Feeling the nation’s pulse

Society never stands still. In fact, the pace of change seems to accelerate as time goes by. Some members of the older generations, gripped by nostalgia for the good old days, look at the past through rose-tinted glasses, often forgetting the tough challenges they faced to survive and prosper. The young tend to care less about the past and look upon change as something that can help them fulfil their dreams. Feeling the nation’s pulse is what political parties do in an informal way to help them define their electoral programmes, in the hope of meeting the aspirations of those who can give them power. National non-partisan surveys are less common but are a vital instrument in helping society gauge its past successes and failures and define more clearly where it wants to be in the years to come. It is therefore encouraging that President George Vella has set in motion a State of the Nation survey and conference. This research exercise comes at a critical time when the onset of a once-in-a-century global medical crisis could drastically alter many aspects of our lives. It also follows closely after another commendable initiative by the president, the National Unity Conference.