Philosopher Joseph de Maistre once said: ’Toute nation a le gouvernement qu’elle merite.’

Translated this essentially means: ’Every nation gets the government it deserves.’

We say we want politicians who are honest, who have principles and stick to them.

With that in mind, the online attacks on Garff MHK Daphne Caine (pictured below) are bizarre.

Mrs Caine sought in Tynwald last month to establish a select committee to explore the pros and cons of the island accepting about 25 Syrian refugees.

That’s it, she wasn’t asking to send the Manannan to Libya to pick up those who seek a better life in Europe.

She was simply asking if we can examine evidence and make a judgement.

While Mrs Caine, who said it was because of her beliefs and conscience, received unanimous support in the Legislative Council, she lost the vote in the Keys by 11 votes to 10.

In large part this was because of the block vote of the Council of Ministers, with all ministers present voting against Mrs Caine’s motion.

They were supported in their opposition by MHKs Christ Robertshaw, Jason Moorhouse and Ralph Peake.

Within minutes of the vote, posts on social media were commenting and Manx Forums burst into life.

Many comments were attacking Mrs Caine for not recognising the island’s own problems and some asking why we should be funding refugees when our own people are using food banks.

I’m not saying they are wrong to say that, far from it, they have a point, this government is failing the less well off while boasting of good job figures.

But if the sun really is shining, why is the Foodbank necessary?

Society will always have those at the bottom, but they can be supported far better than they are now.

A week or so ago, the Chamber of Commerce chief executive Rebecca George said it is important the Chamber works closely to government.

She also said: ’It is of benefit to come to us first to gain the views of members before they consult on anything.’

If her comments are correct then Bernard Moffatt’s warning of this government kowtowing ’to the narrow interests of Chamber of Commerce’ has come true.

And in that case, we have a self-appointed, unelected group playing politics, a role usually reserved for LegCo.

But this is my point, the direction we are heading in is too often being decided behind closed doors with Tynwald just used to provide an air of legitimacy despite the block vote.

Mrs Caine’s motion to have a decision made in public as opposed to CoMin pulling the shutters down and saying it has already been decided previously is no reason to attack her.

In spending time attacking Mrs Caine, many of us are failing to direct questions at the government.

The Treasury Minister Alfred Cannan said a committee was no good to the refugees as they needed action ’now’.

Yet we have a committee on why our own citizens are using a food bank, they too need action ’now’, in that case Mr Cannan.

I would like to end by saying I agree with Mrs Caine’s motion and agree with Bill Shimmin that if Bute, an island with 6,500 residents can take in 25 refugees, so can we.

And finally, just think how many of you have heard a Tynwald or Keys sitting?

It starts with the Lord’s Prayer and then the Bishop speaks of helping the poor and needy.

For members to listen to that and then refuse to examine if they could be the Samaritans to the refugees makes me wonder how many ’Tuesday Christians’ exist in Tynwald.