[huerta]

Could you explain to us what your point in all of this discussion is?

BTW: If you noticed, about Berlusconi, Luca writes: "Personally, last time around I voted for the "other guys". (....) But it's a close call, let me tell you (and "none of the above" is darn tempting, too).

So while he says that, for him, voting for Berlusconi is a "close call", I write the following:

"I would never vote for Berlusconi and I never have."

But what we are trying to do here is this... as Luca wrote:

"If, Midtown, you have any genuine interest in understanding a phenomenon like Berlusconi (as opposed to just insulting him); I'm happy to point out some stuff."

To understand a phenomenon like Berlusconi (as opposed to just insulting him) requires some intellectual curiosity which, as I mentioned in another post, is lacking on your part.

The world is not always in black and white (Berlusconi=bad) it is in shades of grey ... especially here in Italy.

(except when it comes to soccer)

No one here is trying to sell Berlusconi on you... but we are trying to explain the phenomena. And part of that is pointing out the man's successes. You are confusing the issue by taking my postings as from a Berlusconi fanboy.

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As for: "Again, "to see" what in Aquila?"

I think the rest of the forum has the ability to understand what it means to hold a G8 summit on the site of a national disaster of this magnitude... along with inviting journalists to see the place 6 months later, see the progress (or lack), hear Berlusconi's promises (have them on record for the world to witness... and to hold him accountable), tour the tent city, hear the praise, the complaints and even meet protesters. In comparison to past governments, this is refreshing behavior. And the efficient response to the disaster during it's crucial first days (see the Newsweek article) is an accomplishment for the Berlusconi government.

Some info about the 1980 Earthquake in Avellino... for context:

"The Italian government spent 59 billion lire on reconstruction, while other nations sent contributions. Germany contributed 32 million United States dollars and the United States 70 million USD. However, in the early nineties a major corruption scandal emerged of the billions of lire that actually disappeared from the earthquake reconstruction funds in the 1980s. Of the $40 billion spent on earthquake reconstruction, an estimated $20 billion went to create an entirely new social class of millionaires in the region, $6.4 billion went to the Camorra, whereas another $4 billion went to politicians in bribes. Only the remaining $9.6 billion , a quarter of the total amount, was actually spent on people's needs."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1980_Irpinia_earthquake

Yeah, Midtown: tell about the call-girls.

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