We are a group of italian students and we had different reactions reading this article. On one hand someone thinks that it's a little bit offensive when the author generalizes about Italian culture by using too many stereotypes; on the other someone agrees with the idea the politicians should be younger. The political class should be a mixture of young and old people in order to balance traditions, experience, history with modern ideas and concepts.

Roberta, Caroline, Marta, Giovanna, Padova, Italy

giulia, padova, italia

Like Mr. Warner 's students we use blog for educational purposes and we do not agree with this draft law. It doesn't make any sense but hopefully it won't be aproved anyway.
It's sad to see so many negative comments which are just complaining about it .
We like our country, but it should be more modern and try to do something concrete for young people!
Ps.by the way,we are hosted by an american server,so our blogs would be saved anyway:-)
Will see..

University group, Padova, Italy

Thanks for the article.

I'm ashame of beeing an italian.

Unfortunally Italy is a strange to live and this type of politic decisions are making all of us really bored about this mafia.

Thanks,

Daniele, Milan,

I'm happy to notice that someone's still looking at us and trying to keep us on the right way. I do agree with Maurizio from Como, who said that Italian politicians (and people too) just enbrace their own parties' ideology without trying to think about single problems. These old men are still thinking with 60's head, some of them have been there for more than 20 years (will be 30 soon) and then how can we expect them to change their "ideology" and their words?

Lorenzo, Gattinara, Italy

I AM PROUD TO BE ITALIAN !!!!!!!!!!! but of course is an 'old' country....living abroad I see that in Italy nothing move forwards...
the problem is that WE, ITALIANS....WE VOTE FOR THOSE PEOPLE or we don't vote at all, so we cannot say, now, that we are not happy about them...it's our fault...LET's DO SOMETHING QUICKLY...

nic, waw, poland

I agree, but I'm so young, I'm only 37 years old. Than, Could I judge our ancestors?!

Italo, Milan, Italy

Maybe few of them can be smart and competent enough to deserve the honor they got from being elected and the money we pay them for managing the country. Maybe they are so well hidden we don't realize their presence.
Politicians are elected by Italians. So we are responsible for them. It is not only a question of aging politicians, it is a question of ideology. The ideology driving Italians to vote again and again the same parties (despite the fact they change names, leaving the same incompetent professional politicians). Just those parties - present left and right - responsible for the complete decline of our beloved country.
Next elections won't change anything but some 1-digit percentages. Ideology come first, common sense and awareness of collective targets can wait.
Politicians are smart with luring most of their electors in order to perpetuate their election. Privileges, favours, direct money and other tools. Very sad to say but this is one of the faults of current democracy

Maurizio, Como, Italy

Very interesting comments and topic indeed. I agree that there should be no laws limiting creativity, innovation and any expression of own ideas - provided that it is not voluntarily offending or damaging anyone (see #2 in terms and conditions here!). It is sad that negative things about Italy are the ones to obtain a wider echo. However, let me add the following:
- we are talking about a proposal of a law that still needs to go through Parliament approval. This means that it can be amended (and I agree, it should be amended). And it will: have you ever seen a law passing without amendments in Italy?
- Minister and lawmaker have already stated that this should not apply to personal blogs or websites (you can find this on larepubblica.it as an example, on Oct. 20th) and that the original text should be modified. Maybe just a promise, maybe not.
Running out of characters so I need to close with a "who wants to be a millionaire" question: how many teenage monarchs are there in the world?

Paolo, Carugate, Italy

I feel ashamed of being italian, a country ruled by corrupted leaders at all levels. Unfortunately this situation is only getting worse. The distance between politicians and people has never been so big. They are far from the real world, I aim for a serious change (mean a revolution...)

Sergio, Barcelona, Spain

I feel ashamed to be italian,now more than ever!No words...

Anna, treviso, Italy

When right-wing govern was in power, the left-wing forces shouted against the alleged control of media by that govern, and hoped for a total and complete freedom of speech. Now, parts are swapped, and the present left-wing govern is trying to curb the same freedom of speech, because of the same reasons: do not disturb the govern, please. And we know, historically, how the leftish appreciate freedom: you are always free of saying good things about the Boss.

Fabio Ricci, Roma, Italy

Unfortunately, in Italy if something doesn't appear in television, it doesn't exist!

