Australian Politics Forum

Australian Politics Forum
http://www.ozpolitic.com/forum/YaBB.pl General Discussion >> General Board >> Italy solves it's debt problem http://www.ozpolitic.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1437614299 Message started by John Smith on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 11:18am

Title: Italy solves it's debt problem
Post by John Smith on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 11:18am

Italian police say they have seized assets worth $2.95 billion belonging to a powerful organised crime syndicate in the latest sting against the Mafia.

The gambling operation came just two weeks after authorities seized goods worth $2.36 billion from a Sicilian mafia family, which included 33 companies, hundreds of houses, villas and buildings, 80 bank accounts, 40 insurance policies and over 40 vehicles.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-07-23/italy-seizes-mafia-assets-worth-295-bn-in-gambling-sting/6641372

wow, over $5.3 Billion in a few weeks, at this rate they'll end up with the biggest surplus ever

Title: Re: Italy solves it's debt problem
Post by Lisa Jones on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 11:23am

John Smith wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 11:18am:

Yay! Go Italy!

You know you really are a smart @r$e lmao :P

Title: Re: Italy solves it's debt problem
Post by John Smith on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 11:25am

Lisa Jones wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 11:23am:

You know you really are a smart @r$e lmao Tongue

Efharisto

Title: Re: Italy solves it's debt problem
Post by Lisa Jones on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 11:40am

John Smith wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 11:25am:

Lisa Jones wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 11:23am:

You know you really are a smart @r$e lmao Tongue

Efharisto

Prego. :P

Title: Re: Italy solves it's debt problem
Post by cods on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 11:48am

Lisa Jones wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 11:23am:

John Smith wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 11:18am:

Yay! Go Italy!

You know you really are a smart @r$e lmao :P

it could all go on brothels and 17 year old prostitutes though thats the trouble with Italy...

its n ot always easy to tell the difference between the govt and the mafia.. ::) ::)

Title: Re: Italy solves it's debt problem
Post by John Smith on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 11:49am

cods wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 11:48am:

its n ot always easy to tell the difference between the govt and the mafia.. Roll Eyes Roll Eyes

try new glasses

Title: Re: Italy solves it's debt problem
Post by Lisa Jones on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 11:50am

;D ;D ;D

John, I'll let you handle that one :P

Title: Re: Italy solves it's debt problem
Post by John Smith on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 11:51am

Lisa Jones wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 11:50am:

I'll let you handle that one

I think she suspects Italy is all like Canberra

Title: Re: Italy solves it's debt problem
Post by Lisa Jones on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 11:51am

Ha! I knew you were around, just waiting to pounce on that remark lol ;D

Title: Re: Italy solves it's debt problem
Post by cods on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 12:02pm

Mussolini comes to mind...they hung him didnt they?

Berlusconi another one..

Quote:

ROME, Feb. 17, 2011 (IPS/GIN) - While a handful of young sex workers have been under the spotlight in the weeks following a high-profile sex scandal involving Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, tens of thousands remain invisible victims of human trafficking.

On Tuesday, a judge in Milan ruled that Prime Minister Berlusconi must face trial in an underage prostitution case. Prosecutors have been investigating the prime minister on charges that he paid a Moroccan girl, Karima El Mahroug, for sexual intercourse last year, before she turned 18.

The investigation involves 14 women in total. Many of them are young migrants who lived in apartments on the outskirts of Milan that were allegedly paid for by Berlusconi. …

Quote:

On 1 August 2013, he was convicted of tax-fraud by the final appeal instance, Court of Cassation[7] (of which three years are automatically pardoned) along with a public office ban for two years. As his age exceeds 70 years, he will be exempted from direct imprisonment, and instead serve his sentence by doing unpaid social community work. Because of being sentenced to a gross imprisonment for more than two years, a new Italian anticorruption law made the Italian Senate expel and bar him from serving any legislative office for six years.[8][9] Berlusconi has pledged to stay leader of Forza Italia throughout the period where he serves his imprisonment sentence and public office ban.[7

Title: Re: Italy solves it's debt problem
Post by cods on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 12:04pm

John Smith wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 11:51am:

Lisa Jones wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 11:50am:

I'll let you handle that one

I think she suspects Italy is all like Canberra

it does get low when labor are in.. but nothing like Italy..

