Wednesday, September 26, 2007

The Government Does Not Help the Poor -- Italy

For those of you who are able to read Italian, here is an article written by a 19 yr. old friend (Pietro Serra) from Sardegna, Italy about what the government there does or does not do to help the (poor) working class.

The article appeared in Il Sardegna.

**I just want to say that in order to get a good idea of what the article talks about one has to be somewhat familiar with Italian politics, especially in Sardegna.... otherwise, the message of the artcile will not be that clear or interesting.**
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IL GOVERNO NON AIUTA GLI UMILI LAVORATORI
I poveri sempre più poveri

~Pietro Serra
Sorso

È sconcertante vedere come alla fine delle trattative con le parti sociali e i sindacati, il Governo Prodi, dei comunisti e dei figli del proletariato abbia concesso solo 33 euro di aumento per le pensioni minime. Tutto ciò è vergognoso! È chiaro che l'evidente complicità tra Governo e Sindacati, non avrebbe potuto portare niente di meglio. I pensionati sono stati illusi, traditi e umiliati. Non capisco infatti come possa sostenere questo Governo di essere attento alle classi meno abbienti e ai pensionati se poi, di fatto, attua provvedimenti pessimi come questo. Non è possibile che in uno Stato come quello italiano, che dovrebbe essere prima di tutto basato sull'etica e la morale, vi siano sprechi come quelli che vedono da una parte politici, e amministratori di aziende partecipate con stipendi da far girare la testa e dall'altra il popolo con stipendi e pensioni da fame! Sicuramente chi sta a governare non ha la più pallida idea e non ha mai pensato a cosa significhi vivere con appena 400 euro al mese. Che fine ha fatto tutta quella sensibilità, tanto proclamata in campagna elettorale, sui problemi sociali e sulle pensionati?

(Loose) TRANSLATION:

It’s alarming to see how after some negotiations with the social parties and labor unions, the Prodi government, the communists and the children of the proletariat have conceded only an increase of 33 euro to social security. All this is very shameful! It’s very clear that the evident complicity between the government and the unions could not have accomplished any better. Retired citizens have been deluded, betrayed and humiliated. I don’t understand how this government could claim to be attentive to those who are in greater need and to retired citizens if later, in deeds, takes bad measures such as this. It’s not possible that in a nation such as Italy – which should be first of all based on ethics and morals – there should be examples of waste of money such as when one sees politicians and business owners receiving a salary that would make our heads spin, yet the people do not make money or receive enough help to put food on the table! Surely those who are part of the government have not the slightest idea and do not even think about the hardships of trying to make a living with only 400 euro every month. What was the final result of all that insight that was frequently proclaimed during the electoral campaign about social problems and retired citizens?

7 comments:

Sardu88 said...

Thank you for post my article. Your blog is very nice! Good!

latinmass1983 said...

You're welcome!

I liked it very much, so I posted it... and it was very well written!

M.J. said...

Any translation of this for us non-Italophones?

latinmass1983 said...

M.J.,

I thought about it before posting it, but I am was a little busy so I had to skip the translation.

I might have time to translate it tomorrow, though. We'll see...

Spanish should you help somewhat though... ;-)

--Latinmass1983

M.J. said...

Unfotunately, I am not one of those people that find Spanish helpful. LOL. I had trouble understanding people in Rome without my vocab book. The big words are easy, it's the small everyday words that stump me. I think French and Romanian have more in common with Italian than Spanish, though.

latinmass1983 said...

According to a friend of mine, after Italian, the closest language to Latin is Romanian (that's one of the reasons for its name *Roma-*).

French... I'm not sure. I do not know French, but it would seem to be that due to the great difference in pronunciation (and intonation), French would be a little more different than Spanish... but now I am not so sure.

Unknown said...

excellent reading and a great site. more on italian saint of impossible causes
http://ritacascia.blogspot.com/