This law is an attempt to close any media, but television!

Liuk, Roma, Italy

i hope other countries' people understand what italy is into.
it's a very bad situation, and we will never get out of this alone.

filippo, verona,

I fully agree and i am glad you talk about it (you should interest also to what is happening the Judge "De Magistris" to have a full range of what is happening in Italy in this period) But, as Riccardo of Milan said, I do not understand why instead of talking about the problem you talk about tagliatelle, dolce vita and the usual amenities against Italian. Analyze the problems seriously and, sometimes, come to visit our contry and try to talk with the people. I'm sure you will discover a reality that is absolutely far from "pizza and spaghetti". (by the way ....we have the best food in the world...)

Fabio, Rome, Italy

Italian septuagenarian politicians know little about the web, yet they know enough to understand that democratic information exchange undermine their power system based on secret covenants with bankruptcied bankers and entrepreneurs and mafiosi, bribery, moral blackmailing, bureaucratic unefficiency, and the likes. The comedian Beppe Grillo recently rallied hundreds of thousands of people, albeit the whole italian media system had not uttered a single word about the gathering in advance.
That's why politicians are afraid of free speech: because democratic expression in Italy now can -and must- get rid of corporation-driven press.
As most of them don't speak any foreign language, therefore know nothing about globalisation, they can't get any ashamed of reading on Times about their ridiculous attempt to tame the web.

Vittorio Tauber, Pavia, Italy

It is not only about blogs & personal sites. The law provides Wikipedia - yeah ya read right, the Free Encyclopedia - to be outlaw!

Since Wiki is a no-profit site of divulgation, it offers "editorial products", so it HAS to nominate - on the basis of this proposal - a kind of a "responsible" for its contents. That would only mean the complete paralisys of the Italian-speaking Wikipedia!!!

You said right: that's the second time they try to shut up the blogosphere. But this time, they're going even too far: they're trying to stop the natural evolution of Economics and Culture.

Think I'll get a ticket for London as soon as I can, and leave this Country. Maybe forever.

Luca, Rome, Italy

Thank you for our international visibility. Italy could be a better place without these kind of politicians

Andrea, Rome, Italy

Please, help me! I am an extremely young Italian boy (I am 38...but compared to the octogenarian who leads our country...) father of two kids. I am seeking political asylum, any country offering me this chance is welcome, even Myanmar...
Please, anybody reading this message should appeal to UN for our freedom, please send the Blue Helmets in, in order to ensure our freedom and bring the bad guys (our politician and friends...bankers, business man, etc...) in the hands of justice.

Massimo, Bastia Mondovì, Cuneo

Good morning everybody, in my opinion tha analysis by Times, it's a excellent point of view of Italy government. The gerontocracy has the power in Italy! The youngs have a few possibility to change the situation, because if you achieve a influent position inside the govrnment, you have to do what the older majority does.It's complicated to explain, but by Beppe Grillo's Blog (beppegrillo.it) by Antonio Di Pietro's blog (antoniodipietro.com) and my blog (stefanoscargetta.blogspot.com) you can have a look at italian situation and problems! Thank you for this article.
Italian citizen.

Stefano, Rome, Italy

Italy is a sick woman, she's been sick for a while now
This new doctor says he found a new cure
his diagnosis is different but the old medicine will be fine.
The previuos doctor hasn't done a good job he repeats
while the patient is losing his battle
The doctors don't work together to cure Italy
instead they are feeding on her blood, all of it
and soon there will be not even a drop left
It's easy to see that Italy's desease is caused
by the dark has been put in
yet the doctors all agree that
there's to be no light or transparency cure.
They are starving her to death while they stuff themselves like it's New Year's Eve every day.
No doctor has asked her :"How do you feel today?".
Italy's situation is worsening every day
she is very weak and sick and
probably there is no good doctor in this country.

El__burro

Burro, London, Uk

QUOTE: "[...] we could spend three months doing intro-writing exercises from a textbook."
Well, actually, this is what usually happens in the italian universities... :)

Michael, Udine, Italy

i'm a 30 year old italian "bamboccione" as our goverment define us, who, after years of non paid work as practice lawyer is (finally!) moving abroad: Australia.

