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You have been warned on "Who’s afraid of Silvio Berlusconi? "

You have been warned — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 09:45:04 +0000

Here is the chilling truth of Italy's fascist 'government': printed in Unita' newspaper 31 August 2009

De Magistris: "Si prepara il colpo di Stato d'autunno"

di Luigi De Magistris

Credo che il popolo italiano debba essere consapevole che la maggioranza politica - di ispirazione piduista - tenterà di utilizzare le Istituzioni per portare a compimento - nei prossimi mesi- il più devastante disegno autoritario mai concepito dal dopoguerra in poi. Un vero golpe d’autunno. Da un punto di vista istituzionale si cercherà di rafforzare il progetto presidenzialista - di tipo peronista - disegnato su misura dell’attuale Premier. Poteri assoluti al Capo dello Stato eletto dal popolo. Elezioni supportate dalla propaganda di regime costruita attraverso il controllo quasi totale dei mezzi di comunicazione. Il Parlamento - coerentemente ad un assetto autoritario e verticistico del potere - ridotto ad organo di ratifica dei desiderata dell’esecutivo con le opposizioni democratiche messe in condizione di esercitare mera testimonianza. La distruzione dell’autonomia e dell’indipendenza della magistratura attraverso la sottoposizione del pubblico ministero al potere esecutivo con modifiche costituzionali realizzate illegittimamente con legge ordinaria (quale quella che subordina il Pm all’iniziativa della polizia giudiziaria e, quindi, del governo), nonché attraverso la mortificazione del suo ruolo attraverso leggi quale quella che elimina di fatto le intercettazioni (rafforzando quindi la cd. microcriminalità in modo, poi, da invocare poteri straordinari per combatterla).

La revisione della Corte Costituzionale e del Consiglio Superiore della Magistratura – non però nella direzione di liberare tali fondamentali organi dalle influenze partitiche e di poteri che pure sono presenti – ma attraverso il rafforzamento della componente politica e partitocratica. La soppressione della libertà di stampa e del pluralismo dell’informazione formalizzando normativamente la scomparsa dei fatti. La disintegrazione della scuola pubblica, dell’università e della ricerca, in modo da favorire il consolidamento della sub-cultura di regime, quella per intenderci che ha realizzato il mito del «papi», ossia del padrone che dispensa posti e prebende. Il prossimo Presidente della Repubblica – il desiderio dei nuovi peronisti è ovviamente quello che Berlusconi diventi il Capo, il Capo di tutto e di tutti - dovrà avere ampi poteri e con questi anche il comando delle forze armate (dopo aver già ottenuto la gestione della sicurezza attraverso la sua privatizzazione con l’utilizzo delle ronde da lanciare magari a caccia di immigrati e omosessuali) in modo da poter governare anche eventuali conflitti sociali con la forza.

Sul piano economico e del lavoro la maggioranza prepara la repressione al dissenso ed al conflitto sociale causato da un disegno che punta a rafforzare le disuguaglianze attraverso una politica economica che consolida sempre più i poteri forti e squilibra fortemente il Paese come nei regimi (chi ha già tanto deve avere di più, mentre sempre di più saranno quelli che non riescono ad arrivare alla fine del mese), con l’assenza del contrasto all’evasione fiscale e l’approvazione di norme che rafforzano il riciclaggio del denaro sporco. Il furto delle risorse pubbliche che vanno a finire nelle tasche dei soliti comitati d’affari. Il mancato adeguamento dei salari al costo della vita. L’incapacità di favorire l’iniziativa economica privata fondata sulla libera concorrenza supportando, invece, la rapacità dei soliti prenditori. L’assenza di strategia che possa rilanciare il lavoro - pubblico e privato - fondandolo sulla meritocrazia e non sul privilegio e sull’occupazione della cosa pubblica (come, per fare un esempio, nella sanità). Assenza di politiche economiche fondate su sviluppo e lavoro, tutela delle risorse e rispetto della natura e della vita. Il saccheggio, in definitiva, della nostra «Storia».

