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And on the ability to control Bersani's fear to change the Italian Constitution as well as on his capability to intermediate with the Center Right politicians (who will have a majority in the Senate).
7000 German citizens, organized in a "Civil Coalition", support a class action appeal against the ECB's purchase of government bonds. The ECB is committing "violations of the law of a particular kind," they appeal claims.
@IA VYRITY.Pathetically uninformed,you are.Italy this year exported with an increase in quantity bigger tha that of GErmany on the preceding year:our export touched a good half trillion Euro.More,our trade balance with the incommensurable,innominable land of blonde supermen and wanderwomen was positive in the last 4 months.China cannot be put on the same ground of Taiwan and Korea:it's a country wildly violating rules that sooner or later they will be forced to respect.This will be the doomsday of their success.As for Taiwan and Korea,i must admit that they have nothing to share with us:just look at their way of life.They are no direct competitors,they don't knoew what good food,elegant fashion,nice art are.Nor they make Ferraris,indeed.They produce enormous(the Korean) of low degree stuff to give to the americans.Those having no high lifestile,of course.our problemis the devalued DMARK called Euro,a shenanighan that comes from Europe,not Asia.
Keep up the good work. Thanks to Merkel's push for reforms, Italy slowly gets back on its feet. You should praise Merkel!
Hare Krishna Hare Merkel Merkel Merkel Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Merkel Merkel Merkel Hare Hare . . .
"our problemis the devalued DMARK called Euro,a shenanighan that comes from Europe,not Asia"
You right stefano, eurobots always seek an outside scapegoat for the shortcomings of the half-baked, coerced and failed European "Union", but you are very wrong about Korean products.
Still, Italy and Germany (... and ... and ... and ...) represent the true meaning of the new Eurobotia anthem (dirge):
"Ever Closer Union, Ever Closer Hatreds"
"Ever Closer Union, Ever Closer Hatreds". I must agree. At least it seems like that.
What a nonsense! Why is the Euro 'the devalued D-Mark'?
The German Mark (DEM) was replaced with the Euro (EUR) on January 1, 1999. One EUR is equivalent to 1.95583 DEM. When the Euro went into circulation January 1, 2002, the exchange rate for One USD was 2.25 DEM. Today One USD is 0,76 EUR or 1.33 DEM. This is an appreciation of the EUR/DEM of approx 70%!!! (not devaluation), compared to the DEM/USD exchange rate of Jan 2002.
It seems to me that many of you guys are verbal acrobats without basic knowledge of arithmetics (which, btw, is typical for many socialists). Or you are just 'mentally handicapped', blaring your horns without the slightest capability to perform simple math equations.
I can't believe what you wrote !
There are not Merkel's reforms: just to comply with a program of higher taxes: exactly what the Italian business men are fighting against (together with the consequences on the Italian economy !).
In which way did higher taxes boost exports?
No blog on Italy shows up here without the collateral damage of idiots and defamers paid by someone who must have some mental problem whose main symptom is antitalian xenophoby.But with enemis like those cowards it's an easy match,after all.In the world public opinion Italy still is the Country of Dolce Vita.To hate Italy is the sign that something inside you is insane,and that you hate yourself more than us.
That Italy nowadays continues to act as the Country of 'Dolce Vita' is exactly big part of her problem. China, Taiwan and S. Korea give a damn about the Italian lifestyle, as pleasant this lifestyle may be. They simply eliminate Italy's uncompetitive goods from the global markets and catapult Italy's economy onto a third world place.
"To hate Italy is the sign that something inside you is insane"
Don't worry Stefano, plenty more hatred is coming your way - thanks to the European "Union".
If i was you, I would go and ceck my facts better. Don't even talk about a Country you problably ever been in.
Dunno exactly what "ceck my facts" means. Are you saying that the Czechs should provide facts? Or what?
you are not even good as comedian
If you want to keep the radical left in check, you want to have the mafia's (and the Economists) favourite politician in power- Silvio.
Then you want to orchestrate a few neatly timed, mysterious bombings & assassinations with your mafia allies, all the while making these outrages point to the radical left.
Then in a grand alliance of masonic conspirators both foreign & internal tighten the grip on state institutions with tacit Vatican support. Place a few prominent bodies with dynamite scattered around beside electrical pylons. Organise the collapse of a couple of banking houses & conglomerates.
That should do the trick, that should keep them in check. Its not legal but thats never stopped anybody before.
This article is wrong in so many ways. The threat to Italy's economy comes from Berlusconi and his cronies who brought Italy to ruin in the first place. The so-called "hard left" is actually more liberal in all sorts of ways than the Italian right which is statist and committed to every sort of restrictive practice imaginable for the groups they represent.
Vendola doesn't belong to the radical left, imo. He simply aims for a fairer politics, which Monti wasn't able (or maybe didn't want) to pursue. I was so happy when Monti was appointed as prime minister, just because he followed Berlusconi & berlusconism - but now I cannot help going and voting for Bersani. The center left was unable to remain united in the past, in some way it had still to mature as a government power - now it's our time, we have been waiting for it since decades, I do hope we will be up to the task and deserve this opportunity.
I for one don't concur with the Economist when it says: "Paradoxically, it is the reassuring Mr Monti who is most likely to cause an unstable result in the form of a hung Senate. [...] That, however, would enable Mr Monti to offer his services to Mr Bersani as a coalition partner and, just as importantly, a counter weight to the radical left."
Such bad condition may only cause the government to be weaker and dull - and Monti to become an odious blackmailer.
Antonio, do you realise that Bersani will have an impossible agenda for a left government? The years ahead will require more dire measures from the government and more sicrifices will be asked. Bersani will have a lot of pressure on him to move the fiscal pressure from the low-wage workers to the richer part of Italian population but that is always hard. Rich people are also powerful people and they get nervous during recession as they make less money. Moreover, if they don't like pay taxes they hate to pay the taxes imposed by a left goverment when this is allied with an extreme-left leaning party as SEL.
I would welcome a Bersani government in a boom period but given the current situation it might be a disaster for the left. Don't get too exited with the good moment of the left, it might just be a consequence of the mess the right is in which is partly due to their incompetence and lask of honesty and partly due to the difficult government they have had.
@YANKEE DOODLE.Are you coming from the Olympics of Incompetnce with a gold medal?You too easily show hatred and factiosity that a serious magazine like TE doesn't deserve,your opinons are lowering the average of this blog.Italy paid in the last months 50 BILLIONS to help the banks of Germany,involved in the Greek affair.WE were and no more are the biggest auto market in Europe for the german auto industry.The game is over for their export.This is the way that GErmany controls Italy:that since the half of 2012 our trade balance is zero.At the next elections the aantigerman parties will win for a simple reason:that ALL BUT UDC ARE ANTIGERMAN.This is the end of the politics of the remote controlled,by the so called "european institutions",mister Monti.This 50 probably more BILLIONS are and will be money of WE THE PEOPLE,who never elected this byproduct of "european" illegality.You barely can find Italy on a map.GO TO STUDY,DOODLE!
"This is the way that Germany controls Italy..."
Did you ever grow up? Face it. Italy will never be a major player.
You're doomed to be the eternal side-kick at best.
And I doubt that the Germans care, especially if that hatred comes from Italy. After all you betrayed them before.
Norse_god please give it a break. You don't even know what this article is talking about
There is no hard left in Italy. Even SEL with Vendola is not my opinion that radical, he is more about ecology and a new way to look at society, nothing that can scare Italians or the rest of Europe.
There was a euro before this one, the Latin monetary union. Greece cheated and was kicked out. Italy cheated better so was not caught as soon as Greece was. Italian cheating brought the first euro down.
A classic case of history repeating itself.
Those that ignore history are bound to fail.
A bit of knowledge can be a dangerous thing to untrained minds.
Why don't you try reading the Wikipedia article in French or Italian?
1) There was no Italian cheating. There was cheating by the VATICAN which led to its expulsion, with no adverse effects for the other nations. BTW, the accord to regulate gold and silver content and exchange rates extended to countries like Tunisia and Eritrea in Africa, Puerto Rico in the Caribbean and was adhered to by Venezuela, Brazil, Argentina and Chile in South America.
2) The Greeks were expelled in 1908 for debasing their currency, but re-admitted in 1910.
3) The LMU was "brought down" by the First World War, which played havoc with economics, exchange rates and the prices of precious metals. Belgium finally requested the suspension of the agreement after the war.
Your interpretations are entirely incorrect.
As a last point, the LMU was basically sponsored by the French, who saw an opportunity to organise greater monetary stability in Europe after the unification of Italy and the end of the ability of various Italian city-states to coin money independently.
The Union would have survived - albeit in an evolved form - without World War I.
The Latin Monetary Union - which included a number of Balkan nations behind it, included Austria-Hungary, Albania, Serbia, Bulgaria and Greece, had very little to do with the Euro today. There was no central bank and no united currency. It was merely an agreement to fix exchange rates and accept the currency of other countries within the respective national territories.
You are wrong. Ciampi and Prodi cheated their European partners like Greece cheated them later. They cooked Italy's budgets because they wanted to join the Eurozone and dilute Italian public debt into it. Both Ciampi and Prodi were leftist and sly persons and as all leftists who had caused the huge public debt from the years '70ties they were eager to cheat all other European countries with their clever tricks.They knew that with the Euro Italy couldn't no longer use the tricks of devaluation and striking coin. Game was over and the two weasels (Ciampi and Prodi) had no option but to think up a new plan to cheat their partners:counterfeit Italy's budgets. But since your sins will find you out sooner or later, now Italy has to show its hand.
Do you believe everything Berlusconi says? I hope you are aware that most of his minions support him for their own interests - and not because they are stupid enough to believe his propaganda.