Italy is a very old country with even older politicians who have the habit just to yell one to each other and ignore the real matters.
Prodi's goverment has been a real delusion, i hope it can be seen as the last old-style goverment in Italy, but i'm afraid it won't.
Probably there will be new elections in a few time, and probably Berlusconi is going to win...and nothing is going to change..

But, it's important to notice, something is moving..
Starting from Beppe Grillo's V-day, going to a new politican party (PD) that is leaded by a non 80 years old politician(wow!amazing!)and is composed by men and women in the same numbers and that has been elected directly by the people, there are some echoes a little change, that is important not to understimate.

the only fear is that all this can turn in to a cul de sac ..

tazio derossi, livorno, italy

I live in Sicily and the lack of employment, slow economy, pollution and corruption is appalling.
Now they are trying to censure the public, sort of like China. I am amazed at how this country is going down the tubes quickly. I hope the Italians wake up and take back the power they have sheepishly turned over to their corrupt and dishonest politician (24 senators and congressman-equivalent have been found guilty of crimes and are still in office!) It is so sad to see such a beautiful country go to pieces.

Dea, Marsala, Italy

Hello!
I'm Filippo, 25 years old and I live in Catania, Sicily. First of all, thanks a lot for reporting this shame. We absolutly need to spread the voice all around the world (at least, the civilized world). It's not believable what's happening in Italy... but it's still happening. Day after day, we're governed by a GREAT LOBBY, wich is getting stronger and stronger. As somebody said above, we're getting in a sorf of MAFIA dictature. I love my country. But I've also travelled a lot in my life. And I feel the great difference between Italy's "way of doing politics" and UK's or Scandinavia's ones, just to make an example. Now, we have to choices, all of us (I basically mean youth).
The first and the most simple is to run away from our country. I know, it's sad...
The second one is to stand and fight. We need to get and spread a sort of counsciousness about what's happening.
But we also need some help. We have a lack of "honest" information, our media ar just controlled by the power

Filippo Fisichella, Catania, Italy

Sorry, for the interrupted message, I'm going to continue here.

Well, we need foreign media to fill the void our domestic media left. We need European TVs, newspapers, radios to talk about the italian situation, creating a global counsciousness about it. We're trying to do this in Italy but, as you can easily see, the parliament tries always shut us up.
Europe must know it. The world must know it!
Thank you for your attention!

A tired italian citizen.

Filippo Fisichella, Catania, Italy

Nothing of that should surprise anyone: this stuff has always been one of the pillars (one of the most solid pillar) of italian politics. They always do something it should be very important for the country in a superficial and interested way, then they stay there, sitting in their seats, hoping no one will notice what they've done and the way in which they acted. Then, when everything emerges - but it's not always so obvious or consequential - they're surprisingly fast to change their minds and immediately say it to the press or to anyone so compliant to listen to them and to write it down for the public to see. Distraction, misunderstandings or else: the problem is we pay them for a job they rarely do how they was supposed to. If you had one of those "geriatric lawmakers" in a company of yours what else had you to do apart firing them as soon as you can as the nitwits they really are?

Gianni, Rome, Italy

"Gerontocrazia" in italian linguage: "gerontocrazy". Not meritocracy, in Italy the "social law" is "gerontocracy". :-(((((((

Sergio Pinna, Prato (PO), Italy

thank youfpr your interest and for your help.we really need a foreign help because in our nation the youth haven't a voice.
thanks froma italian student
walter rossetti ciampino(rome)

walter rossetti, ciampino, italy

I utterly agree with Roberto who posted from Sydney. That's how I felt when I left Italy seven years ago. Basically, no hope to change anything because corruption is everywhere and if you raise your voice a bit too much against the wrong people you can put your whole family in serious trouble and lose the support of everyone around you who doesn't want the same treatment by proxy.

