Feel better about your government

Feel better about your government

Posted on November 18th, 2009 by Sean Cunningham

There’s always somewhere worse. For instance, Italy. Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is currently facing charges of tax fraud and corruption. That’s bad, but not unprecedented (hey, we had Nixon). However, Berlusconi’s allies have jumped to his aid and in the process of saving their leader could help tens of thousands of criminals dodge punishment. This, ladies and gentlemen, is bad government.

Berlusconi supporters have offered up a bill would require a trial for a crime carrying a sentence of less than 10 years be completed in less than two years (plus another four for two appeals). Italy’s criminal justice system is not a model of efficiency to begin with, and when faced with a billionaire defendant like Berlusconi, a conviction in 24 months is virtually impossible. So Silvio will escape punishment…but a whole lot of other people will too. You’d think a proposal that so benefits crooks in general and rich crooks in particular would draw media outrage, but luckily Berlusconi owns many of Italy’s television stations and they’re inclined to see his side of the story. (Incidentally, Berlusconi made much of his fortune through TV programs like a game show where housewives strip.) (Oh, and he loves hookers. That doesn’t really tie in to this, but hey, seemed worth mentioning.)

Our government on virtually every level has huge problems, but our leaders at least have to pretend to put the state above their personal interests. Sad as it is to say, that’s something for which we should be grateful.

__ of the Moment appears each Wednesday.