I realized yesterday [don't ask why so late!] that Lebanese politics are provincial.
You have the political figures and their allies, all day long in the media. If Hizballah has al Manar TV, Future movement has Future TV and Future News, AMAL has NBN [an old joke says NBN stands for: Nabih Berri News] and so on, so forth. The same event, speech etc will get different if not totally opposite comments depending on which newspaper you read, and which TV station you watch. Its not media is party propaganda. That is not to minimize the importance of being able to say or to curse whomever you want. That is crucial. I cannot imagine that a reporter, anchor and so on, being able to do what they do in Lebanon, in Gulf countries, Iran, Egypt. Or, you do it once and then land in prison or the state drags you through courts for years.
There are less bold accusations these days, but the core problems remain the same. Again, its not only Hizballah's weapons, though this is top of the list. Also this problem will not be solved anytime soon.
There is a post I wrote a while ago, and the details of the local political scene made me remember it. Then my friend said, "I wait to be represented as a Lebanese, not as a Muslim and not as a Shia.” I am not sure when or if that will happen at all.
Furthermore, politics is to a large extent a family business. Without being cynical, I seriously doubt any of the leaders really give a damn about the people and their needs. Its just an ongoing, bully type fight for power and money.