Is it worth to have ideals and fight for the good of a country who only cares about egos and the personal interests of its politicians? At this point I find myself thinking that if they don't burn what I consider an insult to our intelligence more than a law, I won't be going back to Italy ever again. Not even on holiday.

ilaria
http://www.worldpress.org/Europe/2969.cfm

ilaria, Los Angeles, US

...don't remember that another italian law oblige ISP to block access to some (gambling) web site...
... and another italian law oblige web site maker to "deposit" their site (printed or burned in cdrom) to the central state library...

maybe they are still dealing with china to import the golden-shield technology to filter all the traffic :-(

emilio, milan, italy

I'm an Italian who has decided to leave Italy and call London "home". The cancer that is killing our country is too deep and politicians aren't the ones to blame, Italians are! Italians need to change their mentality and assume responsability. Everybody complains about the politicians but aren't Italians the ones who go elect their officials? Aren't Italians the ones that tell their accountants to find a "solution" to pay less taxes? Aren't Italians the ones that pass out "get out of jail cards" to convicted murders? As an Italian it pains me to see that Italy is always in last place for good things and first place for bad. Such a shame because the potential is overwhelming.

As my father always says, "When God created Italy he said to himself that it was too beautiful and that other countries might be envoius. So to balance everything out he created Italians.

Stefano, London, UK

I am so happy your famous newspaper decided to speak about this incredible project of law.

Mr. Bernhard Warner, I see u have easily understood in which strange country we live: our information, specially in Tv main channels, is not free, more than in other european countries.

In the last weeks the situation is getting worse, and is evident from the power an extreme attempt to put the blogs and internet under goverment control, to make the people to shut up, leaving no possibility to the popolution to write their own opinion.

Kropex, ITALY,

thanks you say at the world what's happening in Italy! we Italian people do not like this situation. The problem is the politicians control most of TV programms and newspaper, so we italian people have not enough to know and understand. For this reason thanks to newspaper from other country helping us to let know that at the world!

Stefano, Helsinki, Finland

I 'm not against registering to 'have your say'; it's too easy for some to hide behind anonymity to say anything they choose about others and it might do something to stop the awful child exploitation. Freedom of speach is one thing but children sexuallty exploited do not have that freedom.

alice hudson, quimper, france

What brings me down is reading Rome next to Harare and Beijing. We now are a real 3rd world country, with censorship and stuff.
Nobody does nothing. No, incorrect: each wing of the parliament longs to undo what the opposite wing did. There is no cooperation, because italian politics is no more based on actions, but on how bad the opponent is. The result is the same: nothing changes, and when something does, it's like this absurd law.
Well, they say everyone is the maker of its own future. Maybe we really deserve it.

Alessandro Cacozza (Artista), Bologna, Italy

Surely this is against the European Convention of Human Rights, article 10 of which is a right to freedom of expression? I cannot see how Italy can justify this law, although having read some of the comments, I don't see how they can justify a lot of what is going on in their political arena.

N. English, Birmingham, England

Unfortunately there are not so many 'Beppe Grillo' in Italy, yet but I think the information he continuously gives through his blog and not only, are just moving Italians, especially young people, to think about their (our!!) future, to care about adults to be (our children!) and to tell to politicians:'Please, now, go home!' Everyone must have a chance, I think politicians have already had their chance, now it is time for them to stop it and to let Italian people to save Italy from CRASH!
Sometimes I have thought about leaving Italy and even though I am really convinced our 'home' should be every plase on the earth something has told me to keep faith and try dto do my best, in Italy, day by day. And this is what I am trying to do.

Fedra Celeghin, Noale/Venice, Italy

Yes, Dear Mr. Warner, your article rapresents a tipical description to understand the main problem in contemporary Italy, a sick geriatric country. The key word is "g e r i a t r i c". The government's position about information by blog is only an example. All the public sphere is dominated by older people, without passion and modern knowledge for correct guidelines.
Have a good work in Italy, Mr. Warner, and thank you.
http://www.zuccapelata.splinder.com/

Bruno, Bologna, Italy

In Italy there isn't freedom of information. I knew this news only thanks to internet, because TV and radio didn't tell anything about it. Internet is free. This is the why our politicians are trying to block it.

Aquarius991, Italy,

help us writing!!

Alessandro Capozzoli, Rome, Italia

Thank you for your interesting in this situation.
Remember that italian people don't like this politicians, but they are , at the moment, the italian reality!

simone, Prato, Italy

what u said is true....all the same dear renzo i'm damn proud when i say i'm italian

Stefania, Rome, Italy

it's all true....but still i'm proud to be italian....

Stefania, Rome, Italy

If only Italians would stop spitting on their Country and start doing something...
Thank you for your point of view, anyways...