Ciampi was no Leftist. He led a technical government and was a Bank of Italy official for decades - non-partisan.
No, Ciampi and Prodi did not cheat their partners. Berlusconi however has cheated the Italian people.
Looks as if my posting of yesterday was deleted. Never mind, here it is again.
"There was no Italian cheating".
Maybe there was, maybe there wasn't. The point is, your euro-partners the Germans believe there was, and they are the ones whose opinion counts in the "new Europe" that is being created.
"Italy basically fudged its figures to make them look better than they were.
Italy after 1991 continuously claimed that OECD figures on Italian debt were incorrect. At the same time, Italy was "juggling" various things to desperately get below the 60% debt ratio, or make it look like it had. Italy did things like sell its own national gold reserves to its own central bank, and then taxed the proceeds, to temporarily artificially reduce its debt position".
Der Spiegel " How did Italy manage to join the euro zone?"
Another point.
"Time for Scotland to turn its back on corrupt and undemocratic London bankers and join the EU and the Euro on their own". (Jan 5th 16.38)
Well, you may wish for this, but I'm afraid it isn't going to happen. There is only a slim chance of the Scots voting to leave the UK, and even if they did, they would retain sterling as their currency.
Nobody wants to join the euro. The governments of those countries waiting, yes, but not the populations. Check what the Latvians think, due to join next January.
Where you get your information - perhaps the News of the World?
1) The Germans also believed Hitler and also believe their biggest bank is apparently honest or well-run. They have also been an infamously racist people over the last century. Or do you think Germans stopped being Nazis because of their defeat in World War II?
The fact is that the aggressive strategies employed by the Italian Treasury TO REDUCE THE DEFICIT, NOT THE DEBT were neither illegal nor hidden. They were carefully scrutinised by our Euro-partners - including Germany - when the decision was made that Italy qualified for the Euro.
Such debt reduction as was effected in a short period of time in the 90's derived from the over €60 billion of privatisations made by Romano Prodi's government in the period 1996-1998 - there was no "cheating", "desperation" or "magic" there.
2) Italy did not "juggle" anything. Nor was there ever any attempt "to desperately get below the 60% debt ratio". At the time of qualification for Maastricht our debt stood at 124% (and was declining).
As for the gold - the interpretation you offer was written by idiots. I do not consider you an idiot - so please do not quote them. Our gold reserves were PRIVATISED - the Bank of Italy is private, not a State institution. The Bank of Italy, owned by Italian banks, therefore paid a one-off tax - this was used to temporarily reduce our DEFICIT position (not the debt, idiots).
Maastricht never said anything about "structural deficits". Several one-off measures were adopted in the critical year to qualify for Maastricht - without which we simply would have entered the Euro a year later - when our deficit reached 2.8% WITHOUT the one-off measures.
3) A slim chance of Scottish independence? I suggest you read up on the Scottish positions. They are very intelligent. And I think as the referendum gets closer, the pro-Independence movement will rise steadily from 40%.
4) Latvia will join the Euro. I suggest you check what the Estonians think, who have already entered recently.
"perhaps the News of the World?"
That would be difficult since it closed down some time ago.
Wasn't my quotation from 'DER SPIEGEL', Joe? I told you it was the GERMANS who accuse the Italians of cheating. As I said, whether it's true or not, this is what your German euro-partners are told. Good luck with that and your future
relationship with them.
Your prediction on the outcome of the Scottish referendum is well noted, but on this point I suggest you stick to commenting on Italy.
Latvia will join the euro? Of course it will. My point was that the people don't want it, just as they don't in Poland, CZ and Hungary.
But then what the great unwashed think has never been any concern of yours, has it, Joe?
Read this and learn:
"Why would any nation want to join the euro?"
Is there a link you forgot to attach?
Answer: To achieve lower interest rates, expand inter-European trade and guarantee monetary stability, thus removing exchange rate risk as a factor in foreign direct investment.
Not to mention that countries such as the UK who do not join the Euro are hurting themselves politically in Europe - as they will not supply leaders who will be accepted by the rest of the continent.
"Time for Scotland to turn its back on corrupt and undemocratic London bankers and join the EU and the Euro on their own".
BTW, forgot to tell you. The failure of the two Scottish banks, RBS and HBOS, was the result of decisions made entirely in Edinburgh, resulting in a bail-out by the Brown government. The running of these banks has always been a purely Scottish affair.
As I say, stick to Italy, Joe.
Joe: "The Germans . . . have also been an infamously racist people over the last century".
The Germans were victimized by a totalitarian regime which used racism as an excuse to confiscate wealth and to finance its war preparations. The German people weren't asked under this tyranny.
Today, and only this is what counts, Italians are even racist toward their own fellow countrymen in the South, not to mention the daily ugliness when Italian groups of balaclava-clad men, some even wearing bandannas with swastikas, are demolishing shops and beat up non-Italian shopkeepers.
Amnesty International, in a report released late last year, warns that Italy's "climate of discrimination" is highly dangerous, encouraged by the country's political climate.
My first posting containing the link was deleted. Here it is again:
"How did Italy manage to join the euro-zone?" der Spiegel, written last May.
Who cares Berlusconi? I say that Ciampi and Prodi cheated the Europenan partners as they in the meantime cheated the Italians to thinking to make a clever trick. Ciampi was a leftist: he had the CGIL-card and everybody knows that the CGIL was the Comunnist Party transmission belt. Prodi was an useful idiot for the leftists and has ever given them a hand: he led two centre-left governments which fell to pieces some years ago. Everybody in Itay knows that the huge public debt has been created by the centre-left parties (DC-PSI-PCI and trade unions)for the last forties years. Berlusconi found the huge debt and was not able to lower it because of the former Fascist Fini and the former Christian Dmocrat Casini two SOB of the old school, who constantly put spokes in his wheel. Monti has now taken these two vily birds under his wings. Fancy that! He won't go far with them! I'm ready to bet your head!
I think la. vyrity is actually berlusconi.. Same way of saying (in this case writing) complete nosense in order to have recommendations and feel happy about it.
In Italy it doesn't really matter who is elected. Italy will be Italy.
Control the hard left? In Italy?
Are you even able to name three leaders of the far Left in Italy over the last 100 years?
I guess everyone knows by now how to use google and wikipedia.:-)
Do you?
Could Italian politics get any more farcical and depressing? Perhaps not. But in the end, we all point our fingers to the politicians, when the blame sits squarely with the people of Italy.
People who on the one hand feign a want for change, but in reality, don't want change at all.
It's amazing to me that in these serious and difficult times, there are actually people out there who believe the anti-everything / pro nothing 5 Stelle movement is worth a single citizens vote.
Likewise that Berlusconi's polling has gone from a low of 15% to now 25% indicates that once again, Italy will embarrass and betray herself by voting for a man who delivered the world's third lowest rate of economic growth over the previous decade. Not to mention his soft dictatorship, criminality and confidence-sapping effect on foreign investors.
Italians only want to hear one thing, and that is "we'll change, politics will change, the system will change, THEY will change….but YOU...no sir...you do NOT have to change."
This was demonstrated acutely when Monti, wishing to liberalise (just a little) Italy's ridiculously rigid labour laws, lost so much popularity even amongst young people, who stood to benefit most (in the long-term) from the changes.
You see the psyche of the young Italian is "I can't get a job because they're protected. But once I get one, I want to keep it at all costs". The duplicity and fallibility of this sentiment is completely lost on them. And so it is that even with record youth unemployment, young Italians themselves don't wish to underwrite the necessary industrial relations changes, just in case they DO get a job. If that were the case they wouldn't be voting for Berlusconi, who has proved impotent in this area time and time again. And certainly not for Bersani, who's union constituency will demand ever more deficit spending, job protection, and labour rigidity.
The italian psyche may be couched in many ways in a certain collectivism, but it ultimately supremely individualistic. They have no concept or regard for a social contract, so how can it be expected from their leaders?
In the end, the option of who to vote for will be interpreted by Italians through this simple prism: do I vote for the party offering me the lowest taxes, or the party offering me the highest welfare. Both will betray the need for fundamental change and precipitate a road to ruin.
Spot on. Thanks for your insightful comment.
Great comment. For the sake of Italy I hope you are Italian.
There is nothing spot-on about this ridiculous comment.
Berlusconi's approval rating has NOT gone from 15 to 25%. He has formed an alliance with a party (the Northern League) that counts from 4 to 6%, and according to one recent poll, the vote for his coalition MAY go as high as 23%.
This means nothing. Given the current electoral law, his seats in parliament will likely be far less than 23%.
And, what is far more stunning is how a party of Liars, Demagogues and Ignoramuses such as the American Republican party - as defined by Der Spiegel a few months ago - could achieve 47.3% of the vote.
The Italians have "no regard for social contract"? Thank you for printing more of this racist drivel. How would you explain the fact that the murder and poverty rates in every American city are far higher than in Italy? Does Detroit evidence some sort of American "social contract"?
"Thank you for printing more of this racist drivel."
He can not be a racist. Italians are not a race.
Please try to follow the same standards that you expect
from others. Or do you really want to confirm the prejudices the North has against the South?
@MiolvanDjilas you are correct on the recent elevation of Berlusconi's approval being attributable to the recent PDL/Lega pact. That is simple mathematics.
What is more insightful, is that Berlusconi's tryst with the Northern League has done nothing to diminish his support from his core following of southern Italians, who one would imagine would be disgusted by the alliance. This has always perplexed me, but such is the power of a this miscreant, who speaks unashamedly to the secret desires of many Italian men (women, football, la furbizia, and tax evasion).
