Posted on 04/15/2008 5:00:16 PM PDT by Kaslin
Europe: The return of conservative Silvio Berlusconi to power in Italy, along with rightward tilts in Germany and France, signals a continental shift to smaller government and lower taxes. No coincidence, it's also pro-U.S.
It's been a long time coming. Two previous Berlusconi governments struggled without such an advantage. So this amounts to a green light for badly needed free-market reform.
His victory also follows moves to the right in Germany and France and could signal a trend toward conservative governments elsewhere in Europe. Italy has always been a harbinger of such trends. For both Europe and the U.S., that's good news.
It means Italian voters realize that smaller government, lower taxes, lawful immigration — and optimism, which Italy's ebullient leader exemplifies — will make for a more dynamic economy.
Odds for success in Italy's case are high. For one thing, the left-leaning parties formed a unified opposition called the Democratic Party. Berlusconi can more strongly present his ideas against theirs in the parliament than if parties were small and fragmented.
(Excerpt) Read more at ibdeditorials.com ...
What a headline! Whodathunkit? Forward? Wow!!!!
/s
Good news indeed.
France shift rightward was big as well. Maybe they’re all sick of Euroism.
And the US turns toward socialism with Obama and Hillary leading the way.
Copycats.
I was in Bologna on election day, and my wife and I went to the Jordan school polling place close to the Golden Tulip hotel that we were staying at in Bologna. We spent over an hour at the polling place taking pictures, and watching the voters with their heads down,slowly making their way up the steps, knowing full well that their votes meant nothing, because their boy, Veltroni, was
going down for the count.
I was just stationed in Italy, certainly didn’t notice much pro Western thinking in the younger crowd. Then again, around the military bases it could be a different story. Either way, I don’t think conservatism is the same over there. Lets just say, I’m happy to be back in Japan (which is unfortunately leaning left these days).
The last such trend spawned many a war movie.
Sarkozy is from the same political party as Chirac and was personally endorsed by Chirac in the national election. Sarkozy claims to be pro-USA, but so did Chirac when he was first elected.
It's kind of like arguing the Roberts court is a "rightward shift" from the Rehnquist court. Technically true, but the "rightward shift" can be measured in milimeters. Let's not forget the "conservative" Sarkozy is also pro-abortion, pro-gay, and a gun grabber.
By French standards, Hillary is probably a "right wing, pro-American" candidate.
they finally woke up to the muslim invasion that threatens their way of life
it is beyond my understanding how this could be good news. Is it enough that somebody calls himself conservative despite his record and his work during the last 15 years?
I really feel sorry for the italian people. Nobody deserves such a political system and the consequences of that.
Huh? Are you for real?
Look at the econommic and political situation in italy and this guy is the perfect example of all the problems of this country.
italy needs fundamental changes and not a third period of someone who likes talking but avoids real action and reforms.
Time is running out for italy according to their economic situation
Italy needs some cultural reform more than anything. Between the studenti who refuse to work because they are in school forever and the pensionisti who retire in their 50s and the mammoni who won’t get married and have children, there are some fundamental problems.
My parents are Italian immigrants. Italian culture changed a great deal—and not really for the better—since they were there in the 1950s.
I agree that Italy has quite some problem but you totally miss the point about Berlusconi: he is a truly conservative guy.
I mean, he is conservative on EVERYTHING: values, taxation, foreign policiy. His record on these issues is indisputable.
What the heck are you talking about?
Besides, who would you vote for? A party whose government freed tons of criminals in his first important decreee?
A party whose government just taxed Italians to death?
(in case u dont know, i m talking about our own Democratic Party)
And Berlusconi is responsible for that because...?
He’s not responsible for that of course. Just something he has to deal with.
How did he win? Did Italians just get sick of the left? I certainly don’t think there’s a huge pro-American movement there....I haven’t heard about it at any rate.
YEP: leftist government just taxed Italians to death. Besides, Italians never fell in love with the left to begin with: when Berlusconi was sacked, he lost the Lower House for just 24.000 votes, but won the Senate for more than 200.000. Leftist government was pushed ahead by unelected senators.
certainly don’t think there’s a huge pro-American movement there....
Huh? Young folks are leftist like everywhere else, but where I live (the north) conservative parties (Berlusconi + Lega Nord) have more than 60% of electoral preferences.
They may be conservative, but are they pro-American? I haven't seen much of the latter.
Ahh...a polentone! My family are all terroni (Lazio/Molise). But my cousin married a guy from Lombardia...he likes to tick his anti-American countrymen off and wears a cowboy hat when he goes back. :)
I'll tell you this. There's not a great deal of love for America in my family there. My parents are always defending the U.S. to my cousins and aunts/uncles. And they are not university-type leftists.
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