Alberto, Rome, Italy

This describes the horrible future that awaits the rest of Europe if we don't act to fight the rise of gerontocracy that is damaging our society and future. Italy is just a decade or so ahead of the rest of us. Europe in general needs to wake up to the fact that a country does not thrive by pandering to the interests of pensioners but by encouraging growth, innovation and youth i.e. change.

The rest of Europe is complacent and assuming that everything's OK yet it's getting harder for all young Europeans, British, German or Italian to start a career and afford the costs of setting up a home and having a family. In the UK, it's housing; in Germany it's high taxes and poor jobs growth. Either way if the EU doesn't wake up, we'll all be Italy soon. Ruled by ancient grizzled old men whose only care is the size of their pension provision and keeping control of the young so their midday nap isn't disturbed. That way lies death!

MB, Edinburgh,

I utterly agree with Roberto who posted from Sydney. That's how I felt when I left Italy seven years ago. Basically, no hope to change anything because corruption is everywhere and if you raise your voice a bit too much against the wrong people you can put your whole family in serious trouble and lose the support of everyone around you who doesn't want the same treatment by proxy.

Is it worth to have ideals and fight for the good of a country who only cares about egos and the personal interests of its politicians? At this point I find myself thinking that if they don't burn what I consider an insult to our intelligence more than a law, I won't be going back to Italy ever again. Not even on holiday.

ilaria
http://www.worldpress.org/Europe/2969.cfm

ilaria, Los Angeles, U.S.

Thank you for informing people about how things are really going in this crazy country. The overregulation of news sites is a tiny bit of the information problem here. I challenge you to make your british readers understand what a registered journalist is, how you become one or why italy has hundreds of political newspapers funded through taxpayers' money. Not to mention the management of pubblic TV channels by political parties. Yes, here you can pick among the left wing news, the right wing news, the catholic news ...

stefano, parma, italy

Power influence the information in every country.... so as in every country there are hidden powers....... Italy is a young state not yet perfectly developped but when all the italian people will be conscious of it probably we will have a kind of revolution...........

TY Beppe Grillo maybe our peaceful revolution will contribute to change the world....

Marco, Comunanza, Italia

I'm so sorry to read what Europe thinks of Italy, but I want to thank the author of the article since he focused the Italian problems. It seems really incredible to live in such Country. I agree with Linda /Rome: democracy must be saved by Italians. But only being present and giving voice to the thoughts , Italians could give a chance to their Country.
Italians have the bad habit to be egoist. I believe that the first step for a better Country should be education.
As Roberto/Cuneo said , children of today will be men/women of the future, and only with a right education we can give a hope to Italy.

paola, FLORENCE, ITALY

Thank you very much for your kind voice in this orrible italian experience.
Linda , Rome, Italy

Linda , Rome, Italy

This law is just the edge of the iceberg, if a foreigner (from a real democratic country) would know what is happening in Italy (Above all the widespread corruption of our political system) he would be simply disgusted.

To speak abroad about this situation it would help of course, but democracy in Italy must be saved by Italians!

Massimo M., Cuneo, Italy

My name is Roberto and I am Italian living in Sydney Australia, eight years ago` I decided to leave my country and try a new experience on the other side of the planet. I was pushed to take the decision by the poor situation (at that time-now even worst), and because the zero prospects that my country was offering. No consideration for young people, the politician look after their armchair and their interest only. I was in Italy last month and I saw many people in the major squares to sign the Beppe Grillo's petion, I hope this will be the begin of new vision. I would like to go back to live there but something need to be change. Italy is a great Country managed unfortunately by a fake democracy. As Beppe Grillo said at the V-Day..F the politician. Italians needs a guide, someone need to tell them what to do......they should stop to think for themself and start to open thier mind ..our children are the future, what do we want to give them? Make Italy a better place kill the politician.

Roberto Tramarin, Sydney, Australia

Really thanks Warner for reporting this news from my country, what you wrote is as sad as true.

This shame is just the last one of a row, but, if you know what's happening in Italy, this is just another "logic step" of our leader's politics, who's pushing down the whole country mostly for personal interests and businesses.

The saddest thing is that this is happening in the sun's light and about 60 million of italian citizens can't do anything to stop those "leaders".

