Prodi hands in resignation

[Filuwaúrdjan]

The super-rich already run countries. They are the only people who find the time to experiment in the hobby called politics and government.

I think that the last British P.M to be genuinely rich, at the time when they entered No.10, was Alec Douglas-Home. And he lost office four decades ago.

[Colin]

The super-rich already run countries. They are the only people who find the time to experiment in the hobby called politics and government.

I think that the last British P.M to be genuinely rich, at the time when they entered No.10, was Alec Douglas-Home. And he lost office four decades ago.

It's less so in some countries than in others, I should qualify things. But everywhere there is a political elite, in some countries it is built around money, others, like France, are built around certain schools and colleges, others from the intellegensia as a whole. But the political elite is a constant stream throughout most nations.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

But everywhere there is a political elite,

Of course there is. I think this is unfortunate. But there is now, in some places, often a difference between the political elite and the social elite (a good thing), although the two still overlap to a certain extent everywhere (a bad thing IMO).

[Verily]

It will most likely be another person from within the L'Unione, IIRC, Coalition most likely from the Democrats of the Left. I have no idea who it would be but I doubt there will be any changing of the government back towards House of Freedoms since I can't see any L'Unione members teaming up with Berlusconi.

L'Unione might be more effective at getting some House of Freedoms support if their new PM was from Daisy rather than Democrats of the Left.

[Keystone Phil]

Berlusconi should not be on anyones top 10 list as a leader, I really just can't see why. It's like idolizing Harding. Overall, though, Italian politics are horrid you either vote for a coalition with the communists on the left or a coalition with pseudo-fascist Gianfranco Fini and the many unreformed fascist members of the National Alliance on the right.

That's the way I've always looked at it. Fini is quite a character but I must say that I wouldn't mind looking like him when I am a bit older and then look like Berlusconi when I am older than that (without the plastic surgery...if at all possible    )

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

I only hope that by the time new elections happen Berlusconi is in jail.

[Keystone Phil]

Ma boyz

[minionofmidas]

The super-rich already run countries. They are the only people who find the time to experiment in the hobby called politics and government.

I think that the last British P.M to be genuinely rich, at the time when they entered No.10, was Alec Douglas-Home. And he lost office four decades ago.

This doesn't change the fact that the super-rich run the UK (or Germany).

They just don't grab the "government" titles.

[minionofmidas]

First of all,Berlusconi didn't last the whole 5 years,he resigned as well after being raped in 2005's regional elections.He then got to rule for another year with a couple of changes in terms of ministers.

True of course, there were two Berlusconi governments during the last parliament, not one.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

This doesn't change the fact that the super-rich run the UK (or Germany).

They just don't grab the "government" titles.

Note that the bit I objected to was:

They are the only people who find the time to experiment in the hobby called politics and government.

Rather than the more general assertion of them running a given country; which is obviously true in most respects as they (in the case of the U.K; extremely unfortunately from any sane persons perspective, bearing in mind their track record over the past century or so...) run most of the economy. And o/c are in a better position to influence government policy than ordinary people (to risk understatement, obviously).

[minionofmidas]

This doesn't change the fact that the super-rich run the UK (or Germany).

They just don't grab the "government" titles.

Note that the bit I objected to was:

They are the only people who find the time to experiment in the hobby called politics and government.

Rather than the more general assertion of them running a given country; which is obviously true in most respects as they (in the case of the U.K; extremely unfortunately from any sane persons perspective, bearing in mind their track record over the past century or so...) run most of the economy. And o/c are in a better position to influence government policy than ordinary people (to risk understatement, obviously).

They are the only people to be able to do it as a hobby. Others make a career out of it.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

They are the only people to be able to do it as a hobby. Others make a career out of it.

True enough

[Keystone Phil]

Prodi to return - http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070223/ts_afp/italypolitics_070223134257

How long until this government collapses?

[SPQR]

Prodi to return - http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070223/ts_afp/italypolitics_070223134257

How long until this government collapses?

What about 4 years and 2 months?

[Keystone Phil]

Prodi to return - http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070223/ts_afp/italypolitics_070223134257

How long until this government collapses?

What about 4 years and 2 months?

I'm going to guess six months.    I have no real reason for thinking six months but I'm hoping that it is a lucky guess. 

[SPQR]

Prodi to return - http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070223/ts_afp/italypolitics_070223134257

How long until this government collapses?

What about 4 years and 2 months?

I'm going to guess six months.    I have no real reason for thinking six months but I'm hoping that it is a lucky guess. 

Even in that not-too-probable case,Berlusconi wouldn't be sure at all of winning,as UDC would probably run independently...

[bullmoose88]

Is there a decent European Liberal style party in Italy that I could support...and who are they backing, the left, or right?

[Colin]

Is there a decent European Liberal style party in Italy that I could support...and who are they backing, the left, or right?

The Italian Radicals are pretty decent European liberals. They are who I support even though they are currently in an electoral alliance with a socialist party. They are part of Rose in the First which is part of L'Unione.

[bullmoose88]

Is there a decent European Liberal style party in Italy that I could support...and who are they backing, the left, or right?

The Italian Radicals are pretty decent European liberals. They are who I support even though they are currently in an electoral alliance with a socialist party. They are part of Rose in the First which is part of L'Unione.

You say even though...are the socialists less socially left than the conservatives are economically rightist?

I'm just having trouble seeing why you seem to favor the right over the left here.

[Colin]

Is there a decent European Liberal style party in Italy that I could support...and who are they backing, the left, or right?

The Italian Radicals are pretty decent European liberals. They are who I support even though they are currently in an electoral alliance with a socialist party. They are part of Rose in the First which is part of L'Unione.

You say even though...are the socialists less socially left than the conservatives are economically rightist?

I'm just having trouble seeing why you seem to favor the right over the left here.

What do you mean? The Italian Radicals are economically liberal, in the European sense, and socially liberal as well as being secularist and anti-fascist. I was saying even though because the socialist brought the Radicals more towards the economic left than they were before however the alliance as a whole is still rather economically liberal.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rose_in_the_Fist
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_Radicals

[minionofmidas]

Prodi to return - http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070223/ts_afp/italypolitics_070223134257

How long until this government collapses?

What about 4 years and 2 months?

I'm going to guess six months.    I have no real reason for thinking six months but I'm hoping that it is a lucky guess. 

Even in that not-too-probable case,Berlusconi wouldn't be sure at all of winning,as UDC would probably run independently...

He didn't say new elections in six months.

[SPQR]

Prodi to return - http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070223/ts_afp/italypolitics_070223134257

How long until this government collapses?

What about 4 years and 2 months?

I'm going to guess six months.    I have no real reason for thinking six months but I'm hoping that it is a lucky guess. 

Even in that not-too-probable case,Berlusconi wouldn't be sure at all of winning,as UDC would probably run independently...

He didn't say new elections in six months.

In case the government falls again and a new electoral law has been approved,there would be new elections.

[Keystone Phil]

He's likely to survive (as of now he has 158 supporters to the opposition's 156) - http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070225/wl_nm/italy_dc


But let's hope for an upset. 

[Colin]

He's likely to survive (as of now he has 158 supporters to the opposition's 156) - http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070225/wl_nm/italy_dc


But let's hope for an upset. 

Unless the Communist parties abstain he wont lose.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Unless the Communist parties abstain he wont lose.

You mean the hardliners who splintered off the old PCI, rather than DS?