Un progetto contro il nostro futuro. Il colpo di Stato - apparentemente indolore ed a tratti invisibile - reso possibile dall’istituzionalizzazione delle mafie, dalla loro penetrazione nelle articolazioni economiche e pubbliche del Paese, dal loro controllo del territorio, dalla capacità di neutralizzare la resistenza costituzionale. Un golpe senza armi - ma intriso di violenza morale - con l’utilizzo del diritto illegittimo,della creazione di norme in violazione della Costituzione. L’eversione attraverso l’uso di uno schermo legale. L’uccisione della democrazia dal suo interno. È necessario, quindi, che si realizzino subito le condizioni per una grande mobilitazione civile, sociale e politica che si opponga a questo disegno autoritario che stravolge gli equilibri costituzionali e l’assetto democratico del nostro Paese.

jenaeprona on "Berlusconi’s scandal, Italy’s tragedy "

jenaeprona — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 06:02:48 +0000

It was typical that the prime minister should then ignore normal
channels of democratic accountability and turn to the gossip magazine, Chi, which he owns, to state his denials. His behaviour suggests that in Italy politics has been replaced by the display
of personal omnipotence. How much further will Italy's decrepit
political culture and degenerate body-politic be allowed to sink? - Which is the question on everyone's mind I suppose.

sad italian on "Who’s afraid of Silvio Berlusconi? "

sad italian — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 13:11:01 +0000

Hello, i write from Italy, and I agree completely with mr Andrews. The Italian situation is becoming terrible, from every point of view. We have a premier who cares only about himself, easy young woman (under 18 too) and the classic "bella vita". He reached to avoid every legal trial for any kind of crime thanks to many ad personam laws. Every time he goes out from Italy, his behaviour it's an extreme embarassment for all Italian people.

But he controls all the televisions, with his Mediaset and with Rai, public tv, controlled by his Government. And so he controls all tv information. Statistics say that 70% of Italians make their own political opinion with tv news, and here it is the trick.
If you try to explain to someone not informed what really our premier does in his life, this someone won't believe you, he will say you are insane.
And about the newspapers, it's not better: Silvio controls most of them too, because he's the owner or because he blackmails the other publishers with advertisement hijacking.
We can get some informations and critical discussions only from web or foreign newspapers, who obviously are demonized in our country like conspirators.

And this is just the greatest case, because most of Italian political class is rotten ever more. Every day there is a new trial to a new politician.
The opposition makes we cry every day more. There's no oppositon, it's weak, comic, unconfortable. There's just a little party, Antonio Di Pietro's IDV, who have the courage to opposite our Buffone, but naturally he's demonized and laughed in almost tv news/shows.
Every shy attempt to say how the things go, is muted and punished. For Freedom House our country is "partially free".

So, who can help us? Neither death, because everything is fated to go on this way, after Silvio Buffone too.
Do we need a revolution? I think no. I think we need TABULA RASA of all (or almost) our politicians. Dream on.

Ciao

blackantelope on "Who’s afraid of Silvio Berlusconi? "

blackantelope — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 19:47:08 +0000

there is a tale of an english woman who bought a old castle in italy. she redeveloped it and made it modern. someone came to her from the town and made her a low offer for the property. she refused. then itailan authorites notyfied her that there was a legal problem and she had to appear in court. she then had to pay the lawyers and also for the court appearence. she believed that she had complied to all regulations. after each court hearing she was called time and time again to reappear. each time to pay the lawyer and for the hearing. after spending tens of thousands of pounds, she realised that it was the mafia in league with the lawyers and the courts milking money from her. she sold up knowing that she had no chance. this is how italy works.

money before politics, status before truth, fashion before justice; you wont solve italy. this is a deep cultural way of thinking that has complex roots, and the italians are not bothered to solve it. they have been let down by politics and the criminalty time and again. go to italy, live there, work there and see how ' one hand washes the other' as they say.

KingRajesh on "Who’s afraid of Silvio Berlusconi? "

KingRajesh — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 15:31:24 +0000

You write “that there is (no) alternative leader”. I would disagree. It’s the same argument made in, for example, the United States by Republicans and Democrats. The choice in the last presidential election, it seemed to most Americans, was between McCain and Obama. But what of Ralph Nader, a person that has spent much of his life fighting for ordinary citizens. Most of the intellectual class and the so-called fourth estate largely ignored him, thereby shutting out one of the country’s staunchest progressive. They offer a false choice between a Democrat and a Republican.

You write about Antonio Di Pietro, a man not without his faults, and yet continue to say that Italy has no choice. Of course it does. Di Pietro. Is he likely to win? No. But is it not better to vote with your conscience for someone who at least has principals, whether one agrees with them or not, rather than for opportunists like Dario Franceschini, and in the process preserving the corrupt status quo. And why not Beppe Grillo? So what if he’s a comedian. So is Al Franken. Ronald Reagan was a second rate actor. Clearly, the choices are there.