What a shame, I can't stand to be represented by those ones.

riccardo, milano, italy

I fully agree. But I do not understand why instead of talking about the problem you talk about tagliatelle, dolce vita and the usual “insults” against the Italians.
I do not understand why British whenever you to make a speech of italy must always certain irony and sense of superiority.
So, when I talk about Internet and blogs in London speak of alcool and baby British gang.
These are racist stereotypes. Not all Italians are serial tax evaders and corrupt.
Do you think that all we eat tagliatelle or play mandolino ? But we are still at these levels? But you are all alcoholics ? I think not ...

Are you the only civilized world ? I hope to publish this comment....

Carlo, Bolzano, Italy

Italian friends.
you that here say "save us..."

we shall save by ouserves, or will not be saved.

Exactly as it happened in '43, "savers" are not savers, but conquerors.

bye

giampiero, rome, Italy

Hey !! HELP Italian youth !!!
Speak more about young Italians, shout it !!!
Here we're not in democracy anymore, we're lost !!!
Pls HELP !!! We cannot speak in public or we would lose our job or even life.

I'm 25 years old, i've almost taken my degree and i'm planning to go abroad, here i couldn't afford a family without parents upkeep.

I've many friends depressed about their future and many others leaving this country.

Actually we're living under a well hidden Mafia dictatorship. It may seem you're free, but you aren't and you can't do much more than leaving.

Thank you for talking about Italy.

Bye.
HELP !!!

Matteo, Turin, Italy

i'm another itallian boy...
we are losing our freedom...
please help us against powerfoull of our political-man
bye

antonino, palermo, italy

Rome didn't bring civilization to Europe.. They invaded, raped, killed, destroyed, terrorized whole populations of humans who were perfectly fine even without Roman inventions.....

It's about time the myth of the great Roman Empire collapsed too...

Lily, Rome, Italy

We need urgently the establishment of an international protectorate, under the responsibility of a high representative of the international community. For 30 years TV trusts have been dominating Italian politics and politics itself has become a real soap opera. In universities students in scientic disciplines have halved with respect to the 1980s.
I think that the average IQ has lowered by 30%. Please send troops, take over the country and save us from ourselves.

rossi , bologna, italy

Bitter words, but all true! Unfortunely, today is a shame to be Italian! Gerontocracy, Catholic Church and mafia rule the Country! I have no hope, and many Italians think the same thing...
Italy's only hope maybe will be a Scandinavian invasion, a military domination during 200 or 300 years: and then, maybe, honesty, morality, efficiency, good government, real democracy could exist in Italy... Sadly, this is not a joke.
Save us!

Renzo, Padova, Italy

I'm italian too.
Help us, please!!!

Giuseppe, Teramo, Italy

Thank You for talking about it, and for let people comment your articles (Italian papers does not allow it).

Giuseppe Lazzari, Udine, Italy

File a complaint with the European Court of Human Rights.

This is a violation of your Human Rights!!!

Ivan, St Leonards, UK

I'm Italian, and I wonder:
If Italian law consider that when an individual is 65 is ready to go to pension, why all these people are still messing around?

Carlo, Rome, Italy

Thank you so much for talking about this. Please, don't think Italian People like this situation. We hate the greatest part of our politicians, tax evaders and wasting of public money, the problem is: we can't talk about it. Nobody can say anything even now with still free blogs, here in Italy there's fear to talk everywhere, you risk to get arrested even now, and i'm scared thinking what will happen if this law pass.
I'm asking for help before it's too late. Here in Italy there's no democracy anymore, there's no freedom of speech, politicians are corrupted, many of them should be in prison. If we lose internet, if nobody can talk on blogs, we are lost. Please, i don't know what to do. I really hope America and the rest of Europe can do something to protect our freedom of speech, because in Italy, really, nobody can help us.

Daniela, Naples,

As Italian I feel very angry about what the whole world is saying over my country, especially because those things that also the news above reports, are true!
Maybe history have a strange sense of humor.
As Italy, Italians, the Rome's empire, brought civilization to europe, now europe must wake up italians and help them recovering the sense of justice and a new moral way to make politics. Help us keeping our eyes open.
Thankyou.

