So most of the developed world desired stability in Italy and feel their prayers remained unanswered. What about the Italians themselves ?
In contemporary history, few countries have had an impact on quotidian life as much a Italy. That is probably not despite but rather due to the many military, political and therewith cultural influences the country has seen with foreign rulers, from north, east, south and west, many of which could be classified as internal conflicts.
Italy is a country that could but does not, unlike some of its fellow southern neighbours, rely on a glorious inheretance of past civilizations to defend its place in the present world. Beyond the Roman empire, what makes up Italy, for a bit more than a century now, has never been a world dominant power whether economic, military or political, but has always made its mark in a fairly charismatic mix of progressivism and traditional mediterranean catholic life, which has given it its statute in the world, probably more so through private enterprise than by political role playing.
I am too impressed with the re-appearance of Silvio Berlusconi and even more so with the low score of Mario Monti. I am too more than just entertained with Beppe Grillo and not surprised with the relative rise of Pier Luigi Bersanni.
However, it bothers me, substantially in fact, that such an evident variety of political choices embraced by an educated electorate is now being classified, mostly by those on the outside looking in, as messy, noisy, unstable, etc. Something is very wrong if we should be afraid of a modern country facing political debate on maybe just about every issue, via democratically elected agents.
Perhaps one way to simplify future exposure to potential governamental deadlocks could be to significantly reduce the amount of political seats, procedures and issues and it would fit well into current politics anywhere in a civilized world that a country like Italy would be the first to take that step.
2013-02-26
2013-02-21
Pax Atlantis ?
I am afraid I sense quite some similarities between Beyoncé's performance at the re-inaugarution of President Obama and the official bi(multi)-lateral announcement of an US-EU free trade economy.
In what meets the eye (or reaches the ear), there is momentum, ceremony, history, tradition, beauty, power, I would even say something personal for the central role players, all before a silent yet genuine excited audience.
At noon on 21 January in Washington D.C., I doubt if it mattered for the saluting military or the general standing public that Beyoncé chose to sing the national anthem in playback.
However, where a choir of 27 heads of state, with a special duet for the president of the European Council and Commission on one side of the Atlantic and shortly therafter the US president on the other side, speak with one voice on future free trans-atlantic trade, the many cheering enterpreneurs may want to hold onto their applause after we have been able to verify the rehearsed political announcement with the "live" version.
The current levels of tariffs and duties on trans-atlantic trade are not that high compared to what's practised with other regions in the world. Approximately two thirds of current movements of goods are between affiliated companies. Even the non-tariff measures as far those have been marked by WTO standards are fairly transparent and identifiable for any enterpreneur or inventor.
So it does come down to how willingly (and able) parties are to go beyond the traditional barriers to trade, freedom of establishment, trademarking and (government) sponsered R&D. In that respect, once we come down to the "details", we should expect quite a bit of mudthrowing in and out of arbitral courts, not to mention each others monetary and fiscal policies, including the bi-lateral relationships with emerging countries, which just maybe, the intended agreement is all about.
We will be hearing the same politically composed song a trillion times in the next 2-3 years on the value of transatlantic trade, FDI-flows, intangibles and technology and the sum of the joint economies in nominal GDP terms versus other regions in the world, along with the roots and causes of political and military aliances.
For the true entrepreneur this will just be another opportunity to apply her/his skill more than potential competitors do, which after all is what fair and free market trade and value is all about. It would fit the political performers of the world's most advanced nations well to just step backstage and let businesses themselves truly evolve freely and maybe get some taxrebates in exchange for less government time.
In what meets the eye (or reaches the ear), there is momentum, ceremony, history, tradition, beauty, power, I would even say something personal for the central role players, all before a silent yet genuine excited audience.
At noon on 21 January in Washington D.C., I doubt if it mattered for the saluting military or the general standing public that Beyoncé chose to sing the national anthem in playback.
However, where a choir of 27 heads of state, with a special duet for the president of the European Council and Commission on one side of the Atlantic and shortly therafter the US president on the other side, speak with one voice on future free trans-atlantic trade, the many cheering enterpreneurs may want to hold onto their applause after we have been able to verify the rehearsed political announcement with the "live" version.
The current levels of tariffs and duties on trans-atlantic trade are not that high compared to what's practised with other regions in the world. Approximately two thirds of current movements of goods are between affiliated companies. Even the non-tariff measures as far those have been marked by WTO standards are fairly transparent and identifiable for any enterpreneur or inventor.
So it does come down to how willingly (and able) parties are to go beyond the traditional barriers to trade, freedom of establishment, trademarking and (government) sponsered R&D. In that respect, once we come down to the "details", we should expect quite a bit of mudthrowing in and out of arbitral courts, not to mention each others monetary and fiscal policies, including the bi-lateral relationships with emerging countries, which just maybe, the intended agreement is all about.
We will be hearing the same politically composed song a trillion times in the next 2-3 years on the value of transatlantic trade, FDI-flows, intangibles and technology and the sum of the joint economies in nominal GDP terms versus other regions in the world, along with the roots and causes of political and military aliances.