Regards American politics I also agree with you. Anglicised corruption and demagoguery have always been accepted with a certain relativism and moral flexibility not afforded to other cultures. It is indeed a form of racism underwritten by our devotion to Brand America (TM).
But ultimately, for all of America's many, many shortcomings, they do have a political system that is stable and more importantly, is agile enough to mobilise reforms that push the county into new frontiers. I note their unemployment rate continues to fall, whilst Europe's continues to rise.
My home country is Australia, though half my family live in Italy, the country of my parents which I care for very dearly. Here, we benefit from an attitude which accepts, if not openly welcomes change. When our politicians put forward arguments supporting unpopular reforms on taxation, workforce liberalisation, welfare reduction, and lifting the retirement age, we accept them as necessary vehicles to a more collective progress, which ultimately benefits us all.
This willingness to change is the story of Australia's success. It is also that of many other countries, particularly Germany in the 1990s. All I see in Italy is resistance, which was commendable in the 1970s, futile in the 90s, and is sad in 2013.
But I also agree on your different perspective on what it means to have a social contract, and share your frustration at our tendency to view everything through the prism of abstract numbers, and not of humanity (the latter measure of which would cast Italy in a far more generous light).
Though I would in Italy's case call this more of a contract shared between family units, rather than citizens and government. I think this is self evident, when one takes stock of the Italian political story.
Milovan I am not being racist, because I want Italy to project all of its best qualities to the world - socially, culturally, politically and economically. But surely you can see how the state of affairs in Italy at the moment would leave foreign observers exasperated, if not bewildered??
Italy is hanging on to a dream that no longer exists. The only leader who is prepared to wake them up, and orient them towards a new and achievable dream, is Monti. An nobody there wants to hear it.
Why you bring up the USA I don't know. The state of affairs over there, does nothing to negate the sad story unfolding in Italy.
You have been living for too long outside of Italy and you give too much credence to Anglo-Saxon propaganda. Do you really think you understand the peninsula from the other side of the globe?
There is no "sad story unfolding in Italy". The sad story unfolded in 1993/94, when Berlusconi entered politics illegally and nobody stopped his participation. Italian law has long forbid any holder of public concessions (read: airwaves) from running for office - a law never enforced in his case because those who should have enforced it were busy rooting for the political Right - and could not believe their eyes in 1993 when the Left won mayoralties in every big city in Italy. They were so happy to see Communism fall in 1989 (weren't we all?) and yet were shocked to see their Christian Democratic political party failing together with the Soviet Communists. Which was exactly the right thing to happen, because their power shenanigans mirrored those of the Communists on the other side of the Iron Curtain.
What is unfolding now in Italy is a liberation, not a sad story. Don't be ridiculous.
And don't give any credence to northern Europeans. During her entire time in office, until 15 months ago, Merkel supported Berlusconi and covered for him. In 2008 the European Left sponsored a motion in the European Parliament to censor Berlusconi's undemocratic domination of the news media in our country. The motion failed by three votes - with Merkel's Christian Democrat MP's among Silvio's biggest supporters. She needed Silvio's votes in Strasbourg...
The northern Europeans are liars and hypocrites. Italians are not hypocrites. Our bad linen is out there for everybody to see - while German banks for example lie and hide billions in losses - and are afraid to submit to outside monitoring.
As for "amoral familism" - this is the story in much of the South. There is no problem with a social contract in most Italian towns and cities. Nor are there problems in the Provinces - and hardly so much in the Regions.
There is a problem at the national level in Rome. But that is because our Republic is occupied by foreign powers, including the Americans, the Brits and the Vatican - ever since September 1943. And no, in case you are wondering - my family were anti-Fascist and anti-Monarchist: but the fact still remains that ever since our King fled Rome in 1943, we have been an occupied and non-sovereign country. Non-sovereign means that Italians do not decide their own fate and do not command in Rome. Period. Berlusconi was supported by the Vatican and American Republicans. Period end.
And even with the Vatican, the CIA, the American Right pulling for him, and his domination of 5 out of 6 national TV channels, we still beat him twice - in 1996 and 2006. This time, he is in for a drubbing that not even Jesus Christ himself could save him from.
BTW - where do you get off believing Monti's lies? Italy has reformed every sector of its economy and political sphere - except for the Golden Pensions.
Our pension expense is 16.6% of gdp. The next most generous country in the world is Austria, which spends just over 12% of gdp on pensions. If this gap were cut in half (still leaving us the most generous country in the world with the old people) we would have a budget surplus now.
Monti receives a state pension of 72,000 Euros monthly. He is part of the problem, not the answer.
And also - don't be dull: Monti is "the only leader prepared to wake up" Italians? Are you insane? Have you noticed that Monti has not privatised a stick of gum over the last 15 months? ENI, ENEL, Finmeccanica, Cassa Depositi e Prestiti - there is a long list of things to privatise and use to reduce the debt.
Monti is not there to resolve our problems - he is there to make sure the inevitable reforms and austerity do not touch Vatican interests - or the Golden Pensions of the former, retired Christian Democrat henchmen.
As for bringing up the US - that was for "Yankee Doodle's" ears.
What's wrong with being Arabs running around wearing crosses?
This is not a racist comment as Arabs have always accounted for a large proportion of Italians and they should be proud.
The Lebanese and other Arabs do it, so why shouldn't those Italians?
In this elections we have not to vote in regard of our principles, because these parties have no one of them. We must vote to minimize the damages to our Country (or choose our preferred bad).
Personal point of view: the worst government results would come out from en antinationalist and silly left council of ministers and to avoid it i even find that PDL has to be voted (the lesser bad)
A well-minded, well-outweighed choice must be done; either in or out of the EU. This is a call to everybody, within Europe.
I am writing,
of course, to those people just screaming and winding fear on Germans or other countries. Yes, if somebody seems unable to find a self-discipline, as a European partner, previous government and parliament members revealed themselves quite unfit for the purpose, what can actually happen? Another country's PM or government member will call these silly fellows to their responsibility
and on a choice.
No real reason to complain nor to finger somebody else, uselessly, hypocritically and even dangerously as if others
were a real threat or foreign conquerors.
Nationalism is the usual, most foolish argument by people lacking of any political proposal and good aim.
@MEHRALSSINNVOLL.Nobody in the incoming Parliament will tolerate further german intrusions into our sovereignity.This is de facto one of the reasons why Monti is so despised:and this will work very well as argument in the electoral campaign.The UDC linked to the Vatican,a negligible party,is the only squalid exception.No tolerance by the extreme left SEL and the extreme right(LA DESTRA,not so extreme),sure not by Berlusconi(and he will count in the Parliament,it is sure),not by the PD,linked to the french "diplomacy" just to call this way their espionage.As always,you exaggerated:and you will hit the consequence also in terms of export.I add that i have some doubt:that you are SUDTIROLER.You will obey for the years incoming,Germany will be a second class partner in NATO when we shall deploy our F35.Game over for your pretenses,dear kamarad.
Come on, have the bit of dignity just to refrain, sooner or later, from these meaningless raving nonsense.
All of that means just nothing as well as these are just arguments to people who understand little about politics, elderly people who still live their own past memory, illiterate or ill-informed citizens who see nationalism as their own culture and a compensation on their own frustration.
In few words, that is just meaningless argument, furthermore it is a mean and shameful attempt to cover somebody's responsibility and fault, fingering to others, in an undignifying way, the cause of anything wrong.
As usual of you.
Germany already controls Italy. That is the problem for both Germany and Italy because Germany does not want Italy. Italy borrowed the money and until this is repaid, there is no sovereignty.
This is the nature of debt. It has always been this way. So just pay back the debts and everyone is better off.
Excellent comment.
Why don't you try doing some research before you publish more of your errors?
Italians are the largest foreign holders of German sovereign debt - over €200 billion. We are the ones financing Germany, nitwit.
yankee doodle where do you get your facts? You are not really getting any point right.
I am a convinced centreright voter,but i do not think that Vendola is a man capable of what the dynosaures of the PD ex PCI are doing since their birth:the illegal occupation of the institutions,the poisoning of the culture using publishing companies and literary prizes to blackmail the Authors,the invasion of the Universities transformed(especially the Literature and Phylosophy departments)into the cornerstones of their propaganda and of the lies of their weltanschaung,the intrusion of their "professors" into the high schools transformed into local offices and cellule to plagiarize the young generations with their insane ideology,the poisoning of science,especially Psychiatry,the poisoning of the magistrature turned into a tool aimed at killing the centreright,the use of junk press to trigger defamation campaigns and overthrow the legality,the use of actors,comedians,or simply of pure idiots to ridiculize the adversaries,the close links with enemy spy organizations to sell Italy to criminals aiming at the destruction of our sovereignity.Vendola is not a man holding power,so he is not a danger.Only a dreamer,with some right dreams in his luggage(sorry to tell it,but he is absolutely righy im my opinion when he affirms that we need the contrarty of what Monti did).He will be dropped by the PD after the incominmg elections,and Bersani will find an accord with the squalid band of those who backs Monti(Fini,Casini),or directly with Berlusconi.Wait and see:the Pd wants one thing only:POWER,more POWER,POWER again.
Poor Eurozone!
The leader in this - Jan 5th 2013 - print edition sees similarities between the fiscal mismanagement in Washington and the mess in the euro zone (America's European moment).
However, reading reports like this here makes clear that such comparisons are way off the mark.
We are talking about mere domestic opinion-differences on fiscal solutions in the case of America, yet about the basic durability of treaties (and thus the durability of commitments) between foreign countries in Europe.
While in the US any federal liability becomes automatically a common cause for all Americans, Republicans or Democrats, Tea Partiers or Wall Street Occupiers, in Europe it's all about the permanence of commitments among sovereign nations.
