I read today that Lebanon’s beleaguered Energy Minister Gibran Bassil had been upset that parliament had passed a draft law entitling part time EdL workers to full-time contracts. This led to a walkout and a boycott of a parliamentary session by Christian MPs the following day, and a boycott of a Cabient session by Aoun’s ministers who were apparently dismayed that parliament’s decision would lead to a shortage of Christians in public sector positions.

I know what you’re thinking, but please, allow me.

Some observations:

• Perhaps parliament might be more willing to pass a draft law prepared by the Cabinet, had the Cabinet not shown itself time and time again to consist of cantankerous elderly gentlemen without the slightest willingness or aptitude to even pretend to address the country’s myriad problems.
• EdL workers need paying. Lebanon’s political cartel might not have to pay for their electricity, or anything else safe the requisite security entourage one acquires when one is such a thoroughly dislikeable bastard, but we all do. So please, stop f***ing around. If paying these people means less strikes and more power, then do it.
• We don’t need more Christians in the public sector, just as we don’t need any more Sunnis, Shiites, Druze, Jews, Zoroastrians, Rastafarians or Scientologists. We need engineers. I don’t care if they’re Christian, Muslim or made of Swiss cheese – neither does anyone else except for some MPs – as long as they can help alleviate a problem you’ve saddled your country with.