I’m Sorry, I don’t Understand….

6 Responses to “I’m Sorry, I don’t Understand….”

1. Man of Roma said on March 22nd, 2008 11:42 pm

   Yes, teachers in this country are not very well paid and schools have little funds, the reason being in my view that the present Italian ruling class cares about keeping power only and is not very interested in instructing the common people who might understand how they are manipulated by all parties, left and right, and by mass-media. Maybe this statement is a bit extreme, and some politician do seem to care, but on the whole I think what I’ve said is correct.

2. Alex R said on March 23rd, 2008 12:28 am

   Hi Man of Roma and Happy Easter!

   With regard to your comment, it sounds as though the Italian ruling class thinks very much like the British ruling class thought back in the 19th century! And one Viscount Palmerston objected to giving the vote to the working classes in England.

   At least the working classes in Italy can vote!

   Wow! Italy really is a Living Museum!

   All the best,

   Alex

3. Man of Roma said on March 23rd, 2008 6:05 pm

   Happy Easter to you too!

   Well, I think you are somewhat right.

   In ways again extreme but not entirely far from truth, in October 2007 in Boing Boing and in Beppe Grillo’s English blog I (pls allow me) thus commented the Levi-Prodi regulation that tried to limit the activity of blogs:

   “I think the problem with our Republic is somewhat the same old problem we used to have at the times of the much older Republic, meaning of course the Roman Republic which was starting to rule the known world but was not so *Publica* after all, two hundred families roughly having ALL in their hands.”

   “Too far away, the Roman Republic? I do not think so. 100 hundreds years is only 4 generations, and deep patterns of behaviours are hard to die. I know this is not an active contribution but pls look at almost ALL Latin countries around the globe, where more or less aristocratic élites tend to keep ALL for themselves again and again. And the French? They had to kill the nobility [I was mentioning of course the French Revolution] in one of the greatest slaughters in history (a slaughter I am not now proposing as a solution, no, no, no, lol).”

   “I might be influenced both by my history addiction. I nonetheless believe in what great French historian Braudel believed: great civilizations never die.”

   “Yes, they never die, this unfortunately being so true not only for our virtues (of which few are left) but for our flaws as well (of which many still remain): this selfish tendency – among the rest - to keep ALL, giving to the plebs *panem et circenses*, which were like mass-media today, though less manipulative maybe than modern circenses.
   And now, Gracchi are up again [meaning Grillo], as if confirming that deep counter-behaviours can survive as well.”

   “These blogs of course bypassing the official media channels and mobilizing 100,000 people in one snap cannot but be considered a danger. A great danger indeed.”

   “I am old, and watching. With a bitter smile …”

   All the best

   Man of Roma

4. AlexR said on March 24th, 2008 4:37 pm

   Hi Man of Roma,

   Your observations comments are very interesting (as usual).

   I suppose we are back to the old oligarchy thing. Italy is run by a very small group of people, who, in their way, act very much like the aristocracies of old.

   One of the main ways of keeping power is to ensure that you also control knowledge, but, as you observed regarding Prodi’s failed attempt to bring the us bloggers to heel, knowledge is very much available to the masses. That this is a worry for the oligarchs here in Italy is evident, in that the attempt to present someone almost new (Veltroni) is an attempt to create the impression that the people’s wishes are paramount.

   There is an interesting paradox at work here too, in that some of the oligarchs have made a fortune out of improving communications. In a way, the temptation of added riches may well turn out to have been a double edged sword, in that the improvement in communications may well bring the oligarchs down.

   As for the original subject of this post, with the advent of the internet, it is quite possible to educate yourself. This promotes freedom of thought, and again may frighten the oligarchs. Although I doubt they will attempt to improve the education system - unless they feel that by doing so, they are likely to placate the masses and retain control.

   It’s a curious thing power - potentially worse than any drug, and more dangerous. Drugs affect sections of society, power affects the whole of it. Then again, power used wisely can benefit mankind enormously.

   Ever see the recent Clooney film ‘Michael Clayton’? Interesting film, and a lovely example of what can happen when oligarchs become desperate.

   Kind regards,

   Alex

5. Man of Roma said on March 24th, 2008 8:09 pm

   Thank you Alex, but as I have said, my comment was a bit extreme, and I think the situation in Italy is getting more democratic in the years.

   Although it is true that 1) we have this “casta” (described so well in the book “La casta” by Sergio Rizzo and Gian Antonio Stella) that is sort of choking us, plus 2) the educational system has less and less resources (as you noticed, even in the rich Milano), and this is evidence enough of how this casta is not interested in educating the people.

   Yes, Berlusconi has enlarged the media sector but he has used this power to manipulate the masses (he was not the first, of course), so I am not sure this sword is so double edged.

   Kind regards

   Man of Roma

6. AlexR said on March 25th, 2008 12:38 pm

   You are welcome Man of Roma.

   Just a quick comment on this:
   “Yes, Berlusconi has enlarged the media sector but he has used this power to manipulate the masses (he was not the first, of course), so I am not sure this sword is so double edged.”

   It is true that by using the mass media Berlusco has bent the masses to his will - but he will have some trouble using the Internet to do the same, unless the Internet comes under draconian control in Italy. Prodi tried to do this, and failed, but he was only the first. others will also try to gag the world wide web in Italy.

   Personally, I don’t think it is possble - but, you never know, and we are dealing with some super furbi here. The have underestimated the democratic power of the www, but they won’t do it again.

   Then again, the www can make lots of people lots of money - so the oligarchs in Italy might be prepared to suffer additional democracy if their bank accounts continue to bloat, and they manage to maintain power.

   Interesting times in Italy - the country is being changed from the outside….

   All the best,

   Alex

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