While a future Republican government has absolutely no way to weasel itself out of financial obligations created under a Democrat's government, in the current Eurozone any populist national government can do so with a stroke of a pen.
One just has to look at Italy's latest power-bid: There is Beppe Grillo's anti-euro/anti-austerity Five Star Movement, which promises to take Italy's deficit spending to new heights. On the left we have Pier Luigi Bersani, whose merchandize is 'profumare di sinistra', a false 'perfume' that helped to bring the peripheral Eurozone into trouble in the first place. And there is roly-poly Silvio Berlusconi, who -unbelievably- comes in a close third as last week's polls show. This deposed tumbler has vowed to re-stand for election on an anti-German/anti-euro platform, threatening his euro-peers with the elimination of Italy's liabilities already gathered in the vaults of the ECB.
But this is not all! There are Belgium's and Spain's drifting-apart regions (who will assume the liabilities of the former wholeness after?); or take Greece, where each election is a nail-biting event of plucking-off the petals, "he loves me, he loves me not" . . . Greece's liabilities toward its Eurozone partners at the mercy of the final buttercup petal? !
. . . And there is the German taxpayer who is expected to put his credit-card on the table for these sad buffooneries . . . He must be stunned in 'shock and awe'!
It was not the "perfume of the left" that brought Italy and EU to near collapse, but the right wing Berlusconi & Northern League coalition. Budget balance is now a constitutional tenet which is binding for anyone (left wing or right wing or whatever wing) who wishes to govern the country. What Mr Bersani and his Democratic Party say is not let's be profligate but that EU/EMU has entirely forgotten one of the basic pillars of the European construction: society. Fiscal discipline is good but if by that you kill the economy and provoke social unrest (e.g. Greece) it is meaningless. As to German credit card: Germany's economy too is dangerously slowing down. Could it be that too much fiscal discipline (like too much love) will kill you?
Lav - you are very intelligent but too ideological - and you have had bad personal experiences in Italy (decades ago) that blind you to reality.
1) Grillo reads numbers better than 95% of Italians. He is not anti-Austerity. He is saying that THESE taxes have driven 16,000 factories out of business last year and cannot be maintained for very long. He has also defined the loss of this productive capacity as a "crime against humanity". Despite the slight exaggeration, it is one that appeals to many in Italy, especially the Confederation of Industry. Grillo, who comes from Genoa, a traditionally pro-English bastion, simply believes that the united currency is not worth losing our family-run factories over.
That is not my opinion, but it is worthy of debate. And no, his 5-star movement absolutely does NOT promise to boost spending.
2) You apparently understand very little about Bersani. There is nothing "false" about him. He effected the greatest amount of libersalisations before Monti - no, check that: given that half of Monti's reforms are still subject to parliamentary approval, Bersani probably liberalised more than Monti in the end. He is the best choice for Prime Minister on the basis of his record and that of the governments he served under - governments that privatised, liberalised and consolidated (albeit slowly) and reduced our deficits/debt.
3) Silvio's third place means nothing - he is under 20% as opposed to the 37% he took in 2008. His popularity has dropped in half - but of course cannot and will not disappear entirely given that:
a) he still owns or runs behind the scenes most of Italian TV
b) in 20 years of political participation he has built up a network of power that is not going to disappear overnight - especially since his henchmen now fear "persecution" from an angry mob of Italians.
In the 1990's, it was common for (hundreds of thousands of) Left-wing demonstrators to chant
Bossi e Fini
la fine
di Mus-so-lini."
(You will all end up like Mussolini)
The anti-German, anti-Euro platform, BTW, is not an invention of Silvio's. It represents a solid majority of Italian voters at the moment, who are furious with Merkel's stupidity and duplicity.
The epicentre of the Euro-crisis is neither Greece nor Italy. It is Deutsche Bank and its illegal machinations.
Also, your deep, Christian concern for the poor, underprivileged German taxpayer is touching. I too often lay awake at nights, thinking about how much these people are suffering. Yes, I know there are problems in Syria also, but that famously persecuted European minority, the German taxpayer, is so much closer to home...
@ Milovan:
"The epicentre of the Euro-crisis is neither Greece nor Italy. It is Deutsche Bank and its illegal machinations."
Before you diagnose your counterparts with "schizophrenia", I suggest you have yourself checked for halucinations!
Joe: "Grillo is not anti-Austerity. He is saying that THESE taxes have driven 16,000 factories out of business last year and cannot be maintained for very long . . . simply believes that the united currency is not worth losing our family-run factories over".
This is Grillo's (and the Italian businesses') right. But any German would be stupid to commit funds to someone who "simply believes that the united currency is not worth it". Why then, please tell us, should the German taxpayer think that Italy's economy is worth this 'united currency' and willingly hand over more of it to such Italian politicians?
Joe: "You apparently understand very little about Bersani".
Bersani used to be a fierce communist. However, now he eats crow, vowing toward Eurozone partners to continue Mario Monti's reform agenda when he becomes elected head of government, even suggesting that he would offer Monti a job. Why, then, should Germans prefer him over Monti?
Fact is, when Bersani held office as Minister of Industry and Commerce in the cabinets of Prodi, D'Alema and Amato, he did nothing to battle Italy's powerful unions or to correct Italy's economy-stifling labor laws (which inhibit any growth).
He also didn't challenge the entitlements of Italy's public servants and politicians, a rotten system where even a one-term Member of Parliament can cash in to the tune of 39,000 euros per annum for the rest of their life.
Throw in the handsome salaries of the "la dirigenza", free public transport and 'attendance allowances' and you've got the reason Italian lawmakers and senior civil servants have their hooks into the electorate for some 11 billion euros a year. No wonder tax avoidance was a national sport under Bersani's ministry. Again: Why should businesses (or Germans) trust Bersani more than Monti?
Joe: "Silvio's third place means nothing".
Berlusconi coming in third place at least means that a huge number of the Italian voters think nothing of it when 'Il nostro Silvio' launches anti-German attacks and fires one anti-euro salvo after another.
This is alright . . . for Italy. It's Italy's fate after all.
But please tell me one single reason why intelligent German voters should have any desire to share their financial fate with such buffoons?
I just wish to point out that news picturing Germany as the eurozone tyrant bullying other countries is of course false information. That is continuously being pursued, in Italy, on Berlusconi's interest. I don't mean he may be the one responsible individual for such a mystification. However that comes to his own advantage as well as he is indeed fomenting upon this false problem. His criminal skill about misinformation and brainwashing is worldwide known.
That is a false problem he is going to make seem true and threatening.
Threat, problems, danger, all of that is different matter:
that's him!
Apparently, after 3 years of crisis it still wholly escapes your attention that there IS NO AID GOING FROM GERMANY TO ITALY and instead IT IS ITALIAN TAXPAYER MONEY WHICH HAS GONE TO BAIL OUT GERMAN BANKS!
The rest of your points belie an amazing ignorance and misconception regarding Italy. Every one of your points is mistaken.
Nobody pays any attention to Silvio's anti-German attacks. He is merely voicing what everybody thinks - and less intelligently than others.
Every other sentence is your post is wrong. And I am tired of pointing this out to you.
I would encourage you to get a bit more informed regarding Deutsche Bank's activities in recent years before you go defending them.
Also, please spare me ideological Italian rubbish. Just because Silvio says it does NOT make it untrue, either.
Hi Josh!
Let's see:
1) Deutsche Bank's involvement in LIBOR manipulation.
2) Deutsche Bank as the number one bank involved in marketing American toxic mortgage-backed securities around the world (more than any other American bank!)
3) Deutsche Bank as one of the biggest lenders to Greece, a country without a Land Registry.
4) Deutsche Bank dumped 85% of its holdings of Italian and Spanish bonds just over a year ago, in just over a few months, thus sparking speculative pressures.
Our banks could do that to Germany as well, if we were to dump our over €200 billion holdings in German bunds.
5) Three former DB employees are now blowing the whistle on the bank, insisting they were ordered by Deutsche Bank to hide 12 billion euros of losses in recent years.
6) Deutsche Bank officials have been the principal advisors (i.e. "dispensers of bad or nationalistic advice") to Frau Merkel during the crisis. (Being an ex-Ossie, she is not exactly an expert on the capitalist banking system, is she?)
Just which of the above points does not qualify Deutsche Bank for being at the epicentre of the Euro-crisis? Let's not forget that we are not talking about some worthless German Landesbank - Deutsche Bank has grown in only 30 years' time from a strictly national bank to the world's largest.
They have grown too fast - and dishonestly.
You refuse to admit that the over-rapid growth of Deutsche Bank represents exactly the same exaggerated opinion of self-importance that Spanish and Irish real estate bankers were guilty of.
One needs to conclude from your mostly correct remarks that the euro project is not working and needs to be stopped immedialtely. Otherwise the Germans will pay until we all go down together financing "il dolce far niente".
Did you manage to find info about Italy's public debt and its dynamic for the past 50 years?
It's so comfortable to shout opinions with no solid basis, isn't it?
Facts and numbers are not your strong suit, are they? Were you let go from your Dutch financial institution after your time in Italy?
Your numbers cited in another blog are wholly incorrect.
Greek debt-to-gdp at the end of 2012 is estimated to be around 160%. Italy's debt ratio would be around 123% - but we have to see what was the final amount of money lent to Spain, Portugal, Ireland and Greece through the bailout funds. These monies will not be added to our deficit but will be added (temporarily) to our debt load.
Yep, you're a genious. I was an expatriate doorman, my core responsability being carrying the suits of italian bosses. Therefore my job requirement was limited to being able to count to 5. I am so happy Italy has really higly educated people like you who throughly understand economy...LOL. I also do not posses your wikipedia-copy-pasting abilities.