YET.. if labor get back in with shortarse in charge.. we have set a new low..

he loves everything mafia.

Title: Re: Italy solves it's debt problem
Post by John Smith on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 12:05pm

cods wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 12:02pm:

Mussolini comes to mind...they hung him didnt they?

Berlusconi another one..

Quote:

[quote]On 1 August 2013, he was convicted of tax-fraud by the final appeal instance, Court of Cassation[7] (of which three years are automatically pardoned) along with a public office ban for two years. As his age exceeds 70 years, he will be exempted from direct imprisonment, and instead serve his sentence by doing unpaid social community work. Because of being sentenced to a gross imprisonment for more than two years, a new Italian anticorruption law made the Italian Senate expel and bar him from serving any legislative office for six years.[8][9] Berlusconi has pledged to stay leader of Forza Italia throughout the period where he serves his imprisonment sentence and public office ban.[7

[/quote]

Mussolini? Geez, why not go back to Caesar?

here, this one's a little more recent

The suspected Mafia godfather of Melbourne helped bankroll a Liberal Party marginal federal seat campaign in the 2013 election, raising the prospect that the proceeds of crime have flowed into Liberal coffers.

http://www.smh.com.au/national/libs-take-money-off-mafia-man-20140522-38rrq.html

Title: Re: Italy solves it's debt problem
Post by innocentbystander. on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 12:45pm

cods wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 11:48am:

its n ot always easy to tell the difference between the govt and the mafia.. ::) ::)

There is no difference between the government and the mafia, they both use the exact same business model.

Title: Re: Italy solves it's debt problem
Post by John Smith on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 12:47pm

innocentbystander. wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 12:45pm:

cods wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 11:48am:

its n ot always easy to tell the difference between the govt and the mafia.. ::) ::)

There is no difference between the government and the mafia, they both use the exact same business model.

Not quite ... the mafia is much better at turning a profit than any govt. will ever be.

Title: Re: Italy solves it's debt problem
Post by Lisa Jones on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 12:50pm

innocentbystander. wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 12:45pm:

cods wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 11:48am:

its n ot always easy to tell the difference between the govt and the mafia.. ::) ::)

There is no difference between the government and the mafia, they both use the exact same business model.

If that's the case, then how come the govt is performing poorly and the mafia is performing well?

What do you take us Italians for? Uneducated idiots lol?

Title: Re: Italy solves it's debt problem
Post by Lisa Jones on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 12:51pm

John Smith wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 12:47pm:

innocentbystander. wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 12:45pm:

cods wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 11:48am:

its n ot always easy to tell the difference between the govt and the mafia.. ::) ::)

There is no difference between the government and the mafia, they both use the exact same business model.

Not quite ... the mafia is much better at turning a profit than any govt. will ever be.

That's basically what I just said lmao ;D

Title: Re: Italy solves it's debt problem
Post by red baron on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 12:53pm

Yes John you are correct, if you default on a Mafia loan, its likely you will be wearing cement boots before you have the chance to say give me more time to pay.

That is some motivation to stay liquid! :)

Title: Re: Italy solves it's debt problem
Post by red baron on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 12:54pm

Title: Re: Italy solves it's debt problem
Post by innocentbystander. on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 12:54pm

Why is the government going after the mafia in the first place?, because they don't like competition. ;D

Title: Re: Italy solves it's debt problem
Post by John Smith on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 12:55pm

innocentbystander. wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 12:54pm:

Why is the government going after the mafia in the first place?, because they don't like competition. ;D

they probably wanted a bigger slice of the pie and the mafia refused

Title: Re: Italy solves it's debt problem
Post by perceptions_now on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 1:30pm

Unfortunately, the thread title of "Italy solves it's debt problem" is just a little misleading!

