Italian Election and money

Currently, the Italian elections are at a deadlock, and the possibility of a hung parliament is very likely.

Berlesconi lost the lower house but won over many elsewhere, while Pier Luigi Bersani won the lower house but did not win over senate. Beppe Grillo won 25% of the votes. Grillo i a comedian first and a politician second. Prime Minister Mario Monte came fourth with only 10% of the votes.

As many can see, Italians are in a state of confusion over just whom they wish to lead them in the 21st century. It's not surprising, given that they are still knee deep in a massive recession, a recession brought on by the lack of care of the former President, Silvio Berlusconi. It is surprising that this man is not in fourth place given his blatant disregard for the laws of Italy and for the care of the Italian people.

Perhaps Grillo and Bersani can form a coalition goverment :D

From Italy to the UK, we are still in a state of recession - some people calling it a triple dip recession, some people saying we are on the verge of a triple-dip. We are definitely still in recession. Peopl in the UK are starving to death thanks to the cuts and 'austerity measures' of Cameron and Osbourne.

Why can they not learn from their mistakes and lower VAT, force the oligopoly of petrol powers in the UK to lower their prices and watch as people refound confidence to begin spending once more. Until the public has enough confidence to start spending the economy will not move. We have already lost our AAA rating for borrowing etc, an influx into the system could see us regaining this rating, increasing confidence in the UK financial markets.

As usual, when the Conservative party is in power, the poor become poorer.

On another note, I have written 3 books. 2 are part of a series set in Scoltand about the Sidhe, fairy folk. Available on kindle and in paperback:

The Island of the Mist is book 2

The Stone in the Sword is book 1

The 3rd book is an adult, sexy witchy werewolf/vampire story set in New York and featuring a strong female lead character, again available in kindle and paperback formats:

The Wolf, the Witch and the Coffin

Economic stability on the horizon?

Having been keeping a close watch on the news re Europe and the Eurozone crisis, it is finally looking as though things may be turning around. With Greece looking ahead, and Berlusconi hopefully on the way out, things could finally be looking up. Indeed, the FSTE was looking promising this morrning, for the first time in a while.

On another note, I was saddened to hear that people had taken to burning poppies for whatever horrible reason. This is both sad and offensive. The poppy is not, as some people have suggested, a political or a religious symbol. It is merely a symbol of sacrifice - the sacrifice of the men who lost their lives in wars. Originally for the first and second world wars, it has come to symbolise all wars and is therefore a global symbol, of remembrance. The money raise also aids the recovery of our soldiers, both present and heroes of older conflicts.

I urge those people who think they are making a protest on political or religious grounds to stop and think, think about what they are doing and how it makes others feel. This is neither a brave nor a commendable act. Please show some respect, even if you do not agree with the symbol. I would not ask that you mark this Sunday with 2 minutes of silence, as this is clearly something you do not agree with but please respect others who do.

Berlusconi wins vote of confidence

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi won the vote of confidence from his parliament today. MP's had called a vote of no-cofidence and they spent the majority of the afternoon voting whether they had faith in their Prime Minister.

This came as a huge shock to many throughout the world, given how Berlusconi has handled the financial situation and his own not-so-personal private life.

What really shocks me is that Italy is one of the oldest parliaments is the world and has been held in high regard until Berlusconi began his very public displays of womanising and complete lack of concern for what his voters thought of him.

It is genuinely shocking that a man so lacking in decorum and self restraint, someone who clearly does not care what the public thinks of him - and by default, what the world thinks of Itlay, has retained his powerful position.

We can only hope that Italy will wake up to his lack of professionalism and the fact that he makes the whole country look bad politically.

I genuinely feel for the people of Italy at the moment.