You got me!
Watch out, Europeans, Italy is a junkie! A junkie which can't live without the extra dose of cash. Junkies will do anything to get their hands on money to support their habit. Getting into debt and fraud, stealing from parents, other family members and (former) friends. When the latter refuse to cough up more money, they are hated and slandered (this phase currently seen in Italy toward Germany already). Ripping people off, stealing anything they can get there hands on is the next stage !!!! Oh, and then there is prostitution, standing on the global street corner selling pussy . . . as Italy did so many times in history.
Watch out, Europeans!
The Germans don't need money from another country to 'bail out' their own banks - least of all from insolvent peripheral EZ members. If this would be the case, then German banks would be -naturally- the first trying to hide under the banking union scheme as planned and pushed for by Italian, French and Spanish governments.
Rather the opposite is true: German banks are not the least interested in joining a banking Union with Italy (or France or Spain) because any guarantee would be pretty much float only one way - from German banks to Italian banks. All German banks are already covered by their own highly efficient bailout fund, the "SoFFin Fund".
The debt write-down of Greece's sovereign debt in April 2012 has brought a loss upon the SoFFin Fund (and thus the German taxpayer) of 13.1 billion euros. This was announced by the authority of the Federal Fund for Financial Market Stabilization (FMSA) in April 2012. Not one single Eurocent was contributed by Italian taxpayers or by taxpayers of any other Euro country. No foreign country ploughed money to German banks for rescue or recapitalization; only the German taxpayer did. Fact is, since its inception in 2009 the Soffin Fund has accumulated a total write-down of 22.1 billion euros. As of Jan 2013, the SoFFin Fund may still grant guarantees of up to 400bn euros and recapitalize or purchase assets for an additional 80bn euros.
The SoFFin fund is able to grant recapitalization to banks in need. The aim of recapitalization is to give banks the necessary capital to operate smoothly, without the pressure of unsustainable leveraging. The SoFFin Fund operates by obtaining remuneration at market prices for deposited capital. For assets contributed by silent partners, the remuneration is generally between 9% and 10% p.a.. SoFFin was also able to recapitalize by purchasing a bank's new shares or acquiring silent participation.
SoFFin has been authorized by the Bundesbank to maintain its previously acquired capital participations beyond 2013, sell capital participations if necessary and augment them in order to protect them against dilution. As a Bundesbank's rule, purchased shares, silent participations and other rights are to be sold in such a manner as to disrupt market prices as little as possible.
This system functions so well that SoFFin today is still stocked with more than 400 billion Euros.
This is why no money is needed by German institutions from bankrupt Italy or other peripherals, Joe!
Deutsche Bank is not the National Bank of Germany. It is an internationally owned and operated bank. For its deeds, if there is misconduct, the bank's CEO and the board are responsible, not the German people.
If the bank asks for public money, which it never did, only then the financial supervision would make an appearance. If there are statutory offenses, criminal investigations must be conducted in that country where this took place. As long as this isn't the case, all your speculation about Deutsche Bank is 'getting off the track'.
It appears rather prejudiced 'anti-German', conveniently misused here by you, simply because the Bank uses accidentally the appellation 'Deutsche' in its name, suggesting a 'public status', while in reality the bank has absolutely nothing to do with either the German government nor with the German taxpayer.
The largest bank in the world is hardly just a private "internationally owned and operated bank". (Ha ha!) Its executives have been Merkel's primary advisors during the Euro-crisis.
The bank has most probably hidden 12 billion in losses from public view (THREE former employees are blowing the whistle??!!) This in addition to LIBOR manipulation and conviction in the US for its illegal activities dealing toxic securities in the US and around the world?
Criminal investigations are being conducted - finally. You are aware that the German police raided the offices of their headquarters TWICE in December, right? This is another reason why the speculative pressures against Spain and Italy have cooled off.
The millions paid by Deutsche Bank to the US government in damages are not "speculation" La.vyrity. Nice of you to call it that. Germany, German companies and German banks can do no wrong for you, eh?
Every other bank in Germany DID ask for public money - over €400 billion in lent capital and state guarantees. Deutsche Bank did not because it was conducting illegal operations to doctor its results. Please note that not one Italian bank has been accused of such operations over the last five years.
And, until the German people defend this criminal bank which has perpetrated immense damage inside and outside of Europe, yes they are responsible. Certainly the Bundesbank is the first responsible institution - and I notice they reject any criticism just like every other German institution.
Deutsche Bank is as 'German' as the Internet, since it has subsidiaries around the globe.
If German authorities squeeze to hard on national level, the institution could easily neglect its German roots and expand anywhere where it pleases.
This exactly is the reason what prompted key members of the supervisory board to opt for the dual CEO model now. International investment banking and the global risk-taking activities are headed by a Indian national, Anshu Jain. Head of the conservative German business is a German national, Juergen Fitschen. Starting in 2012 they replaced Swiss national Josef Ackermann as co-CEOs.
Deutsche Bank has actually two headquarters, one in New York and another in the DB Twin Towers in Frankfurt, Hesse. DB is also listed on both countries' stock exchanges, at FWB Frankfurt and in New York at NYSE.
Deutsche Bank AG, which literally means "German Bank", is a true global banking and financial services company without commitment to any specific country. The bank employs globally more than 100,000 people in over 70 countries, and has a large presence in Europe, the Americas, Asia-Pacific and the emerging markets.
In 2009, Deutsche Bank was the largest foreign exchange dealer in the world with a market share of 21 percent. Deutsche Bank has main offices in all major financial centers of the world including London, Madrid, Frankfurt, New York, Paris, Moscow, Amsterdam, Warsaw, Istanbul, Dublin, George Town, Cayman Islands, Toronto, Kuala Lumpur, São Paulo, Singapore, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Sydney, Dubai, Riyadh, Manila, Mumbai, Bangkok and Belgrade.
The bank offers financial products and services for its global corporate and institutional clients along with private and business clients. Its services include sales, trading, research and origination of debt and equity; mergers and acquisitions; risk management products, such as derivatives, corporate finance, wealth management, retail banking, fund management, and transaction banking. Still, different from Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley, derivative deals represent only a small fraction of the total balance sheet of 'Deutsche' US operations. In Europe, Deutsche Bank is not involved in the derivative business, since European regulation include the ban of naked sovereign CDSs.
I fully agree with you that such financial giant should be controlled, together with Goldman Sachs and the likes, by a - yet to constitute - global financial supervising authority, maybe by the World Bank.
The operations of institutions like Deutsche are globally far too extensive in order to be supervised merely by a limited national supervisory board.
@ Milovan:
Nice piece of work.
I'm sure I'd be able to argue that any given Italian financial institution was the epicenter of all that's wrong on planet earth if I really put my mind to it and had a bottle of good wine to go with it (as you apparently had LOL).
What's less than convincing, though, is that you keep blaming the LIBOR scandal solely on one of its alleged participants, Deutsche Bank, when the alleged crimes were by definition (!) only feasible because most large banks CONSPIRED with one another.
On a side-note, none of my various patriotisms covers banks, who in my own painful experience are great at taking my money and not so great at giving me theirs. I'm not a fan.
"Before you diagnose your counterparts with "schizophrenia", I suggest you have yourself checked for halucinations!"
"Deutsche Bank Made Huge Bet, and Profit, on LIBOR"
How many billions has Deutsche Bank earned by manipulating LIBOR?
A conspiracy that included no Italian banks - hence, if we were Italo-centric, we might say a conspiracy aimed directly at Italian banks. ;-)
Btw, the Italian Treasury placed 8.5 billion euros of 12-month bills at 0.86% this morning - the lowest yields since before the Greek crisis and the Euro-crisis:
We sold 6-month bills at 0.9% last month - and now 1-year maturities. Anyone for 2-year maturities next month at these rates?
@ MilovanDjilas:
"A conspiracy that included no Italian banks - hence, if we were Italo-centric, we might say a conspiracy aimed directly at Italian banks."
LIBOR involved "MAJOR" (Wikipedia) banks in London. There is no Italian bank that has a major presence in the City.
It's the same reason why Italian banks had only small exposure to Greece: they hardly have a foreign presence anymore.
I just saw this ridiculous lie now.
Unicredit is the third-largest bank in Germany, nitwit. And the largest bank in Austria. Second-largest in Poland.
Italian banks are a major presence around Central Europe. They are not a major presence in London and New York - our bankers have not agreed with corrupt Anglo-Saxon banking practises for decades.
@ Milovan:
Don't you think it's a bit disingenuous to accuse me of a "ridiculous lie" – only to then confirm everything I say?
1) YES, Italian banks are no major players in London any more – and that is why they weren't involved in LIBOR (and NOT because they are less corrupt than banks in other countries, as you keep telling us ad nauseam). Which was my point.
2) And YES again, besides Unicredit's Central and Eastern branches, Italian banks don't have much of an international presence anymore. (You exaggerate Unicredit's role, btw, but that's a minor point which I already corrected earlier - see my post history.)
Anything is way better than Berlusconi back in power. He, like Bush Jr, are their respective nation's worst nemesis. The radical Left pales in comparison..
