social life? My hunch is that class only matters when the 'entitled' up- per classes are forced to inter- act with the aspirational 'nou- veau riche' – or whenever the latter claim what they feel is their rightful place on the social ladder, but are still shunned by those who feel 'entitled' to a su- perior rung. So naturally private, inde- pendent schools may become a locus of class conflict. And while this conflict may have real casualties whose plight should be highlighted, it certainly does not translate into calls for a more equal and fairer society. For if one is so con- cerned about class prejudice one should start questioning whether it even makes sense to have exclusive schools for those who can afford to pay more than others. Everyone deserves the same opportunities in edu- cation. It does not make sense in a democratic society to have enclaves for students whose parents can afford to pay more than others. If the only reason for sending children to a private school is the school "ethos" we should have no problem to integrate them in the public educa- tion system in the same way as Church schools already are. So why not introduce 'lots' for entrance in to independent schools, just in the same way as Church schools do? And why is it still of a taboo to talk about social class when it comes to fundamental issues like access to healthcare? Why are we so willing to accept the inequality between those who can afford a GP and those who have to queue in polyclinics? Before 1987 I recall the Nation- alist Party proposing 'a family doctor of your choice scheme' but this was never implement- ed probably due to opposition from doctors themselves. But the greatest 'taboo' facing our society is the reluctance to talk about widening class in- equalities. It may well be the case that many working-class people are better off in this time of eco- nomic growth. But that does not justify widening gaps in wealth. Inequality is something undesirable, irrespective of how much wealth is created. Even if some wealth does trickle down to the masses, the concentration of wealth at the top is toxic for social wellbeing. The creation of gated commu- nities which often comes with exclusive access to health and educational services simply re- sults in a more fractured soci- ety. So is the distinction between 'talented' foreigners who can buy Maltese citizenship and those who remain disenfran- chised despite contributing through taxes and their daily work for up to 20 years on end. Societies with widening gaps of wealth tend to be less dem- ocratic and more oligarchic, simply because influence and wealth are interconnected, irre- spective of whether this wealth takes the form of old or new money. This is why talking about class and prejudice without ques- tioning inequality is not an ex- hortation for political change. It is an exercise in useless ban- ter. jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt The greatest 'taboo' facing our society is the reluctance to talk about widening class inequalities