With the Italian Government Debt to GDP ratio being around 132% & actual Debt therefore at around US$2.83 TRILLION, the recent Italian drug busts, of a few BILLION, are a little shy of solving the Italian Debt problem!

Title: Re: Italy solves it's debt problem
Post by John Smith on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 1:35pm

perceptions_now wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 1:30pm:

it wasn't meant to be taken seriously :D :D :D

Title: Re: Italy solves it's debt problem
Post by Lisa Jones on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 2:02pm

red baron wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 12:53pm:

;D ;D ;D

Title: Re: Italy solves it's debt problem
Post by John Smith on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 2:10pm

Lisa Jones wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 2:02pm:

red baron wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 12:53pm:

;D ;D ;D

not funny ...

I had an uncle who was found wearing those boots in the bottom of a lake bordering with Switzerland ... we suspect he overheard something he shouldn't have because they removed his ears.

Title: Re: Italy solves it's debt problem
Post by Lisa Jones on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 2:12pm

perceptions_now wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 1:30pm:

Crikey, another one who can't get that we were just having a passing laugh.

Go sit in the corner with your friend Longy. :P

Title: Re: Italy solves it's debt problem
Post by Lord Herbert on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 2:15pm

red baron wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 12:53pm:

;D ;D ;D

Title: Re: Italy solves it's debt problem
Post by perceptions_now on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 2:28pm

John Smith wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 1:35pm:

perceptions_now wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 1:30pm:

it wasn't meant to be taken seriously :D :D :D

Yes, I did assume that was the case, I just wanted to clarify what was the REAL SIZE OF THE ITALIAN DEBT PROBLEM!

Title: Re: Italy solves it's debt problem
Post by Lisa Jones on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 2:30pm

John Smith wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 2:10pm:

Lisa Jones wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 2:02pm:

red baron wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 12:53pm:

;D ;D ;D

Check your PMs for Christ's sake lol :P

Title: Re: Italy solves it's debt problem
Post by Lisa Jones on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 2:33pm

perceptions_now wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 2:28pm:

John Smith wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 1:35pm:

perceptions_now wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 1:30pm:

it wasn't meant to be taken seriously :D :D :D

Yes, I did assume that was the case, I just wanted to clarify what was the REAL SIZE OF THE ITALIAN DEBT PROBLEM!

We know. It's bad. It's shocking even.

But what can we do?

We can't die just because the Italian govt is not as well organised or financially competent as the Mafia.

::)

Title: Re: Italy solves it's debt problem
Post by John Smith on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 2:33pm

Lisa Jones wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 2:30pm:

John Smith wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 2:10pm:

Lisa Jones wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 2:02pm:

red baron wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 12:53pm:

;D ;D ;D

Check your PMs for Christ's sake lol :P

that's actually a true story, my uncle really was murdered and discovered wrapped in chains in the bottom of a lake in concrete shoes, ears cut off.

Title: Re: Italy solves it's debt problem
Post by Lisa Jones on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 2:41pm

One of the positives right now, for someone such as myself who is half Greek, involves pondering the following :

Does Greece have a Mafia?

Hell no!

Why?

Even the criminals there don't believe in putting in a half decent day's worth of crime lmao ;D

Title: Re: Italy solves it's debt problem
Post by Lisa Jones on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 2:45pm

Thank Christ I never went to Uni with you Mr Smith.

Why?

You're a ratbag & I would have flunked big time lol.

Would have been more fun though lmao :P

Title: Re: Italy solves it's debt problem
Post by Lord Herbert on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 2:47pm

John Smith wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 2:33pm:

Lisa Jones wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 2:30pm:

John Smith wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 2:10pm:

Lisa Jones wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 2:02pm:

red baron wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 12:53pm:

;D ;D ;D

Check your PMs for Christ's sake lol :P

that's actually a true story, my uncle really was murdered and discovered wrapped in chains in the bottom of a lake in concrete shoes, ears cut off.

How did they find him at the bottom of a lake ... ?