Regarding good journalism, calling La Repubblica and L’Espresso sources of “serious information” is like calling the New York Times a progressive newspaper. You’ll recall how NYT (along with many of Britain’s “great” media outlets, i.e. The Economist, The Times, Guardian, etc.) became a mouthpiece propagandizing the Bush Administration line re: WMD, terrorism, etc. leading up to the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq.

I agree with the central points you make about Berlusconi, the state of Italian politics and the astounding behaviour of good Italian citizens to continue to support this fascist dictator, a person with a complete and open disregard for the rule of law. I, however, would have liked to see a few proposals on how Italians can “lay aside the fear, and rise to a clear and present danger.”

Even Americans began to turn against a menace-to-society like Bush Jr. at the end of his reign. Thank goodness for term limits. Yet here in Italy, support for this megalomaniac holds steady in the 40% range, perhaps higher. What does it say about the intelligence of people when a Chinese immigrant (a friend) supports Il Cavaliere, a highly anti-immigrant politician, and a conservative Catholic mother (another friend) cannot see the irony in supporting (blindly) San Silvio, even as he flaunts his pornographic private lifestyle.

Italians, unfortunately, see value in what global citizens would view as petty, short-sighted and downright childish. Berlusconi is a FURBONE and the Italians unfortunately love him for it. And people around the world can "va a kagare".

solman on "Who’s afraid of Silvio Berlusconi? "

solman — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 20:20:05 +0000

The sole channels of serious information for Italian citizens are La Repubblica and L'Espresso (both owned by the same publishing......funny sincerely funny...but why don't you explane why mr debenedetti hates mr berlusconi. rai3 is a regime channel? l'unita' is a newspaper used for pdl marketing? please, please! you live in Italy, and do you really think that there are only rep and espresso?
you are a teacher, and I am expecting from you a serious analysis, not a populism comment. espresso is so serious that before G8 publishedban article describing no global attacks in l'aquila, confusion, strikes....but nothing happened..... please, start describing the real problems of italy, the historical background, that is the beginning of his structural crisis, describe how italy Must be considered as a sum of different people traditions and so on. people want berlusconi as he is, pregi e difetti. we prefer a latin lover prime minister - no money given for his night of lova - that works, that is trying to change a died italy...at last...go to bari and discover where is the real italian problem - and i am not talking about political colors but i am talking ofvthe way of manging money. regards, andrea

Not logged in on "Who’s afraid of Silvio Berlusconi? "

Not logged in — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 19:52:28 +0000

SIR

Coincidentally I sent the following to a local radio show as a result of a discussion on Italy which took place this morning. I also sent it to the Italian Embassy but do not expect any acknowledgement from that quarter. As we can see Italy has a major image problem to put it at its mildest in relation to its prime minister. Sending it to the Embassy was not meant to be offensive but so that they can see how Italy is viewed in this part of the world.

SIR

The contents of your programme prompt me to send you the following few thoughts on Italy, its society and its principal politician.

Over a long life Italy is the only place that I was mugged and robbed in the street. This happened on a no. of occasions. Since my work brought me to many countries, most of them much poorer than Italy, that says it all. On a visit to Italy recently our excellent tour guide was all but arrested by the police. It seems when she answered questions from one of our group about the dates of a building she had broken the law. As a consequence some spy who, it is alleged, had been following us around reported her to the police.

The police would seem to me to have enough on their hands combating the prevalence of petty crime against tourists, and I presume local people, without spending time and resources interfering with perfectly harmless interchanges between tourists and their tour guides.

I sent a message to the Italian Embassy on that particular episode and did not even get the courtesy of an acknowledgement.

According to the Italian press, which is mostly owned by him, Prime minister Silvio Berlusconi seems to enjoy a high level of popularity among Italians. To me all of this demonstrates the fact that Italy is one of the most corrupt countries in the world. Because he is in control of almost all of the Italian media Italy's prime minister seems to be able to get away with such things as changing the law to prevent his being charged with corruption.

By allowing Berlusconi to represent himself as an international statesman at various international gatherings, while at the same time allowing him to indulge in very public sleaze in his own country, Italians are tolerating their country being treated with contempt by their most powerful politician. To say the least this reflects very badly on all Italians. The fact that they put up with it makes them complicit in the corruption of Italian society and your programme does nothing to change that impression. The whole of Italian society stinks.