There are plenty of municipalities whose city councils are run by Democratic Party led majorities. Milan is governed by a SEL politician. Apulia has been governed by Mr Vendola for many years and has recently been re-elected. Again there is plenty of evidence to conclude that leftist coalitions have been faring well. If you compare what these local governments have ben doing for their citizens with what right wing coalitions and politicians have done at national level or in Lombardy or in Lazio (blatant and even arrogant bribery or corruption or embezzment) then you can see that all worries about leftist run governments are groundless. In many comments on this blog I have only read insults and ill-preconceived statements on left wing parties. Again if e are to seriously speak about anything (in this case Italian politics) we've got to stick to facts. There is plenty of evidence that leftist coalitions have been doing well in many parts of the country and governed well at national level. There is plenty of evidence that right wing parties have destroyed Italy's credibility after bringing the country to a near collapse and that their politicians very often indulge in corruption. All the fables on communism are just cheap talk that prevents people from seeing what reality is like in Italy nowadays.
Laughable the author of this article calling SEL "the radical left".
What I can't always work out about right-of-centre commentators when they call centre-left parties like SEL 'radical' or 'communist' is whether they're paranoid - in McCarthy fashion - that the likes of Vendola will somehow lead Italy to revolution; or whether they know very well that Vendola is no more a radical left-winger than Monti is a radical right-winger imposing neoliberal dogma and the wishes of Goldman Sachs etc. on the country but are scaring the electorate about 'communist opponents', especially effective in a country with a particular fear of Communism, which Berlusconi exploited so successfully to win so many elections.
Most of the time, it seems to be the latter.
There are some simpletons who think Communism is dead and therefore there is no danger at all and we can give a damn what Communists do. That's a fatal error. It may be true that the beast is dead but the poison is still here. The opposition in Italy is composed by the old Commies led by Mr Bersani a former Communist since he was boy and by a gay, a certain Vendola, even much more fanatic Communist than Bersani. In Italy the former Communists, after the fall of the Berlin wall had the brain-child to change the original disreputable name of PCI (Partito Comunista Italiano) into PDS (Partito Democratico di Sinistra), then DS (Democratici di Sinistra) till lately PD (Partito Democratico) in order to camouflage themselves as many animals mimic their surroundings - in orfer to get "socially acceptable", that is to be more presentable, fitter to be seen, but since you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear... this Mickey Mouse operation in order to pull the wool over people's eyes, didn't come out well. It didn't work at all. The left, the whole left in Italy is not social-democratic as they pretend to be, but absolutely Communist of the old school.Don't trust them, by no means! If you know them, you dodge them.
Why is Vendola's sexuality at all relevant here?
Even the article - which is, typically of The Economist, anti-communist - acknowledges that the Italian Communist Party was Western Europe's 'most moderate'. Indeed, its leader Enrico Berlinguer gave speeches to Honecker, Brezhnev etc. stressing the importance of democracy - it was far from the bunch of Stalinist apologists you make out.
Almost all of Europe's main centre-left parties have some members with backgrounds in Eurocommunist parties just as most centre-right parties have MPs with a background in neo-fascist parties. It's interesting how you fail to mention the past (or indeed the present politics) of lots of PdL MPs, and MSI members who also served in Berlusconi governments, such as Mussolini's own granddaughter.
Shame on you Mr. Zaki Dogliani, there's no need to share "facts" since we can still make it all entertaining enough with unfounded-"opinions".
YOu got that right. Paranoia rules the right..
Zaki Dogliani: "Almost all of Europe's main centre-left parties have some members with backgrounds in Eurocommunist parties just as most centre-right parties have MPs with a background in neo-fascist parties".
Communists and Fascists determining the mainstream parties in Europe? - "Poor Europe", is all I can say ... if this were true.
However, fact is that this is an Italian 'specialty'. I can't see this being the case in any other major European society.
It's rather an expressions of social ill-health; a symptom for a nation's lack of balance, moderation, foresight, wisdom, restraint, planning, preservation and sustainability.
Diagnosis: Malattia di Italia
Lav, don't judge us by other European standards - it is misleading.
With the Church's minions occuping the "Centre" anybody who disagreed with the cardinals was pushed out towards "the extremes" of Left and Right. It is an illusion. The Church's politicians are all more extreme, either on the Left or the Right.
We say in Italy "fascist" or "neo-fascist" - but none of our "Extreme Right" politicians favour nuclear weapons for Italy, as in France, the UK and the US - so how "Right-wing" are they?
We say in Italy "communist" but none of our "Far Left" politicians call for the nationalisation of banks, as Mitterand did in France - so how "Far Left" are they?
Yes, there is a malattia in Italy - but it exploded with Silvio.
Imagine - my fellow citizens on the Left were so opposed to Gianfranco Fini, the ex-Secretary of the neo-Fascists, for 20 years, while Berlusconi was officially considered a Centrist. But Fini was/is an honest democrat who never threatened our Republic - while Berlusconi routinely trampled the laws, re-wrote many of them for his own pesonal gain, dominated the mass media and the economy, and was generally a walking Conflict of Interests.
We are exiting that period now - things are about to get much better and more normal.
The election of 2013 simply goes to prove that Italy is a land where the lowest down common man can become prime minister: Bersani perhaps!
Could you tell me where Fini, who 1994 still was the Chieftain of Italian Fascists,would be now if in the year 1994 Berlusconi hadn't paid duty on him? The same question could be of use for Casini the former Forlani's flunkey.
Thw Communist Enrico Berlinguer was one of the most miserable, despicable guy the leftists had in Italy
The interesting aspect of these elections is the alliances which will be formed and the ones which will break-up
The most likely to split is the Monti-Fini-casini one
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Happy 99th Birthday BCJ!
Happy 99th Birthday BCJ!
¡Que la fuerza te acompañe!
One more year to go for the big 1-0...0. Thanks for the Bel-wishes, everbuddy!
"That's what Sheev said."
Happy Birthday there Bel-Cam.
Are you getting resculpted?
BAD Pts Need: R5-C7 lf leg (x2), , R4-P44 right leg BAD Pts Offered For Trade: PM me - I have lots of parts now including BG-J38!. New Kyle Katarn is also available.
Happy 100th Birthday
Mr. B-C-entenarian-J!
¡Que la fuerza te acompañe!
Who? Wha-? Thanks for the wishes, young man.
I never thought I'd make it this far; but I don't feel a day over 40. Well, maybe today I do.
"That's what Sheev said."
Happy post-you-day, sir! Life begins at 40, I'm told, in which case I'm negative three and half weeks old. Had we known of your birthday on Saturday, we could have added to the evening's merriment.
Hey just finding no purchase-worthy SW figures out there was gift enough. You know, I am ALWAYS finding EVERY figure I want, so it's nice to get something rare and special, like none.
Wait; this isn't the "Blatant Lies" thread?
"That's what Sheev said."
Happy Birthday Bel-Cam.
Chuxter, I really have found every figure I want because I don't want any of these figures
Remember when the three of us wrote: The Resculpt Strikes Back etc?
Those were the good 'ol days. Right Bel-Cam?
Glad to see the three of us are still around since like 1996-7! I am sure by 1999 we were writing The Resculpt Menace.
Anyone able to dig up those old threads?
I forget how they went except I remember this:
Nute Gunray: "Your Highness. Again you are resculpted before us..."
And it went on like that.
Qui-Gon: "Anakin, No one wants me to resculpt you. But I want you to watch how many times I'm reissued. Always remember, your peg warming ability is the best way you can help Hasbro ruin everyone's favorite hobby."
Anakin: Qui-Gon sir. I don't mean for my figure to suck so bad."
Qui-Gon: "Don't worry Ani. It won't They still have JarJar they can resculpt."
BAD Pts Need: R5-C7 lf leg (x2), , R4-P44 right leg BAD Pts Offered For Trade: PM me - I have lots of parts now including BG-J38!. New Kyle Katarn is also available.


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We offer discount to nonprofits, government agencies, and federal contractors
The AILA Career Center offers more than access to the best possible industry candidates.
AILA Doc No. 99072858 | Dated July 28, 1999
For Immediate Release
Wednesday, July 28, 1999
Public Affairs Manager
Office: 202-216-2404
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congress should renew our tradition of laws, justice, fairness and family values by changing 1996 immigration laws, according to Jeanne Butterfield, Executive Director of the American Immigration Lawyers Association.
Butterfield joined with representatives of the U.S. Catholic Conference, the American Bar Association, the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, the Anti-Defamation League, and many other participating organizations, at a July 28 press conference advocating major reform of 1996 immigration laws.
"These laws violate fundamental American principles. They deny people their day in court; deny people a second chance; change the rules in mid-game; tear families apart; and hit the wrong targets," Butterfield said. "People are being deported with no appeal because courts cannot review INS decisions. Americans believe in second chances and redemption, but IIRAIRA deports people who since have led exemplary lives due to long-ago minor offenses and youthful indiscretions. Because the laws are retroactive, people are being deported for offenses that weren't even grounds for deportation before 1996. These immigrants already have paid their debts to society, but are being deported anyway."
Butterfield noted that many have been in the U.S. since they were children, are married and their children and spouses are U.S. citizens. When these people are deported, family members face the heartbreak decision of leaving the U.S., their country of birth, or remaining here, often without a breadwinner, and being forced to go on welfare.
"The law was supposed to keep dangerous criminals from entering and remaining in the United States. Instead, Congress went too far and now requires the INS to deport any non-citizen who has ever made a mistake, no matter how minor that mistake may be and no matter how long ago it was committed, and no matter what contributions they have made since," Butterfield commented. "These draconian provisions fly in the face of America's tradition as a nation of immigrants that values due process and fairness. That's why we're calling on Congress to drastically amend the 1996 immigration laws."
Cite as AILA Doc. No. 99072858.
American Immigration Lawyers Association
1331 G Street NW, Suite 300
Washington, DC 20005
Copyright © 1993-2015
American Immigration Lawyers Association.


