What would Cicero say?

Posted on 2006/06/28 15:17:46 (June 2006).

[28th June 2006]

This week is proving to be extremely boring at work. Technically speaking I should have been on holiday, therefore I wouldn't have had to endure this boredom, but since I resigned I have to be here, as holidays do not count towards the notice period.

So here I am writing away, browsing the internet, biding my time but doing little else...
Yesterday, in my ordeal of boredom, I have had a tiny argument with a colleague, over a totally work unrelated subject: POLITICS.

I won't go into detail explaining the what, "how"s and "when"s of the mess that at the moment we are living in here in Italy, but the fact is that the approach of certain people to political problems is very often extremely superficial and selfish.
In Pizzaland if you are a tax evader you are "cool", if you take money abroad you are a "finance guru", if you live off law loopholes you are a "genius".

We were discussing about a Referendum that took place recently, it was an abrogative vote on a massive Constitutional reform that the previous government passed at the end of the legislature with a majority vote.

During the debate (in the company canteen, while having lunch), the topic fell on the recent vote for the parliament, and I was surprised (in a bad way) by the lack of preparation and the simplicity of the reasoning that some of my colleagues have when it come to choose what and who to vote. I will begin saying that I am NOBODY regarding politics and understanding of it, but at least I try and I also try to avoid being brainwashed with the millions of demagogic stimuli that are thrown at us consistently.

One person voted a certain coalition because "they are not going to reintroduce inheritance taxes" (not true, they simply denied to talk about it during the campaign) because "my grandparents are going to leave us a big sum"... When asked if that was the only reason the answer was "yes, what else should I care about?"...
Ok, no problem. Maybe it's just one person (though I become Nazi extremely quickly and I would have voided the person's rights to vote forever due to clear brain impediments)...

Another one told us that the present government is going to raise taxes! (the usual populistic-demagogic thing to say). When confronted with the fact that Italy IS walking exactly the same path that Argentina walked some years ago (it ended with the default of all bonds, technically speaking Argentina BANKRUPTED!), that all the economic data has plunged in recent years and little sign of recovery is in sight, well, the answer was "but they are going to raise taxes, why should I pay more?!"... I tried to ask how he thought that the situation could improve, and here a marvellous "There must be other ways..." came out, pretty much the same way you draw a rabbit from the top hat... 'Nuff said...

We are simply not a nation.
We might be one when the football is on, but apart from that there is little community spirit in our country.

Our ancestors are surely sick at looking what the Roman empire has become...

Talking about football, Christelle watched yesterday's match (France vs Spain). She said that the referee, who was Italian, behaved in exemplary fashion. The Spanish coach, known to be an inveterate racist and foaming with rage (3 to 1 for France), insulted one of our players who's black. Apparently, the referee told him plainly to shut the fuck up! Good chap!

Posted by Sheri at 2006/06/28 16:52:10.

As for the fact that you're bored beyond belief, ti consilio una buona long lasting sega.

Posted by Sheri at 2006/06/28 16:55:14.

Go on badvoyeur.com. It's full of pretty pictures...

Posted by Sheri at 2006/06/28 17:01:59.

Yeah, politics is one of those subjects people choose to have a very narrow view on, even though it affects everyone in the country! Politicians themselves are the ones I find hard to trust. As my father-in-law said to me the other day (when I went to the dentist!) "It is all smoke and mirrors", which I think really sums-up the situation very well.

As for the Romans - if you didn't vote the right way a legion would simply cross the Rubicon until you became very nervous!! :)))

Posted by Nigel at 2006/06/28 20:43:38.

Well my excuse for ignorance towards politics is that I live abroad. Will that do?

Posted by John at 2006/06/29 12:49:40.

well personally, I think people should take a test before they can vote. it would be a fair test that anybody who studied certain material say GCSE (15-16 year-old exam) can pass. If they don't, they have no vote. Also the politicians who are candidates also have to pass a test say Degree, MSc level on things like socio-economics and financial enconomics as well as green issues, intermediate understanding of science and biology etc.

This is sounding rather like Johns 'Cull' years.

Ok I have decided that anyone who doesn't pass the test is culled too.
Any whingers and complainers are culled aswell.

Posted by Kev at 2006/06/29 20:22:24.

Isn'it a trifle drastic, Kev ?
Though I admit there is truth in what you say...

Posted by Sheri at 2006/06/30 08:02:23.

By truth, I meant : it makes sense

Posted by Sheri at 2006/06/30 08:03:08.

Kev: Where and how do I join your country? I mean, spot on. I agree completely with what you say !

Posted by Lox at 2006/06/30 08:50:03.

Why don't you talk about fifa world cup like in all other offices in the world?
And not only during lunch time, but during all working time!
See you soon at "Pigs on the Hill"!!!

Posted by Ivan at 2006/06/30 09:34:16.

GRANDE IVAN!!! Glad to have you on board too at la Maison! To be honest there is little to talk about, here they support only AC Milan and Inter (not to talk about Juventus) so they hardly understand about football..

As for Pigs on the Hill I will be travelling to Japan so this time I won't be there... :( Sorry... I am quite disappointed at not being there! :(

Posted by Lox at 2006/06/30 11:15:09.

obviously the culling bit of my arguments were in a joking fashion, although I think there are too many people who have a vote but have no idea how the world really works and make Important decisions based on wrong or emotional premises.

Posted by kev at 2006/06/30 13:06:29.

Kev: Alas this is what the industry in which I work bases its earnings... Generally speaking an ignorant mass is easy to control and to move, better than people who actually care. Not that I have anything against ignorance, I just wish it didn't affect me as well... :(

Posted by Lox at 2006/06/30 13:11:45.

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