Tony

Not logged in on "Italy and the G8: voices from L'Aquila"

Not logged in — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 14:37:14 +0000

This article has some interesting feedback on the Summit after it happened: http://www.mindreign.com/en/mindshare/Environment/Developed-Nations-Need-to-Step-Up-to-the-Plate/sl36962306bp323cpp10pn1.html#comments

Gianna on "Italy and the G8: voices from L'Aquila"

Gianna — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 20:43:06 +0000

Read the latest from l'Aquila:

MAYOR OF L'AQUILA PROTESTS AGAINST ITALIAN GOVERNMENT

This latest information says it all... the REAL state of affairs... the lies of Silvio Berlusconi and his government "ministers" during G8 with their big *show* to the world, staged in l'Aquila... read, instead, the real situation and be informed concerning the disgust of the people and the Mayor of l'Aquila:

Terremoto,il sindaco de l'Aquila protesta contro le tasse ai residenti

Il sindaco dell'Aquila, Massimo Cialente, non indosserà più la fascia tricolore per protesta contro la normativa fiscale che impone ai residenti nei Comuni del cratere sismico la restituzione al 100% a partire dal prossimo gennaio delle tasse sospese dopo il terremoto.

«Se devono lasciarci in questa situazione - ha detto Cialente - non indosserò più la fascia tricolore da sindaco. Con questa situazione fiscale l'economia aquilana non può ripartire». Il primo cittadino ha invitato a lanciare un messaggio netto: «Nel momento in cui il Paese, rappresentato dal Governo, decide che L'Aquila è tornata in una situazione di normalità e, quindi, può pagare tranquillamente le tasse, c'è bisogno di un segnale importante». Cialente si è detto pronto anche a restituire la fascia al Presidente della Repubblica, Giorgio Napolitano. «La riprenderò - ha dichiarato - solo quando vedrò che questo Paese ci è vicino». Il sindaco critica anche la scelta di non destinare i proventi dello scudo fiscale alle aree terremotate.

Lunedì prossimo la Commissione congiunta di finanze e bilancio discuterà gli emendamenti presentati in Parlamento per modificare i parametri di restituzione degli oneri fiscali non versati. «Allo stato attuale - ha sostenuto il deputato Giovanni Lolli (Pd) - gli aquilani devono restituire il 100% delle tasse e degli oneri previdenziali in 24 rate a partire da gennaio. Ciò vuol dire che fra sei mesi i cittadini, oltre a tornare a pagare i mutui, dovranno versare tasse e oneri, con una maggiorazione di 23 milioni di euro al mese per gli arretrati, per un totale di 513 milioni di euro in più in due anni. È una zona franca al contrario». Gli emendamenti presentati da Pd, Mpa, Udc e Idv chiedono invece un'ulteriore sospensione di sei mesi dei versamenti fiscali e una restituzione forfettizzata al 40% dopo dieci anni, con un regime simile a quello utilizzato per il terremoto in Umbria e nelle Marche.

Article in l'Unita newspaper, 18 June 2009.

gmarini on "Berlusconi’s scandal, Italy’s tragedy "

gmarini — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 10:35:32 +0000

Some *Northern* Italians writing on this site are denying that the Lega Nord is xenophobic - they use as the example the black woman voted... they should tell the truth about what happened AFTER she was voted in... don't just tell half the story, silly Italians!!! They should tell of the massive oppositon by the LEGA NORD to her being elected...

Now look at the latest declaration by the Lega Nord, who form part of Berlusconi's government: advising Italians NOT TO RENT PROPERTY TO PEOPLE WHO COME FROM OUTSIDE EUROPE - what the Italians refer to as EXTRACOMMUNITARI (outside the European Community)!... They are so ignorant they have probably forgotten that the US is outside the European Community... and the Italians LOVE Americans... silly Italians think that civilisation and liberty exist in America... we are still at that stage of naivete in provincial Italy!!!

Yes - xenophobia, racism and fascism are alive and well in Italy. The G8 was an absolute disgrace and staged in l'Aquila for a sympathy vote - typically Italian way of behaving. Berlusconi's government, immediately after the earthquake, wanted to put on the *bella figura* pretending they had lots of money, and refusing help from the outside world. They didn't give a damn about the poor people of L'Aquila who are living in appalling conditions in the tents and who organised a PROTEST AGAINST G8, which, of course, was pretty much covered up by the government while they spent thousands on accommodation for the G8 *heads of state* and bringing around the *first* ladies on tours... what a pathetic vista... all while not maintaining their promises to Africa and while leaving their own people of L'Aquila to rot in those tents. Then they call it a success!!!!