For the true entrepreneur this will just be another opportunity to apply her/his skill more than potential competitors do, which after all is what fair and free market trade and value is all about. It would fit the political performers of the world's most advanced nations well to just step backstage and let businesses themselves truly evolve freely and maybe get some taxrebates in exchange for less government time.
2013-02-18
La questione Romana
Religion, always a sensitive issue, whether it concerns a single person or entire populations and especially where it appears to blend - naturally or not - with other widespread issues such a politics, finance or media.
Ever since the Holy See has been treatied into the Vatican State (less than 100 years ago), it would appear that, paradoxly enough, the Roman Catholic Church definitly ceased being the party to international politics it was over so many centuries and thus commenced being fairly exclusively dedicated to the human element of religion, a mission that resulted in the institutionalization of many foundations and charities, including the Banco or Instituto per le Opere Religione in the midst of world war II, in addition to, of course, the supremacy role it amost always has held towards thousands of international religous orders. An intriguing organization, loved, admired, envied by many.
No one will ever know for certain why Joseph Ratzinger decided to step down as Pope as much as we really know what made him sought to become elected Sumo Pontifice by the College of Cardinals. The fact that he (ambitiously) chose to succeed Pope Benedict XV should tell us something.
Is it a step of (inevitable) modernity, like many people would like to believe, that there will be a different and more popular and / or active role for the Holy See in a more individualistic yet inter-connected world ? I am not convinced this would require a Prada cased I-phoning Clooney or Obama look-alike, jogging over the Via della Conciliazone, every morning.
Or could there be chrystalising retrocessive effects of relative recent history as we see so many jurisctions and institutions go through these days ? Let's face it, the Vatican has not been immune to various scandals, moral or worse, some more transparently overcome than others. Then again, part of what makes the Holy See the institute it is, has been its ability to overcome many external and internal threats.
I wonder how many Wi-Fi spots there are at Monte Cassino for whom wants to keep a silent track of what's next.
Ever since the Holy See has been treatied into the Vatican State (less than 100 years ago), it would appear that, paradoxly enough, the Roman Catholic Church definitly ceased being the party to international politics it was over so many centuries and thus commenced being fairly exclusively dedicated to the human element of religion, a mission that resulted in the institutionalization of many foundations and charities, including the Banco or Instituto per le Opere Religione in the midst of world war II, in addition to, of course, the supremacy role it amost always has held towards thousands of international religous orders. An intriguing organization, loved, admired, envied by many.
No one will ever know for certain why Joseph Ratzinger decided to step down as Pope as much as we really know what made him sought to become elected Sumo Pontifice by the College of Cardinals. The fact that he (ambitiously) chose to succeed Pope Benedict XV should tell us something.
Is it a step of (inevitable) modernity, like many people would like to believe, that there will be a different and more popular and / or active role for the Holy See in a more individualistic yet inter-connected world ? I am not convinced this would require a Prada cased I-phoning Clooney or Obama look-alike, jogging over the Via della Conciliazone, every morning.
Or could there be chrystalising retrocessive effects of relative recent history as we see so many jurisctions and institutions go through these days ? Let's face it, the Vatican has not been immune to various scandals, moral or worse, some more transparently overcome than others. Then again, part of what makes the Holy See the institute it is, has been its ability to overcome many external and internal threats.
I wonder how many Wi-Fi spots there are at Monte Cassino for whom wants to keep a silent track of what's next.
2013-02-09
That clinking, clanking sound ....
I am impressed. Whereas 36 hours ago the chances of top consent at the EU's budget negotations were as tight as the tubes of Brussels' landmark Atomium, out came what appears to be a fairly intelligent set of objectives for the next 7,5 years.
In a nutshell, the agreement establishes that with less central spending at the level of EU institutions, growth should be achieved through a continued effort to remove the barriers to cross border trade, free business establishment and private entrepreneurial innovation.
This is a clear return to the fundamentals of the European Economic Community before it converted into a more political union after the Maastricht Treaty in the heydays of what we now know were the too glorious and unrestricted 90's, followed by the political deterioration we have seen over the past 5 years.
This back to basics angle then also means revisiting the EU's pan-European role towards the east and south and seeking a level playing field or maybe even some new members across the Meditteranean and the Black Sea, wherein particularly those member states with current economic and political difficulties could and should come to play a speerheading role, so that the EU as a whole can concentrate on intensifying relations with the US, China, Japan and Latin America.
It is almost ironic that the budget agreed by the heads of 27 governments must now confront the European Parliament who were handed the voting power over it in with the Lisbon Treaty in 2007 and apparently we can expect quite a bit of disputing over several months.
Perhaps the members of euro-parliament should browse and travel a bit further than their little golden triangle of Brussels, Strassbourg and their hometown, to learn how much wiser the general population has become in the meantime, in particular in what concerns the moneyflow. It may even get them re-elected in 2014.
"More Europe" never meant more money shifted to European institutions, ladies and gentlemen.
That clinking, clanking sound; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkRIbUT6u7Q
In a nutshell, the agreement establishes that with less central spending at the level of EU institutions, growth should be achieved through a continued effort to remove the barriers to cross border trade, free business establishment and private entrepreneurial innovation.
