by Deepa BHOOKUN

Members of the MSM are fond of saying at their public political gatherings that soon the Finance minister will be taxing the very air we?re breathing. A measure of the kind of nonsense that gets spoken at those types of meetings. But having said that, maybe Mr Sithanen should consider introducing a tax on all those who open their mouths just to blow hot air, who blabber just for the sake of having something to say, insulting in the process the intelligence of those on the receiving end of all this gibberish.

Pravind Jugnauth should be the first one (but most certainly not the only one) to be taxed. At a public meeting last Monday, he is reported to have said that he was ?ashamed? of his uncle, Ashock for saying something along the lines of ?only a Jugnauth could rule this country?.

Pray tell, Mr Pravind Jugnauth, if not solely on the grounds that you happen to be the son of Sir Anerood, what other reasons can there be to justify the fact that you have ?inherited? the leadership of the MSM and have remained the leader of the party despite contestations and despite not having been elected at the last general elections? What makes you think you should stand as prospective candidate for the office of Prime minister in 2010 if not the fact that your name is Jugnauth and you?re not a cousin or a half brother of SAJ but the only son?

Ah! So what?s sauce for the goose shouldn?t be sauce for the gander, huh?

See, why this hypocrisy? Why pretend you are outraged on a matter of principles when clearly principles have nothing to do with your stand? When your vociferous words of self-righteous outrage stem only from the bitter personal relationship that you have with your uncle.

People see through hypocrisy you know. Well maybe you don?t. It would sure help if you realized how much.

Leader of Opposition, Nando Bodha and Shawkutally Soodun are also reported to have said that Pravind Jugnauth ?should have been in parliament?. They should also be taxed. Doubly so. ?Should have been?? Fact; he is not. ?Should have been? doesn?t depend on the desires of either Mr Bodha or Mr Soodhun. It depends on the people who vote who they want in and don?t vote those they want out. How?s that for a quick lesson in democracy? Hope it helps, guys. For your sake.

Now aren?t there more serious things that require our attention and concern in this country? Instead of inviting people to public meetings to talk nonsense, shouldn?t a responsible opposition have encouraged people to go and fill the vacancies in the textile industry and the seafood hub? And tell them off for not wanting to work nights instead of shouting on every rooftop that unemployment rates are soaring and foreigners are coming in to thieve our jobs and buy our country?

But no. It seems that is too much to hope for. Mr Jugnauth seems to think we?re all dying to know what his Paul Bérenger thermometer is saying day in day out.

Not so.