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Past Events
Wanderlust Festival Cockatoo Island
February 20 - 22, 2015
Cockatoo Island, Sydney, NSW, AU
Wanderlust Festival Great Lake Taupo
January 29 - February 1, 2015
Great Lake, Taupo, NZ
Wanderlust Festivals are all-out celebrations of mindful living. We bring together exceptional yoga and meditation instructors, musicians, speakers, artists, and chefs for transformational retreats in the world's most awe-inspiring natural resorts.
Wanderlust 108 is a triathlon unlike any you've ever known. This "mindful triathlon" combines a 5k run, an outdoor yoga experience, and a guided meditation in your local park.


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Maqui Berry Review
Maqui Berry: What benefits does it have?
Maqui Berry supplement is the latest discovery in medicine which will ensure that whoever will take it will have his or her health improved dramatically. This fruit was actually discovered in the rainforests of S. America and not only are these places some of the least explored places on earth, but they are also known as the "lungs of the earth". It's in these places that this miraculous fruit was first discovered and then became known internationally.
So what is the Maqui supplement?
The fruit comes from the Patagonia rainforests and for those who don't know, Patagonia is one of the least polluted places on the planet. Even if to us the berry was introduced not so long ago, the locals knew about it for many years already and have used the berry, its leaves and stems in order to cure various ailments. The fruit seems to also have a massive amount of antioxidants which can easily fight against the free radicals in the human body responsible for damaging tissue and other important body cells.
Learning more about the Maqui Berry: What are antioxidants?
When you consume oxygen you will after that produce free radicals. They are the chemical responsible for harming healthy cells and accelerating the aging process. To understand this better, you should think about what happens when you will slice an apple in half. If you leave it like that and you don't cover it, the apple will turn brown. It's because of the oxidation process. Yet if you will dip the slice of apple in lemon juice, the browning process will be slowed down. This is because of the antioxidants which interfere in the process and slow it down.
There are many fruits out there that are known to have antioxidant properties and some of them are blueberries, grapes, kiwis and so on. Yet even though they are useful for the human body's healthy functioning, they have been eclipsed by other more antioxidant rich fruits like the acai berry, goji and mangosteens. Compared to the acai berry, the Maqui Berry has almost double the amount of antioxidants and due to that it has been called the "super berry" of the year!
What are the benefits?
- Boosts your immune system
- It improves your cardiovascular function
- Improves skin clarity
- Restored rejuvenation
- Makes you look younger
- Increases your energy levels
- Helps you with losing weight
By taking this berry you will easily be able to increase your body's metabolism which will eventually help you lose fat and stay in shape. If you will decide to also couple this with some physical exercise (light exercises), then your weight loss goals will be achieved even fatter. The aging process is going to be slowed down dramatically because the free radicals will be neutralized and on top of that your entire cardiovascular system's health is going to be improved.
Our body has the power and duty of turning the food you eat into fuels which will be used as the body operates and there is a plethora of foods that are required in order to have all the nutrients it burns replenished. If you are someone who is working behind a desk for eight hours a day and you are not doing anything else rather than typing on a computer and when feeling hungry, having fast food, then you are actually not eating many useful nutrients for your body. When you'll start eating this berry your body will be kept in top shape and the aging effects will be slowed down. As a result, your body will function at peak efficiency, an overall feeling of wellbeing, better health and more energy.
We as humans evolved on this planet and all the nutrients we need in order to function correctly can be found in nature. The problem is that the majority of diets don't include them. The many studies that have been performed in the last years, show that fruits like the Maqui Berry do a good job in replenishing the vitamins our body needs in order to function properly. The fact is that you cannot really find blueberries in stores most of the times and how often would you want to eat blueberries?
The supplement is the best choice
As a result that is why the mangosteen, goji and acai berries have been so popular in the last years. The Maqui has double the amount of antioxidants found in acai and ten times the amount of blueberries you would have to eat in just a single capsule. After you will weigh the cost you'll realize that you are actually getting ten times the benefits for around the same cost. Given that, you'll find it easy to understand just why this berry has been called the super berry of the year.
Weight loss
This berry will act as an appetite suppressant so if you are someone who is constantly hungry and you feel like eating, taking this supplement will make it better for you. You will still feel hungry though, but only when your body will actually need food. You will also need to be very careful with the foods you are eating and if you are a junk food lover, then you should stop eating this food as soon as possible. Switching to something more natural and nutritious will definitely help you even more with your weight loss goals. By gaining control over your eating habits you will successfully change your diet and paired by some light exercise, your body will start looking slimmer and better.
In terms of price the Maqui supplements will range from thirty nine dollars for the juice and go up to ninety dollars for a thirty days supply of berry powder in the form of a capsule. You can also order a risk free trial if you want and see if the benefits you are expecting from the berry capsules will actually be the benefits you'll get. Good luck with whatever you decide to use the Maqui Berry for!
Top-rated online Canadian pharmacy, NorthWestPharmacy.com


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DNN provides a suite of solutions for creating rich, rewarding online experiences for customers, partners and employees. DNN products and technology are the foundation for 750,000+ websites worldwide. In addition to our commercial CMS and social community solutions, DNN is the steward of the DotNetNuke Open Source Project.


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We've been in the industry for over 10 years, so we know our products and more importantly, the right identification products for your business or school. We'll help you find professional and simple solutions to your needs.
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We bought the lanyards.
By AJ
from Olive Branch, MS
Best Uses
Comments about idville Premium 3/4" Woven Nylon:
The stap is much nicer that the last order. We would love to have an oring that detached with our next order.
Great Product!
By Jen
from Bryan, TX
We have used these lanyards for several years now and we keep coming back!
Professional Appearance
By Cherbert
from Idaho
The lanyards are attractive and the badgeholders are heavy enough to hold-up well
Premium Custom Lanyards - 3/4 Inch Woven
By WW, Kahuku Red Raider for life!
from Kahuku, Hawaii
This lanyard we use for Teen safety projects,such as our BTW: Don't mix texting and driving. We use it for: lunch time, class presentations, asking for pledges at school or at the shopping center. The intermediates students will always wear theirs the whole campaign week! The student advocate wears it when promoting the message. We use words that attract teens. The students are always willing to participate in our activities when they can wear the lanyard!


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Federal Defender Ray Kent
Sean Tilton
Jasna Tosic
Beth Lacosse
Panel Attorneys
Investigators Elias Ortiz Carlos Clay Dale Akerley
Erica Nelson Julie Flowers
Julia Weir
Legal Assistants Monica Sisson
Sonja Cubillo
Administrative Staff Melissa Rabidoux Chad Edwards
Lynn Holck
Karen Jennings
There are 49 Criminal Justice Act Panel Attorneys in the Western District of Michigan. Attorneys are selected for membership by the Court's Criminal Law Committee and the Federal Public Defender. Upon receiving an order from the Court, the Panel Administrator within the Federal Public Defender's Office assigns counsel. The services provided by CJA Panel Attorneys are equivalent to those rendered if counsel were privately retained by the client.
CJA Login Page


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CCH, a Wolters Kluwer business — ProSystem fx Planning
ProSystem fx Planning provides comprehensive scenario-based income tax planning features in a system that can be used as a stand-alone program or as an integrated part of the ProSystem fx Suite of professional tax and accounting products. The program includes support for all tax treatments, including regular, AMT and capital gains, with extensive limitation and carry-forward calculations. It can be used for all states, but comes with pre-configured books with state tax rates, deductions, exemptions and credits for 27 states.
Basic System Functions
Initial setup functions are simple, with basic information forms providing for entry of taxpayer demographic data and the ability to transfer client information, including proforma tax data, from ProSystem fx Tax or the GainsKeeper Pro portfolio basis tracking tool. The program offers basic client selection lists based on the Explorer folder structure, with limited sorting or filtering capabilities. Overall, the main interface provides intuitive navigation, with pull-down menus across the top for accessing view options, state and federal input grids, worksheets, system tools and window preferences. An additional customizable icon-based toolbar also offers direct access to specific utilities, such as import functions, notes, viewing supporting worksheets, a calculator and the AutoFlow feature.
Data entry is available in spreadsheet mode with data flowing to applicable worksheets and the ability to quickly view those worksheets on-screen. The spreadsheet views display all years of a plan side-by-side. Expandable boxes are also available on many of the input grids, allowing drilldown access to more specific data input. Calculations are performed as data is entered, allowing users to quickly test hypothetical data and see the results on projected state and federal tax liabilities. The program supports any number of concurrent users, with features to prevent overwriting of data and options for user-level security. 4.5
Core Tax Planning Features
ProSystem fx Planning allows users to forecast up to 30 separate tax scenarios per plan, with up to four years of projections, including prior years. The system includes complete federal tax calculations, including regular, AMT and capital gains taxes, penalties for underpayment of estimated tax, lump-sum distributions, premature distributions from retirement accounts, and farm income averaging. With a plan variance feature, users can easily pinpoint differences in plans by percentages or dollar amounts.
