Can Berlusconi save Italy?

[fab1985]

Being an Anglo-Italian I follow the political events in both countries. In the UK I feel we have a great political system that seems to take into account the country’s issues and deal with them but I feel many Brits don’t fully appreciate their government and seem disinterested in politics where as in Italy I feel that people are extremely passionate about their politics but have never had the governments to match the population’s need. I know that what I have written may cause offence and outcry on this forum but I speak from a personal point of view.
Last night 13/05/2008 on “Porta a Porta” I noticed that Bruno Vespa made a comment regarding the fact that Rome could face a similar problem to Naples regarding the disposal of household waste if new landfill sites are not found. Another key area that Berlusconi will need to sort out is the economy. In all these five years will be decisive for Italy if the country faces decline or growth. Do you feel Berlusconi can do the unthinkable after his mandate and resolves Italy’s woes or does Italy face a painful decline?

[Geotherm]

Interesting to see the comment he has just made.........
Silvio Berlusconi: Italy needs God's help - Telegraph

[AllanMason]

So I take it from the article that Berlo's standing by his commitment to scrap ICI?

Given the many thousands an average family pays in property tax, that step alone will obviously reinvigorate the economy.



As for the rest, well, since he's apparently put himself in The Lord's hands, I can guess who he'll suggest is really to blame if things go the way the usually do here.

Al

[giovanni]

Can Berlusconi save Italy?

Should that not be."can Italy be saved from Berlusconi"

[Angie and Robert]

Well I'm no expert but if he scraps ici he will presumably have to raise money some other way , or reduce govt spending. Personally I don't have a problem with paying ici as it is a fraction of the amount I paid in Council Tax in UK. I assume much of the communes finances come from central govt ? ( our commune has only 800 residents so most of the money must come from somewhere else ). If he scraps ici he will have to put up central govt taxes. At least everyone has to pay ici. With income tax some get away with paying very little ( self employed ) others ( those on whatever the equivalent of PAYE is ), have to the full whack ,which is high to make up for all the people who don't pay. Nobody likes paying tax, but it works best if it is fair. As regards Berlusconi's ability to sort out the countries problems ( including the above mentioned problems of tax) I can only say that he didn't seem to do anything too spectacular last time round .

Originally Posted by AllanMason

So I take it from the article that Berlo's standing by his commitment to scrap ICI?

Given the many thousands an average family pays in property tax, that step alone will obviously reinvigorate the economy.

Originally Posted by AllanMason

As for the rest, well, since he's apparently put himself in The Lord's hands, I can guess who he'll suggest is really to blame if things go the way the usually do here.

Al

[juliancoll]

Sort out Italy? Have you seen whats going on in Naples since a 16 year old Rom girl has been accused of trying to kidnap a 6 month old baby a few days ago?

[damiano]

Italys net average disposable income per capita is half the UKs ($19k as opposed to $37k) and Italy are 19th out of 20 (behind both Greece and Turkey) in terms of income after tax for the top industrialiased nations on the planet. That is pretty damning reading when we all know that prices are going through the roof and the cost of living is now not much lower than the UK.

Unfortunately, I feel that the difference between the haves and the have nots is enormous and that there are many people living hand to mouth existences.

The following maligns of the country are quite apparent and need to be addressed- but perhaps a fascist- populist doesnt have the balls for it;
1) beaurocracy
2) inefficient processes and procedures
3) the above reducing productivity per capita
4) lack of inbound investment (how many foreign businesses site their factories here)
5) The absence of any economy of scale
6) The lack of innovation
7) Unwillingness to change

I could go on, but feel that some Italy's charm for visitors is it quaintness, the number of artisans and the existence of small local shops is unfortunately hamstringing it and a balance must be found.

Italy needs to adapt to survive in the global market place, focus on quality and style. Radical measures are needed (similar to those that dragged the UK up by its bootlaces after the 70s).

If people are redeployed and perform efficiently in jobs that actually add value then hopefully they will be remunerated appropriately and that will kick start a new Italian future

[Biagio]

Originally Posted by damiano

Italys net average disposable income per capita is half the UKs

That should be 'declared' net average disposable income.

[Carole B]

If people are redeployed and perform efficiently in jobs that actually add value then hopefully they will be remunerated appropriately and that will kick start a new Italian future

Well said! IMHO this is one of the keys to the malaise here... The average Italian feels little or no need to be productive simply because there is little or no chance of 'losing' their jobs...

Italy is NOT productive. How can they compete with many countries in Europe - let alone those from the east unless they change this attitude?

But you are also right regarding remuneration. If you pay peanuts, we all know what you get! When Italy took up the insidious 'agency staffing' approach to work the rot began to set in - profit became the god - at ANY cost!!! And look where it has got them... As a country Italy is on it's knees - ruled by factions that are still like something out of the feudal system. Ruled by politicians- many of whom have no right to hold office and should instead be 'banged up' for years! Ruled by a church that for centuries has expected to be obeyed by all, and that considers itself more important than the souls it looks after.

I love Italy so much - but I despair at the apathetic complaints and their constant "But it's ALWAYS been like this" - WELL NO IT HASN'T!!! That's what they need to accept if they want to return their country to it's former glory...

The workers need to give a fair days work for a fair day's pay, and SO many do not!
BUT
Equally - the employers need to give a fair days pay in the first place - and practically NONE do!.

Of course these couple of points are barely the tip of the Italian malaise iceberg... and who knows if the new (seeming) air of co-operation between the parties will finally start to bring a sense of hope to the poplulace? A pretty tall order, but one which must be faced up to I think - the sense of co-operation must be seen at ALL levels.

Sorry about the vent ... I'll get off the soapbox now!

[Marc]

Originally Posted by Carole B

The average Italian feels little or no need to be productive simply because there is little or no chance of 'losing' their jobs...

I think that's a big over-generalisation Carole. Whilst it may be true of many employees in the state sector and some in industry, it is certainly not true of the many small businesses that form the heart of the Italian economy. I'm always impressed by how hard-working and enterprising most of these Italians are. Of course, many of them are are starving the state of funds by under-declaring their income. As always, money is a big motivating factor in human industriousness!