Berlusconi fiddles, Italy burns

[TuesdaySue]

Italy’s government | Berlusconi fiddles, Italy burns | Economist.com

Another revealing summary from the Economist. Especially interesting given the optimism about Berlusconi in the spring.

[Marc]

I rather liked this response to one of the very many negative comments about Italy in the Comments section

In reply to Chris J's quote below:

"Italy is the sick man of Europe. How it's still part of the G8, i have no idea"

Chris if you keep believing what the Economist writes on Italy it is a natural consquence that you ask how can Italy be in the G8? Well Chris J, Italy is in the G8 because it is the 6th largest economy in the world. Italy is the 6th largest contributor to the United Nations and pays their bill, unlike some countries such as the US. Italy is one of the countries with the most number of military men involvolved in international peace keeping in Afganistan, Beirut, Kosovo, and Africa and other parts of the world. Italy provides to the world, the greatest number of designer goods than anyone else. Italy provides the world with sophisticated production machinery for the making of furniture, farm machinery, construction machinery, the most sophisticated and fastest sport cars (including, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati, Alfa Romeo, Lancia, Bugatti), the most powerful and fastest motorcycles (Ducati, Aprilia, Moto Guzzi, MV Augusta). Italy is building the new fleet of 26 helicopters for the US President and the White House. Italy provides military equipment and sophisticated Electronic Warfare Systems to NATO and other parts of world including the US (76 mm Oto Melara Guns for US ships, Beretta 9 mm handgun to US armed forces. Italy builds the greatest number and the most sophistaicated and largest cruise ships in the world. In addition Italy, provides the world with assortments of food products of the highest quality and taste. Italy provides the most expensive and most beautiful Gold jewelry.

Italy is very successful and carries world esteem for their sporting involvements, like winning the Soccer World Cup 4 times. Only exceeded by Brazil, which has won it 5 times. Italy builds cars that win world chanpionships repeatedly, like Ferrari. Italy has been in the finals of Americas Cup yact race several times. Italy's motorcycle have won world championships numerousa time. Italy usually comes out in the order 5th or 6th in Olympic Medal counts consistently. It has done much better in Winter olympics.

Italy is one of 5 countries that founded the European Union by the Treaty of Rome in 1959. Italy is one of the largest and one of larger contributor to NATO.

You will find the center of Christianity in Rome.

If you need more reasons why Italy is in the G8, I can provide them to you. But keep in mind that the Economist is merely a reflection of the Anglo-Saxon Italy hating phobia, so it is unable to report fairly on Italy, its government and its leaders.

[TuesdaySue]

Good comeback!

I do fear, though, that revelling in the "bellezze" of Italy can allow us to ignore some of its serious problems. Yes, good to see the great things Italy does, but we shouldn't be apathetic about what it doesn't do.

Don't get me wrong, I think you could write a scathing attack on almost any country's economy and leadership, but that doesn't mean Italy won't have to deal with its problems.

If you can take any more right-wing, Anglo-Saxon commentary on Italy's woes, this article is interesting - as a worst case scenario!
Growth slump may force Italy out of eurozone - Telegraph

[myabruzzohome]

Its interesting that the article points to the 'anglo-saxon' dislike of Italy and alkl things Italian.

My impression is that Anglo-Saxons would secretly like to be more like italians but that they just don't have it in them! Therefore you get this love-hate relationship and a sort of smug superiority complex.

Its good to be reminded of the enviable achievements of Italy and Italians but these go side by side with corruption,injustice, crime and fraud and somehow this seems to diminishes them somewhat.

If you are in Abruzzo you'll have heard of Del Turco the corrupt politian who appears to have creamed off millions of Euros from Abruzzo health budget;not on his own I must add.Shocking as this case is I think that I was more shocked to read a report in the newspaper that his home village intend holding a Festa when (?) he's released and that inhabitants are actually angry that he's in prison at all!!!

[Noble]

Italy certainly is part of G8 but it has little to be proud of when we remember Genoa. Nick Davies on the bloody battle of Genoa | World news | The Guardian

[myabruzzohome]

Noble thanks for posting this interesting link which points a fundamental problem that few on this forum I suspect will want to acknowledge.that is the strong attachement/nostalgia that many Italians have for Facism and Mussolini in particular.

The promotion and populisation of Mussolini and fascism is not regarded as being taboo in the way that it is ( righlt so I believe) in Germany.

We were pretty surprised to come across a tiny shop in Lettomanoppello stuffed full of Fascist ojects including posters,uniforms badges etc.We did ask some locals about it but they seemed to want to shrug it off by saying that the owner was mad and that it was a museum rather than a shop.

[fab1985]

In reply to Chris J's quote below:

"Italy is the sick man of Europe. How it's still part of the G8, i have no idea"

Marc you forgot to mention that Italian hospitals according to a Times report were ranked 2nd in the world. I have also been told that at Modena hospital they use robotic food carts that can also operate the lifts without any human help perhaps one day we might see them at NHS hospitals.
Italy is also a non permant member of the UN security councile and had came extremly close to taking part on the Iran nuclear talks had Germany not complained.
Mr Chris J quote should have been :
"Italy is the sick man of Europe. How it's still part of the G8, i have no idea why Spain shouldn't take its place?"
I am extremly dissapointed by the British press treatment of Italy in recent years would love to know its cause. At the end of the day world political and economy focus is shifting towards the east so in a few years time it will be the Russian/Chinese paper's opinions that count. Lets just point out that the British nor Spanish economy are not in great health either. Yesterday Beijing shocked the world with the opening ceremony for the Olympics we live in hope to see how London will reply in 2012 i'm not sure if fingers crossed will be enough.

[Noble]

Dear fab1985 you say...................I am extremly dissapointed by the British press treatment of Italy in recent years would love to know its cause.

Italy does not have a free press, that is the opinion of our educated Italian friends. So to read the truth about what is going on in Italy, those that can, read the British newspapers, including the Economist. Having said that, they also said....Naples is not clear of rubbish it's "hidden" away from the centre of town and the Italian press don't write about it now the election is over. (Can a Forum member disprove this???). We find the British newspapers depressing to read but a free press is a very precious thing and worth defending.

[iTALY BOUND]

I think that Italy, like any other place in the world has its flaws. Just because a kid makes a mistake doesn't mean he/she is a bad kid; it just means that they are human and that they should try to learn from those mistakes. When i went to Italy, I was in awe of how much they preserve their history and heritage. If the Sistine Chapel were located in the US, some moron developer would try to make a shopping mall out of it. In addition to the amazing sights of the country, the people were nothing but gracious and friendly to me. i have yet to meet an italian i couldn't get along with (and i know quite a few). The food was second to none, and while I am not a fan of the PM or the government in general, I have always and will always hold a special place in my heart for the country and its people.

That being said. I am fearful that i have given some people the impression that i am someone who tries to find the negatives about Italy and just put them on here. I am very sorry for giving that impression. i am very much interested in learning everything i can about the country and i think i might have been going about it all wrong. Anyway thanks everyone for your patience and tolerance in politely setting my views straight. FORZA ITALIA ( i hope i spelled it right) *this is in no way any reference to the political party...i just like what the phrase translates to "go for it Italy.*