That's Italy!!! The REAL Italy! Those who don't live in the country, don't bother defending it - I live here and this country truly STINKS!!!

Read the latest from Lega Nord - advising not to rent property to people from outside the EU... so that's not xenophobic???? Taken from l'Unita 14 July 2009:

il 'consiglio' dell'assessore leghista: 'mai affittare agli extracomunitari'

L'Italia della tolleranza zero ha un nuovo campione: un assessore leghista di piccolo centro del Varesotto, Gerenzano, guidato da una giunta monocolore del Carroccio. Sul bollettino ufficiale del Comune l'invito è scritto in modo pressante, e a suo modo convincente. Nel caso qualcuno volesse concedere case in affitto agli extracomunitari, scrive l'assessore alla sicurezza Cristiano Borghi, sappia che va contro il comune, la comunità e il comune sentire della popolazione, recando un danno gravissimo.

L'appello, riportato oggi su un grande quotidiano, dice questo: "Chi ama Gerenzano non vende e non affitta agli extracomunitari. Altrimenti avremo il paese invaso da stranieri e avremo sempre più paura a uscire di casa!". Il punto esclamativo è nel testo. L'appello è apparso sul numero di maggio di Filo diretto con i cittadini, il bollettino ufficiale del Comune, e la vicenda è stata segnalata all'Ufficio contro le discriminazioni razziali istituito presso il ministero delle Pari opportunità.

Istruttiva la motivazione dell'appello: "Questa amministrazione che guida il Comune ormai da diversi anni - scrive l'assessore alla sicurezza - non ha mai - e sottolineo mai - agevolato l'afflusso degli extracomunitari nel nostro paese". Vantandosi del fatto che la stessa amministrazione "non ha mai costruito con i soldi dei gerenzanesi case popolari, in quanto ai primi posti della graduatoria ci fossero sempre i soliti noti"; che "non abbiamo mai destinato terreni per la costruzione di moschee e destinato edifici come luoghi di culto agli extracomunitari di religione islamica"; che "i nomadi che arrivano e sostano all'interno del territorio comunale devono lasciare il paese entro 48 ore"; e che "non abbiamo mai favorito gli extracomunitari sotto il profilo dei contributi o dei sussidi economici".

G.A. on "Italy and the G8: voices from L'Aquila"

G.A. — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 20:45:55 +0000

In response to Andrea, I think it is important that the views of the citizens of L'Aquila are reported as most of the mainstream media ignored them during the summit, and, as the L'Aquila fireman says, the conditions of workers and citizens there are deteriorating and need a response. I am not a supporter of the Democratic Party and indeed if some of their leading figures, such as D'Alema, Rutelli and Veltroni had taken action against Berlusconi's 'conflict of interests', while they had many opportunites to do so, then Italy's democracy would not be in such a crisis. It is extraordinary, for example, that Rai, the public broadcaster, refuses to cover Berlusconi's current political problems.

Geoff Andrews

solman on "Italy and the G8: voices from L'Aquila"

solman — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 18:51:07 +0000

Why, why do you have to describe the G8 event, the acivity of recostruction, only hearing a movement of citizens? Do you really believe that PD would have done better in fornt of this disaster ( have you ever heard the nice results of mr Pecoraro Scanio in Neaples??) Please, read and answer, funny reading that MAFIA is the italian rule, that we all corrupted, that nothing is running coorectly in Italy.
Remember that Berlusconi was elected from "vulgo", from people, and at the last adminstrative local elections the center-rught perty won again.
start fron here your next analysis, and remember that italian are not stupid, usually honest and really serious.
Most of Italians ( also from left party9 are proud to be italin after G8 event. I repeat the question. Would have been the same under a fantomatic franceschini's government??
I hope yuo will post my reply, but I am not sure ( as happened in the previous one). that's' democracy. Come in the north east itay and discover a different Italy, made of work, family and fidelity. Waiting for you. Reagrds, Andrea Salvin - food specialist!!

Papi on "Italy and the G8: voices from L'Aquila"

Papi — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 20:15:38 +0000

SO WE LIVE IN L'AQUILA
3 months after earthquake – Excerpt of an interview with Anna Pacifica Colasacco, an antiquarian who now lives in a container

How did you receive container, government arranged only tents?
I bought it (€ 2100 + VAT)

Historic centre of the town is now opened ang G8 is beginning: is L'Aquila getting back to normality?
They opened a short part of main street, about 200 meters, from 9:00 a.m. till 9:00 p.m and because of G8 it is all blocked.