Title: Re: Italy solves it's debt problem
Post by John Smith on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 2:51pm

Lord Herbert wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 2:47pm:

John Smith wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 2:33pm:

Lisa Jones wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 2:30pm:

John Smith wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 2:10pm:

Lisa Jones wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 2:02pm:

red baron wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 12:53pm:

;D ;D ;D

Check your PMs for Christ's sake lol :P

that's actually a true story, my uncle really was murdered and discovered wrapped in chains in the bottom of a lake in concrete shoes, ears cut off.

How did they find him at the bottom of a lake ... ?

I don't know, it was the same year I was born ... probably a fisherman

Title: Re: Italy solves it's debt problem
Post by Lisa Jones on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 2:54pm

Being a lake, it would have been someone fishing.

Title: Re: Italy solves it's debt problem
Post by Lisa Jones on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 2:55pm

Hey that's more or less what I just said :)

Title: Re: Italy solves it's debt problem
Post by John Smith on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 2:56pm

Lisa Jones wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 2:55pm:

Hey that's more or less what I just said :)

a little less than more :D :D :D

Title: Re: Italy solves it's debt problem
Post by Lord Herbert on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 3:53pm

Lisa Jones wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 2:54pm:

Being a lake, it would have been someone fishing.

Riiiiiiiiight .... he fished up all that chain and the cement boots ... riiiiiiight ... :P

Title: Re: Italy solves it's debt problem
Post by John Smith on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 3:56pm

Lord Herbert wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 3:53pm:

Lisa Jones wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 2:54pm:

Being a lake, it would have been someone fishing.

Riiiiiiiiight .... he fished up all that chain and the cement boots ... riiiiiiight ... :P

depends on how they were doing it ... a decent line hooked up to a winch on a trawler would get it up.

Title: Re: Italy solves it's debt problem
Post by Lisa Jones on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 3:57pm

Lord Herbert wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 3:53pm:

Lisa Jones wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 2:54pm:

Being a lake, it would have been someone fishing.

Riiiiiiiiight .... he fished up all that chain and the cement boots ... riiiiiiight ... :P

How the hell would I know?

I merely assumed that the body goes all funny after a while and it starts to break up.

Title: Re: Italy solves it's debt problem
Post by Lisa Jones on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 3:58pm

Bloody hell....now we need a forensic scientist in here ::)

Title: Re: Italy solves it's debt problem
Post by John Smith on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 4:00pm

John Smith wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 3:56pm:

Lord Herbert wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 3:53pm:

Lisa Jones wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 2:54pm:

Being a lake, it would have been someone fishing.

Riiiiiiiiight .... he fished up all that chain and the cement boots ... riiiiiiight ... :P

depends on how they were doing it ... a decent line hooked up to a winch on a trawler would get it up.

or a net

Title: Re: Italy solves it's debt problem
Post by Culture Warrior on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 9:41pm

Italy's debt problems can be solved by importing millions of refugees and becoming more multicultural.

Title: Re: Italy solves it's debt problem
Post by John Smith on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 9:43pm

Postmodern Trendoid III wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 9:41pm:

Italy's debt problems can be solved by importing millions of refugees and becoming more multicultural.

meanwhile, your problems can never be solved!

Title: Re: Italy solves it's debt problem
Post by Lisa Jones on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 9:43pm

John Smith wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 4:00pm:

John Smith wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 3:56pm:

Lord Herbert wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 3:53pm:

Lisa Jones wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 2:54pm:

Being a lake, it would have been someone fishing.

Riiiiiiiiight .... he fished up all that chain and the cement boots ... riiiiiiight ... :P

depends on how they were doing it ... a decent line hooked up to a winch on a trawler would get it up.

or a net

You know, I reckon a scuba diver must have found him.

Title: Re: Italy solves it's debt problem
Post by John Smith on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 9:46pm

Lisa Jones wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 9:43pm:

John Smith wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 4:00pm:

John Smith wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 3:56pm:

Lord Herbert wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 3:53pm:

Lisa Jones wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 2:54pm:

Being a lake, it would have been someone fishing.