Additionally, the system can perform complete calculations of the deductibility of tax-deferred savings contributions, phase-outs for itemized deductions, personal exemptions and AMT, and MFJ-MFS comparisons, with integrated state tax calculations that include CA, NY and generic AGI. In addition to federal, it comes with preconfigured tax rates, credits, exemptions and deductions for AL, AZ, CO, CT, GA, ID, IL, IN, KS, LA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MS, MO, NE, NJ, NM, NC, OH, OR, SC, UT and WV. A generic planning tool can be customized for use in planning for other states or local taxes. 4.75
Reporting features in ProSystem fx Planning include expanded forecasts of each scenario, with drilldown options when viewed on-screen. Additional output options include plan summaries, plan reports, input grids, estimates and estimate payment vouchers. Output is non-graphical but customer presentable, although customization options are generally limited to tailoring of columnar data. There are no provisions in the application for creating custom tax planning transmittal documents that merge the information from ProSystem fx Planning into Microsoft Office applications. No direct portal integration is offered, although reports can be output to ProSystem fx Engagement binders and to PDF and ProSystem fx Document if users have an optional end-user provided Adobe PDF printer driver. 4
ProSystem fx Planning provides direct integration with CCH's tax and engagement systems, and information can be imported from the tax system or from GainsKeeper Pro. Additional import options are not offered. CCH offers an extensive research platform that can be used independently of Planner. Data export is limited to the integration with the vendor's tax, engagement and document management systems, along with the ability to print to PDF using almost any PDF printer (not included). 4
ProSystem fx Planning supports all modern versions of Windows. Built-in assistive features include field and row-specific Help, a traditional Help index and a tutorial, plus several links to CCH's support website, which offers extensive options for product documentation, downloadable system updates, a knowledgebase, and checking firm account and order information. Live technical support is included with program pricing. 4.75
Summary & Pricing
ProSystem fx Planning is best suited to firms using CCH's tax, engagement and document management systems, although as a stand-alone system it also provides comprehensive, yet simplified and quick production of tax planning scenarios. While ProSystem fx Planning handles challenging state and federal calculations, the lack of sophisticated custom reporting tools and client-ready graphics means that many boilerplate client communications will have to be created manually using Microsoft Office. The program costs $585 for a single-user license.
2010 Overall Rating 4.5


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SEATTLE – Oct. 18, 2013 – More than 2,800 patients, survivors, family members and supporters participated in the 6th annual Seattle Brain Cancer Walk on Sept. 21, which raised more than $485,000 for medical research, clinical trials, advocacy and comprehensive care for brain cancer patients in the Pacific Northwest.
The Walk is one of the largest fundraisers of its kind, bringing the community together to celebrate and support those who have been impacted by brain cancer. Founded in 2008 by Greg Foltz, M.D., and a group of committed volunteers and families, the Walk has raised $2.9 million to fund critical research projects and to keep hope alive for the brain cancer community.
The Ben & Catherine Ivy Center for Advanced Brain Tumor Treatment (Ivy Center) at the Swedish Neuroscience Institute is committed to translating the results of its research into effective treatment options for patients. Much of the work conducted at the Ivy Center is funded through the Walk. When combined with research support from The Ben & Catherine Ivy Foundation and other gifts from the community, the Ivy Center has become one of the leading clinical and translational research centers in the country focusing on finding better treatments for brain cancer.


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The Vroom Brooms' hose is the Slinky stretch. The Canplas Slinky hose is the latest stretch hose and has many new features including longer stretch, lower weight, better airflow and low noise. The most notable upgrade is the new larger diameter for better airflow and a longer stretch ratio. Just two and a half inches of the Slinky hose can stretch over one foot, about 25% longer than the previous generation of stretch hose. Advances in the vinyl formulations that make up the skin of the hose now allow a stretch ratio of an amazing 5:1 with 9 threads per inch and lower weight than previous models.
The new Slinky stretch hose also improved the static tension for a perfect balance of recoil, extension and hanging tension. Slinky hoses store without sagging and with excellent compression and are easy to extend even with airflow pulling the hose. Gone is the "springy" feeling of previous models which increases the farther you stretch the hose. The new Slinky has a smooth feel when stretched and the tension remains constant at every length through it's range. The Slinky stretch hose also completely eliminates the whistle sounds that previous models would sometimes emit when stretched and cleaning with particular attachments.
The wall end of the hose features a quality 1.5" CVS semi-flexible vinyl hose cuff with metal band to activate the central vacuum power unit when inserted into the wall valve. The Slinky hose fits all standard wall inlets both Universal and Direct Connection styles, as well as most utility and unit mounted inlets. The tool end of the stretch hose gives you a full 360° swivel grip to prevent kinks in the hose. A thumb operated air-relief lets you decrease suction for easy expansion with airflow restrictive tools such as crevice nozzles and turbo brushes. The tool tip is a standard friction locking 1.25" diameter that fits most all cleaning tools and wands, and connects perfectly with the included RW2050B Aluminum Telescopic Wand.
The telescopic wand adjusts fully from 22 inches compressed to 39 inches at full extension in one inch increments. The ratcheting mechanism is a positive ratchet design giving a firmer lock into the desired height allowing the tool to be resized on the fly for the user. The latching system is internally sealed from the dirt control tube for perfect air-flow with no catches and the wand extension action is very smooth and easy to operate.
The D320 floor brush from Wessel-Werk offers wide path hard floor cleaning with a generous, plush natural fill bristle set that provides exceptional sweeping action . With a full 12" cleaning path the D320 can help you clean large areas quickly yet remains nimble enough for detail work around furniture. Both front and rear natural fill bristle sets are castle cut to provide optimum airflow through the nozzle and help prevent bull-dozing the debris. With both front and rear bristle sets castle cut design the nozzle cleans in both directions, adding efficiency.
The D320 hard floor brush also features outboard roller wheels on steel axels which do allow usage on textile floors, though the D320 is primarily designed for hard surfaces. The true advantage of outboard rollers is the connection with the softer natural fill bristle set that provides such good cleaning action. Many floor brushes that have no wheels use synthetic fill bristle which is very firm.
The softer natural fill uses the outboard rollers for support to keep the nozzle from bending the fill with heavy usage. Bent bristles can result in the nozzle getting buried into the floor which severely reduces the airflow and cleaning action.
The large intake orifice provides excellent airflow through the nozzle and allows you to vacuum larger soils without clogging. The soft poly housing is gentle on furniture and base boards and will not mar those surfaces or the flooring. An more firm blend of material is used in construction of the swivel connector that attaches to the vacuum wand. The connector features a full 360° swivel that allows you to steer the brush as you clean and rotate the brush in any direction needed to reach the area to be cleaned, even under low furniture or beds.
The connection system is standard 1.25" (32mm) friction fitting that connects to all domestic central vacuum wands, with or without a button lock. An outstanding addition to the popular D-SERIES hard floor brushes from Wessel-Werk, including the D360 14" wide floor brush. The D320 offers a wide intake throat, a plush natural fill bristle set and a low airflow noise design with legendary Wessel-Werk performance and quality.


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Augusta Ladies' Junior Fit Replica Pep Rally Tee. 100% polyester tricot mesh. 100% polyester dazzle fabric yoke and sleeves. Junior fit - not meant to be worn with pads. 1x1 rib-knit modified V-neck collar. Front and back yoke large enough for embellishment. Set-in sleeves with contrasting color insert. Outside locker label with size is on wearer's left side near bottom hem. Side vents. Double-needle hemmed sleeves and bottom.
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Product Description
* REPLICA PEP RALLY TEE COMES BLANK (Picture is for example only) *
- 100% polyester tricot mesh
- 100% polyester dazzle fabric yoke and sleeves
- Junior fit - not meant to be worn with pads
- 1x1 rib-knit modified V-neck collar
- Front and back yoke large enough for embellishment
- Set-in sleeves with contrasting color insert
- Outside locker label with size is on wearer's left side near bottom hem
- Side vents
- Double-needle hemmed sleeves and bottom
Garment Measurements
Size | WS | WM | WL | WXL | W2XL |
Chest Width (on half) | 17" | 18" | 19 1/2" | 21 1/4" | 23 1/4" |
Body Length * | 24 3/4" | 25 1/4" | 25 3/4" | 26 1/4" | 26 3/4" |
* For around the Chest measurement double the Chest Width (on half) measurement
Usually ships within 1 to 2 business days.
Heat Press Decoration... Allow an extra 3 to 5 business days, plus shipping time.
Tackle Twill Decoration... Allow an extra 15 business days, plus shipping time.
Screen Print Decoration... Please call 888-269-2440 for lead time.
Note: UPS DOES NOT DELIVER ON SATURDAY OR SUNDAY, regardless of shipping method selected.
For decoration details and pricing please call: 888-269-2440.
Due to color differences in monitors, the colors on this site are for reference only. Please contact Epic Sports if you have any color questions.
Would you like to view the available printing options and costs before adding this product to your cart?
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Charles River Tagless Fitness Jacket [E19745]
A4 Adult Cooling Performance Crew T-Shirts [E7699]
High 5 Odyssey Soccer/Athletic Shorts - Closeout [E89]
Best Seller Ranking
- #69 in Basketball > Apparel > Sports Fashion
Customer Reviews
T. FREE (Texas) on November 8, 2010
Great fit I would recommend orderung a size up though
G. MOORE (Florida) on March 26, 2014
Sizing is a tad bit small. Material is slightly thin, but all in all I am happy with the shirt.


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"Community colleges like NOVA, working together with nonprofit community-based organizations are demonstrating life transforming college and career advancement outcomes for laid-off and low-wage workers, while also delivering skilled and motivated new workers for employers. Together, community colleges and CBOs can systematically re-align America's workforce system to create new opportunities for workers, employers, and entire communities." - Robert G. Templin, Jr. , President, NOVA.
News & Events |
A Gateway to the American Dream
- A documentary film highlighting the unique partnership between NOVA, Year Up National Capital Region and Training Futures.
Upcoming Events
CBO Co-Enrollment Porgrams Fall Student Orientation
Saturday, August 2nd
Alexandria Campus | Cafeteria(Bisdorf Building)
10:00 AM To 2:00 PM


text: While I have no love for the power company, the EPA is out of control. They are costing us billions in fines that companies have to pass on to us and the EPA is responsible for the loss of many jobs. They are power hungry and full of themselves....like putting real bullets in Barney Fife's revolver.