Enrico Mattiello, Vicenza, Italy

I'm italian, help me please!

giuliano, crema, italy

OK, the proposal was difficult to implement and could damage many bloggers in good faith, but dont you think that there are many, many abuses on the present anarchy? Some sort of regulation, as exists in TV and newspapers should be implemented, I think

Giacomo Morandi, Piacenza, Italy

"I'm politically incorrect and damn proud of it
I love my country but I'm scared to death of its government"

Citation from "Goodbye America", a song by W.A.S.P.
Even a phrase of an heavy metal is applicable in this case... I can hardly believe it.

Cheers

Marco, Firenze, Italy

Hello Mr. Warner, i come from sicily and i'm afraid you are right, except the point about the president. I Think that to govern a contry you need culture and experience and it is not important how old are you but just how you work.
Of course we have a parliament with 25 condamned people, the same people who make laws and directly control the nation. This is our problem. WE DO NOTHING AND WE ARE GOVERNED BY OUTLAWS!!! i love my contry, and i suffer when i hear such hard comments about it, but i do admit we deserve no respect in this sense. we need help, inside and outside the country, we need to change the government, but we can't, because people don't know or just don't care. I hope in a better future and i'll keep on working for it.

marcello, Trapani,

After reading that article I couldn't believe what I read. What a travesty. The youth of Italy should take to the piazzas and protest this waste of time and taxpayer's money. It is no surprise that Italy's youth seeks greener pastures by going to London, Spain, and USA.

Keith, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA

I dream a world where persons called to lead provide services to people. I mean "to make laws to serve". At the most, our layers forbid, punish and make penalty stronger. Never a service, never a chance. Instead of work for us, they think how to shut up us forever. They decide, and nobody have to talk. The are paied from us and work against us, avery day.

Luca, Napoli, Italy

Basically I feel that my state is governed by old grandparents with no plans but maintaining their chairs. Grillo is a sort of megaphone of italian's eagerness to have a new politic class, a fresh one.

Matteo Luzzeri, Lafayette, LA, BG

I agree, my country is not G8 standards (probably). Our gross domestic product (of ideas) has recently dropped. But as you mentioned, we should not be surprised. Our politicians teach the country how to break the law instead of giving the good example. Recently Silvio Berlusconi was saying to the newspapers that he was buying senators of Prodi's coalition in order to break the government. This is not legal, but he was saying that.
This is just an example, there are many also from Prodi's party. As Grillo says in his blog, many members of our parliament have been convicted by the courts. But they are still there.

Marco, Firenze, Italy

I'm Italian, I live in Sicily. This is incredibly true, the leaders of my country are making wrong decisions. Young people have no future, no job, many of them are leaving the country for something better...how can it be so frustrating?
Simona

Simona, Palermo, Italia

I'm Italian! I'd like to say that our president Giorgio Napolitano is 82... but he has been President of one wing of the Parliamen, Minister for the internal affairs and he also was a protagonist in the writing of the European Constituction! when he was elected as President he was SENATORE A VITA (forever senator). He's a very educated person and he he has a great experience about internal and foreign affairs, so, I think taht he's a person taht should be a very good head of state in case of war! He's surely better, ad head of State, than a younger president who had problems with drugs or alchol.... you know what I mean!!!!

vahid, ravenna, italy

Many thanks Mr Warner for reporting on this.
You made an exact picture of what's going on here in Italy.

I would add only that due to this stupid political class the occupational level is getting lower and lower together with salaries and Italy is getting back to 20's, when our grandparents were forced to emigrate abroad to survive.

Here corruption and wasting public money is normal so, outlaw politicians from all over the world, come to Italy, we will warmly welcome you!!!!

Daniele, Rome, Italy

Save Italy!
Save us!
Save our country by corrupt politicians!

Federico Calvi, savona, italy

I guess something like this could happen anywhere. Hopefully this will not be sucessful. It will be up to the youth to find ways to by-pass such a rediculous law if it is passed and I'm sure they will. It seems to be discriminatory. Perhaps this might be a good way to challenge on.

Gloria Enoch, Chilliwack, B. C., Canada

I'm an Italian student, I have two blogs on which i publish my opinions and my ideas. I'm not the only one here who wants to fight for his freedom, believe me, there are many others like me who won't accept any other attack to our few liberties. Freedom of expression is the most important one, and Internet has granted it up to now even here in Italy, a place where nothing is taken seriously. You need to know that something is changing, you need to know that we'll protest in the streets if "Big Brother" comes.

Raffaello, Genoa, Italy