Prodi’s pretty picture
1 viewsIn what could possibly be considered as one Italian equivalent to the UK Queen’s Christmas Day speech, Romano Prodi, Italy’s current hanging on by a thread prime minister, appeared to demonstrate that he is possibly a wee bit out of touch with life here in the Living Museum. He painted a rosy picture of an Italy in which things were getting better, although I’m not too sure Beppe Grillo and his supporters would necessarily agree with Mr P.
One can draw several possible conclusions from Prodi’s optimism: First, he had had a little too much Grappa, and was feeling merry. Next, he really felt he ought to say something positive in order to counter a certain Italian comedian’s attempts to discredit just about all Italian politicians. Then, he was simply reading a speech prepared by someone else. And finally, he is so out of touch with Italian reality that he honesty believes that things are getting better.
Of course, on Mr P’s salary and perks, one doubts whether financial problems and worries about obtaining a full time work contract really bug his household. And any attempts to investigate the irregularities in which several members of his government are involved can easily be swept under the carpet by allowing the transfer of those nasty law upholding Italian magistrates and financial policemen to posts where they cannot stick their annoying little noses into affairs which simply do not concern them.
In light of the above, I guess from Mr Prodi’s personal point of view, he has good reason to believe things are becoming better in Italy. At least they are for he and his chums.
Still, Mr P may be right, after all, lots more people have been flooding the ski slopes than in recent years. This must be a sign of an economic up turn, if ever there was one.
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- Beppe Grillo
Just a quick “Happy New Year” wish for you and yours
Did you happen to catch the article that appeared recently in the New York Times, and it’s sequel that appeared about a week later in the London Times? I’m thinking that Prodi’s just doing whatever any self-respecting President would do under the circumstances: “Crisis? What crisis?!?” Or as Alfred E. Neuman would say, “What, me worry?”
Mr. P. is just like every other politician on earth, save a few (Dennis Kucinich, for example). Remember when George Bush visited the supermarket and couldn’t figure out what that doohicky was that the cashiers were using? Or his mother, the Dowager, who is famous for her sensitive observations of modern life? Silvio Berlusconi & Co. - now ther’s a crowd of in-touch guys! How much do you think they and their families are feeing the pinch? Gotta say, though, that they sure are lucky to be able to take advantage of those funny laws, especially dear Silvio!
Mr. Prodi’s picture is probably better than the reality but this is what all politicians do. Didn’t Mr. Bush give a better picture about the situation in Iraq that it really is?
The point is that although the situation is not perfect –and now found me a country where it is all perfect- things are moving on. Let’s face it governing Italy is not a piece of cake and Berlusconi legacy is not a merry one.
Mr. Grillo may be unhappy about Prodi, and Brlusconi and every other politicians but he is not telling us what to do is he?
From my point of view I think that all the attempts to discredit the current government are serious threats to Italian democracy. Every one of us wants something different from the government and everyone of us may be unhappy but pushing for cutting the thread the government is hanging from is madness.
Let’s not forget that this government was democratically elected!
Gege’ Bau - while I did not catch the article, I did hear about it, and the English Times article.
Caused quite a furore here, it did! I guess it’s just me. I know politicians are normal people, I mean they eat, sleep, and poo, but they rarely seem to act normal. Don’t these poor people understand that sometimes, just sometimes, hearts and minds can be won with a wee bit of honesty. Sorry, I naive, I know. Pah!
Thanks for your contribution - nice to see you are still hanging around.
Hope the New Year goes well for you, your wife…and the dogs?;)
All the best,
Alex
Andrea, you said:
“Mr. Prodi’s picture is probably better than the reality but this is what all politicians do.”
The picture Mr Prodi appears to be thinking about, does not appear to contain any images of the ‘real’ Italy.
Things may be moving on, but too slowly, as ever here.
And you said:
“Let’s not forget that this government was democratically elected!”
And so was Burlusconi’s government….
Democracy does not exist in Italy, nor the UK or the US, for that matter - it has become an illusion.
‘Real’ democracy, IMHO, means being able to choose who we really want. Example: Voters choose A, A fails, so voters choose B, B fails. Voters have to choose A again, even though A failed - Hobson’s choice, I believe this situation is know as. If democracy were real, then voters would also have a choice C to think about. And I know that in Italy governments are made up of ‘A’s and ‘B’s and ‘C’s and ‘D’s etc, but the A to D stays the same - SOS - which equals no real change, no progress.
Thanks for your comment.
All the best for the New Year,
Alex
Politicians? NORMAL??? HaHA!!