Is it forbidden to go to summits zone?
We cannot go to shopping too

What is the link beetween G8 and shopping?
G8 summit will be in Finance Police headquarter near malls, the only ones opened: now we cannot access to them. I dont know, the powerful maybe would go to shopping

May you ask for a pass?
They dont give it for going shopping. You have to ask DICOMAC (Civil Protection headquarter)
for it such as for every request. But you have to go (and you may not) to Finance Police headquarter, where DICOMAC is, to ask for the pass.Even before G8 it was quite impossible to go there: a Finance policeman has to come with you and then you have an awful queue

No other one to ask for?
This is the reason because we founded 100% committee. Our committe asks 100% reconstruction and 100% transparency: nowadays meetings are forbidden in tent cities

Does Civil Protection manage tent cities?
It militarised everything and deprived local authorities of power, never happened til now: it managed only emergency in the past.

What about reconstruction?
Its a wrong word; building of new monster towns its the correct one: LAquila was a medieval town and they are building an ecomonster you couldnt have seen even in Maos China; and it will be not enough for 60.000 evacuees.

What about economic aids?
€ 800/month for evacuees (max 3 months) who lives in tent cities, € 100 for other ones: till now weve seen nothing

Dura Lex (sed Lex) on "Italy and the G8: voices from L'Aquila"

Dura Lex (sed Lex) — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 22:58:55 +0000

THE RELATION OF A FIRE MAN

I’m a fire man of L’Aquila and I say it’s not easy working everyday in the town in which I live seeing its deep injuries. I lived very intensely the first weeks with my collegues, I worked tirelessly, we were helping those who needed help and this helped us to work, making us tireless.

Since one month our work was directed towards crumbling churches and other few cultural works. Destroyed and damaged houses were blocked off and left, waiting for the rain destroying them at all.

Citizens have no more right on their own houses, relegated in tent cities/concentration camps, they are out of the scenario.

Who allocates funds he decides on needs and superintends works. The aim of this is not helping who loses everything. They search visibility (restoring a church is surely more prestigious than restoring a simple house for a family) or help who can give a big reward: with churches’ affair our politicians made bingo!

In this nice situation we firemen are only labourers and, like labourers, we are badly paid and without help.

From the beginning of earthquake we have 24 hours shifts (shifts are usually 12 hours) and, till now, they didn’t pay overtime.

The reason is that there’s no money.

But we can see that they use money for other aims, much more important than paying whom is working hardly since 3 months ago, they use money to enlarge Preturo’s airport, entry gate for the powerful ones of the earth, or to build heliport for the Pope, who then cancelled his visit (beeing a big expense of money and workers).

G8 added to this difficult situation.

I say you what’s G8 for our work. Our shifts had to pass to 12 hours: they remained 24 hours (with no overtime wage).

Our headquarter, which was near Finance Police headquarter (now G8 headquarter) was rapidly moved near Assergi (little town at the foot of Gran Sasso mountain), causing new work to build structures and taking time away from our principal work: helping people in restoring.

As we say: first the loss and then the mocking; a Civil Protection Unit’s order forbids us to stay for lunch in tent cities (mainly in L’Aquila), forcing us to come back in Assergi.

It’s clear that this order wastes time and fuel and is useless for our work, especially in this moment of emergency.

panta on "Berlusconi’s scandal, Italy’s tragedy "

panta — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 09:10:35 +0000

Foreigners asking why people keep re-electing and supporting Silvio Berlusconi should consider how things are seen from a local perspective. Much of the issues here get a distorted media representation - when they get represented. The law that offered immunity to the three highest government offices was passed as a "democracy-protection device". It's like living in a soft version of Orwell's 1984 (or more accurately, in Huxley's Brave New World). For the same reason, people is unaware of the "image problem" that Italy has abroad.
A secondary problem is that people have no memory - at all. We continually forget the broken promises made by politicians, and Berlusconi is very goot at making those (where is the 1M new jobs Berlusconi promised in 1994? where are the tax cuts? where are the higher salaries? ...). When new promises are made, during election times, old ones fade out silently.
Finally, italians are somewhat fascinated by corrupted power. It's like everyone is hoping that some "fat" will percolate down and reach them.