Riiiiiiiiight .... he fished up all that chain and the cement boots ... riiiiiiight ... :P

depends on how they were doing it ... a decent line hooked up to a winch on a trawler would get it up.

or a net

You know, I reckon a scuba diver must have found him.

it's quite possible, or depending on how clear the water was it could have simply been someone who was out boating and saw something strange on the lake bed so went for a closer look. It's impossible to say and I've no way of finding out anymore.

Title: Re: Italy solves it's debt problem
Post by The Mechanic on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 9:49pm

John Smith wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 11:18am:

you mean to say that they didn't send out $900 cheques to solve their debt problems??? :o

they didn't stuff pink batts into peoples rooves and kill people to save our debt problems?? :o

they didn't do a school halls program?? :o

Title: Re: Italy solves it's debt problem
Post by Setanta on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 9:51pm

Lisa Jones wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 12:50pm:

innocentbystander. wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 12:45pm:

cods wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 11:48am:

its n ot always easy to tell the difference between the govt and the mafia.. ::) ::)

There is no difference between the government and the mafia, they both use the exact same business model.

If that's the case, then how come the govt is performing poorly and the mafia is performing well?

What do you take us Italians for? Uneducated idiots lol?

Where do your Italian side come from? They may be Greek and you all Greek, no Italian! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magna_Graecia

Title: Re: Italy solves it's debt problem
Post by John Smith on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 9:52pm

President Elect, The Mechanic wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 9:49pm:

you mean to say that they didn't send out $900 cheques to solve their debt problems??? Shocked

who did?

President Elect, The Mechanic wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 9:49pm:

they didn't stuff pink batts into peoples rooves and kill people to save our debt problems??

this is Italy we're talking about, so anythings possible really, but who do you know that installed batts to solve debt?

President Elect, The Mechanic wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 9:49pm:

they didn't do a school halls program??

I'm sure they've done several over the years ....

you seem confused mechanic, none of the things you mention did labor do to solve debt .......... they did them to stimulate growth ..

i know it's difficult for you but perhaps you can ask your grand kids to explain it?

Title: Re: Italy solves it's debt problem
Post by John Smith on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 9:54pm

Setanta wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 9:51pm:

Lisa Jones wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 12:50pm:

innocentbystander. wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 12:45pm:

cods wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 11:48am:

its n ot always easy to tell the difference between the govt and the mafia.. ::) ::)

There is no difference between the government and the mafia, they both use the exact same business model.

If that's the case, then how come the govt is performing poorly and the mafia is performing well?

What do you take us Italians for? Uneducated idiots lol?

Where do your Italian side come from? They may be Greek and you all Greek, no Italian! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magna_Graecia

hey, it went the other way to you know ... she could be all Italian with no Greek. :D :D :D :D

Title: Re: Italy solves it's debt problem
Post by Setanta on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 9:55pm

John Smith wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 9:52pm:

President Elect, The Mechanic wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 9:49pm:

you mean to say that they didn't send out $900 cheques to solve their debt problems??? Shocked

who did?

President Elect, The Mechanic wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 9:49pm:

they didn't stuff pink batts into peoples rooves and kill people to save our debt problems??

this is Italy we're talking about, so anythings possible really, but who do you know that installed batts to solve debt?

President Elect, The Mechanic wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 9:49pm:

they didn't do a school halls program??

I think Mech is saying they should have. ;D

Title: Re: Italy solves it's debt problem
Post by Setanta on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 9:56pm

John Smith wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 9:54pm:

Setanta wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 9:51pm:

Lisa Jones wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 12:50pm:

innocentbystander. wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 12:45pm:

cods wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2015 at 11:48am:

its n ot always easy to tell the difference between the govt and the mafia.. ::) ::)

There is no difference between the government and the mafia, they both use the exact same business model.

If that's the case, then how come the govt is performing poorly and the mafia is performing well?

What do you take us Italians for? Uneducated idiots lol?

Where do your Italian side come from? They may be Greek and you all Greek, no Italian! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magna_Graecia

hey, it went the other way to you know ... she could be all Italian with no Greek. :D :D :D :D

Thought the same thing after posting. I more often than not seeing the Greek side brought up, so I rolled that way. ;)