This is a clear return to the fundamentals of the European Economic Community before it converted into a more political union after the Maastricht Treaty in the heydays of what we now know were the too glorious and unrestricted 90's, followed by the political deterioration we have seen over the past 5 years.
This back to basics angle then also means revisiting the EU's pan-European role towards the east and south and seeking a level playing field or maybe even some new members across the Meditteranean and the Black Sea, wherein particularly those member states with current economic and political difficulties could and should come to play a speerheading role, so that the EU as a whole can concentrate on intensifying relations with the US, China, Japan and Latin America.
It is almost ironic that the budget agreed by the heads of 27 governments must now confront the European Parliament who were handed the voting power over it in with the Lisbon Treaty in 2007 and apparently we can expect quite a bit of disputing over several months.
Perhaps the members of euro-parliament should browse and travel a bit further than their little golden triangle of Brussels, Strassbourg and their hometown, to learn how much wiser the general population has become in the meantime, in particular in what concerns the moneyflow. It may even get them re-elected in 2014.
"More Europe" never meant more money shifted to European institutions, ladies and gentlemen.
That clinking, clanking sound; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkRIbUT6u7Q
2013-02-07
Be careful what you wish for ....
If it is true that in civil(ized) societies, the general population determines the level of democracy and therewith takes ownership of the(ir) pace of development, then, some societies or countries simply need or allow (their) politicians more than others do in order to progress.
Portugal's government has - rightfully - been jubilating a win, mostly over the distrust of credit rating agencies, with the high demand for a recent medium term sovereign debt issue, since it came under the financial assistance of the IMF/EU/ECB. Yes there are plenty of circumstancial factors, a stage set by the ECB, a script designed by the aforementioned institutions but that need not withdraw the momentum for the actors that took the stage and thus the applause from most stakeholders and critics. No oscar nominees here, however.
Then again, there is something quite trivial about celebrating the increase of debt, unless the debtor holds a proven track record demonstrating financial skill and/or economic vision.
With this financial relief the government of a now over 120% of GDP indebted Portugal can (and is) carefully proclaiming a potential return to where the country financially and economically was a couple of years ago in particular in what concerns a surviving banking system now enabled to again partner up with private enterprise. Time for a survey amongst companies, big or small, to share their experiences with their bank branch managers on the meaning and price of partnering up
The prime minister now also sees opportunity to, once again, appeal for EU structural aid (very different from the current conditioned lending......) to promote a missing railway connection with Spain, boost domestic agriculture, ahead of this Thursday's EU budget negotiations, while the Minister of Economy promises to question EU restraints on low income tax rates, the Minister for Foreign Affairs is roadshowing export and tourism markets, the Minister for Interior is promoting privatizations, the Minsiter of Justice is making every effort to arrive at a level playing field in commercial and civil law, Ministers of Health and Education are genuinly looking for economies of scale and efficiency.
So much political activity, one would wonder whether there is any real room for private initiative exclusively by private enterprises or the general population, other than moving elsewhere, which actually also has already been suggested by the prime minister.
Then again, maybe private business owners or individuals simply do not want to the initiative and prefer to be led by their governors and that is, of course, a populations's own right. A rather expensive long term option, tough. At least the future grandchildren of the Minister of Finance can say that grandpa told you so.
Portugal's government has - rightfully - been jubilating a win, mostly over the distrust of credit rating agencies, with the high demand for a recent medium term sovereign debt issue, since it came under the financial assistance of the IMF/EU/ECB. Yes there are plenty of circumstancial factors, a stage set by the ECB, a script designed by the aforementioned institutions but that need not withdraw the momentum for the actors that took the stage and thus the applause from most stakeholders and critics. No oscar nominees here, however.
Then again, there is something quite trivial about celebrating the increase of debt, unless the debtor holds a proven track record demonstrating financial skill and/or economic vision.
With this financial relief the government of a now over 120% of GDP indebted Portugal can (and is) carefully proclaiming a potential return to where the country financially and economically was a couple of years ago in particular in what concerns a surviving banking system now enabled to again partner up with private enterprise. Time for a survey amongst companies, big or small, to share their experiences with their bank branch managers on the meaning and price of partnering up
The prime minister now also sees opportunity to, once again, appeal for EU structural aid (very different from the current conditioned lending......) to promote a missing railway connection with Spain, boost domestic agriculture, ahead of this Thursday's EU budget negotiations, while the Minister of Economy promises to question EU restraints on low income tax rates, the Minister for Foreign Affairs is roadshowing export and tourism markets, the Minister for Interior is promoting privatizations, the Minsiter of Justice is making every effort to arrive at a level playing field in commercial and civil law, Ministers of Health and Education are genuinly looking for economies of scale and efficiency.
So much political activity, one would wonder whether there is any real room for private initiative exclusively by private enterprises or the general population, other than moving elsewhere, which actually also has already been suggested by the prime minister.
Then again, maybe private business owners or individuals simply do not want to the initiative and prefer to be led by their governors and that is, of course, a populations's own right. A rather expensive long term option, tough. At least the future grandchildren of the Minister of Finance can say that grandpa told you so.
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