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Name:
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MrHodja
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Subject:
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An Interesting Conversation
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Date:
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6/30/2009 6:06:20 PM
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Hound had asked before what the International community thought of our current direction. Since arriving in Italy on the 8th of June I have heard little conversation about Obama. However, I did get an earful the other day from a senior Italian Navy Lieutenant (O-3) about Italy and the situation it is in.
Interesting points:
Once a person hires on to a job, that person is entitled to and expects that job until he or she retires - about age 60 with a retirement income of about 80%.
The pay for that job is set. It makes no difference whether that person is a barn-burner or dolt, the pay is the same.
Health care is provided equally to a tax-paying Italian citizen and a Libyan illegal immigrant who managed to sneak into the country - without question - funded by the Italian taxpayer.
Speaking of taxes, the Value Added Tax (VAT), akin to our sales tax, is 20%.
And, by the way, the average Italian pays 40-45% of their income in income tax - with no deductions allowed. How many Americans pay that much?
The Lt's wife, with an advanced degree, is an Italian to Spanish translator, yet makes the same money as one of the Lt's sailors. No additional pay comes with the additional degree.
When I asked why there were eight "guards" standing around the base gate, yet none seemed the least bit interested in the security of the facility, he said that they were entitled to their jobs for life.
When I asked why they still relied on paper authorizations to enter the base instead of a computerized system he replied "if they automated where would the people work? They wouldn't be expected to have to compete for a job.
All the while, filth abounds on the base, within plain sight of the folks "guarding" the gate - yet they don't lift a hand to clean it up.
Don't get me wrong, I really like the Italian people. As people they are wonderful and friendly. But their governmental system, with its emphasis on entitlements, absolutely deters innovation, incentive, and productivity.
I fear that we are headed in that same direction.
Nasreddin Hodja
From Lerici, Italy
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