On yours and mine and pensions

Many seem to be under the misguided impression that the government owns money. The government doesn’t own money. It owns taxpayers’ money. Money it has taxed from you and me. And it has the responsibility to administer the money well, fairly, and justly.

When there is corruption, it’s your money and mine that’s going into the corrupt persons’ pockets. You and I are paying for the corruption. And it’s no secret that in Malta corruption is on steroids.

When direct orders are given to cronies and labour activists, it’s your money and mine that’s going into the cronies’ pockets. You and I are paying for monies given for works and jobs at prices beyond market prices because there is no fair competition, a level playing ground. Direct orders, supposed to be awarded only in exceptional cases, have become the norm.

When phantom jobs are given to cronies and labour activists, it’s your money and mine that’s going into the cronies’ pockets. So that people can receive money for staying at home, while being paid to give a public service. But that passes as normal in Malta, doesn’t it?

And what about social benefits money to people who are not entitled to them? We know of at least one such scam of enormous proportions, and it’s likely that there are others too. That’s our money too that’s paying for them; yours and mine.

With all the money (your money and mine) that’s going down the drain, it’s not hard to imagine why in a few years’ time our pensions will not be sustainable. Yours and mine.