The difference between Italian democracy and American democracy (I don’t know about British democracy) is that in the U.S. we vote for a candidate. Theoretically, the guy who gets the most votes wins. Unless you’re George Bush, then it doesn’t matter who gets the most votes - you just buy the Supreme Court and get yourself appointed. In Italy you vote for the party and the winning party appoints everybody. Frankly, the Italian system sucks even worse than the American system. The net result of the Italian way is that you just have the same old group of geriatric powerbrokers year in and year out - for generations. They have no interest in change because progress is their enemy. Their utmost concern is the maintenance of the status quo… and their positions of power and wealth.
And on that note, HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! ;o)
For the record, no wife here. My partner (a great guy!) and our 7 dogs wish you and yours the best!
Gege’ Bau,
Oops! Che brutta figura!
A very Happy New Year to both of you! and the 7 dogs!
That’ll teach me for trying to be a smart Alec!
Kindest regards,
Alex
No brutta figura - how were you supposed to know? Just an example of what happens when we assume! ;o)
Buon anno!
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in response to AlexR comments:
Prodi’s legacy is quite a good one actually. And major improvements and changes cannot possibly happen overnight. It will take decades to improve the situation in Italy, even with a stream of honest and hard working governments. And yes Berlusconi was elected by the majority and by definition majority is always right.
If you are implying that every single Italian politician is incompetent and dishonest, then you are implying that every Italian citizen is dishonest. Can this be?
So there must be someone who deserves the votes. But most important, democracy also means that you have the right not withdraw your support (vote) from the dishonest (failed) ones. This is the first step. Does not matter who you vote for, as long as it is not the dishonest one. (refuse the Hobson’s choice!) This will give a clear message to all politicians. Instead, there are always hundred of thousands of Italians that vote for Berlusconi; again and again. This is like shooting in your foot! Again and again!
Eventually a good politician will emerge and he or she will guide the nation to a more prosperous future. Eventually…
Thanks for dropping in Andrea - I’ll post a fuller reply to your interesting comment tomorrow.
Kind regards,
Alex
Andrea,
As promised, a fuller response to your comments on my comments, so to speak.
“Prodi’s legacy is quite a good one actually.”
Can you give me some evidence of what exactly Prodi did for Italy?
“And major improvements and changes cannot possibly happen overnight.”
This is true, only ‘overnight’ in Italian politics appears to mean somewhere between years and never. And yes, it may take decades to sort Italy out, but I’ve noticed that if really necessary Italian politicians can pass legislation at the blink of an eye, especially when it comes to voting themselves nice pay rises.
“And yes Berlusconi was elected by the majority and by definition majority is always right.”
Nope, I disagree with this - the majority can be manipulated, as has happened in Italy over the years. Democracy cannot work when no viable alternatives are presented. Italian politicians have recycled themselves for far too long, and the proportional representation system does not really permit a true majority anyway.
“If you are implying that every single Italian politician is incompetent and dishonest, then you are implying that every Italian citizen is dishonest. Can this be?”
I don’t see why implying that each and every Italian politician is incompetent and dishonest means that the Italian people are the same. Indeed, I know for a fact that this is not the case and this bugs me. The decent honest and hard working Italians are just not represented, except by De Pietro, and his is a small minority.
“So there must be someone who deserves the votes. But most important, democracy also means that you have the right not withdraw your support (vote) from the dishonest (failed) ones.”
At present there are very few who deserve a vote, mainly because they have a dreadful track record - if these people had been businessmen they would have been kicked out by the shareholders, and never asked back.
“This is the first step. Does not matter who you vote for, as long as it is not the dishonest one.”
If everyone is not honest, how can you not vote for a dishonest one?
“Instead, there are always hundred of thousands of Italians that vote for Berlusconi; again and again. This is like shooting in your foot! Again and again!”
Like it or not, Berlusconi has probably done more for many Italians than many politicians ever have - he has given then jobs and livelihoods. With the alternatives on offer, it is no surprise that many should wish to give him a chance, but he was voted out in the last election, and so can be considered a failure. Move over Mr B and make way for someone new.
“Eventually a good politician will emerge and he or she will guide the nation to a more prosperous future. Eventually…”
Heck I do hope so. Italy is in great need of strong, honest and forceful leaders who set the interests of Italy ahead of their own interests. The messages I’m getting regarding Veltroni are more often than not that he is, yet, again, nothing new and thus will do nothing tangible, but at least he would be a new leader, unlike Prodi and Mr B who have both failed.
But please do let me know what exactly Prodi has done for the country. Even if as a result of Prodi’s manoeuvres, I’m not sure the man on the street would agree that his situation is much better though.
Best regards,
Alex