I found this article quite true and also amusing. I am Anglo-Italian and have lived in Italy for nearly forty years and although I will admit that a lot of the English drink too much and that the cultural level of the lower classes is worse than it is here, I still think English people on the whole are more friendly and much more active and pragmatic.
Depending where you live in Italy people can be different and in my area which is Liguria people are inclined to be very suspicious, unfriendly and often not well mannered.
There is a tendancy to narcisism and selfishness generally and so a lot of unfairness. For example., for the few years I worked in England I get a small pension but for all the years I worked here with contributions i am entitled to nothing at all because my contributions don't reach the required amount.

Giulia, Savona, Italy

As an American who had the good fortune to live for extended periods in both Italy and the U.K., I'm moved to say that the very LAST thing the people of Italy need is a Thatcher. The corporations would love it, but working people would suffer tremendously. Since the Thatcher/Reagan era, enormous economic injustice has resulted in both the U.K. and the U.S., which now have a far greater gap between haves and have-nots than has existed since the age of the Robber Barons, as well as less socio-economic mobility than any other industrialized nations. Ordinary people no longer have the chance they once did, and more of us fall into poverty and/or heavy debt every year. All gains from our increased productivity over the past 30 years have gone to corporations and the ultra-rich. Dear people of Italy, please keep your unions strong. Once they're gone, you'll become slaves to conscienceless big money. The current campaign of John Edwards details what we're fighting to get back.

Erin Harris, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA

I totally agree with this article!

The mix of problems that Italy is forced to face in this particular historical moment, makes the situation dramatic!
An enormous public debit, insufficient international competitiveness, old population, insufficient confidence in the future, corruption and criminality! A deep change, is not only necessary, but vital and must pass obligatorily from renews totally the political and managerial class that is driving Italy to the ruin!

Prodi, Berlusconi...please go home! It's TIME !

Marco Presti, Florence/ Italy,

Opinionated Opinions.
Ian Fisher the NYT's correspondent in Rome has written one of the most opinionated reports I have ever read and now 10 days later here is the Times! You Brits or american wasp will never understand completely what Italy is and why Italy works because you still have "sliced salami covering your eyes" . In this globalized world, sun or later, we are all going to decline, see post war - post colonial "great" Britain. Italy is the metaphor of is national football squad, always criticized almost never defeated.
In the past decades we have shown the world how to dress how to eat how to be cool and how to enjoy life in style and with no arrogance. It is about time that we sit back and enjoy the ride. I doubt the spaniards will lead us anywhere: they will need to invent a Vespa first or a new Ferrari. I can't see us going too far in their Sub-Fiat's Seats.
If Rome cries London & Nyc have nothing to laugh at.
Italians, stop mourning and pull up your shirt sleeves!

MP Vasco, New York City, usa

Italians here like Nina have no proudness, no sense of patriotism, there are the worst thing of italy, with racist english, they attacks their country.

what a shame!

Life is Italy is more beautiful than elsewhere.

Why for example, most of the English want to leave England ?

ericano, paris,

Italians here insults italy and italian people with the racist english people on english media.

Bravo!!!!!!

This is treason!

ericano, paris,

English happiness ? alcoho, alcohol, alcohol....

ericano, paris,

Francesca do you know Carmina Burana? - In taberna- It says that everyone is drinking the king, the Pope, servants, ancillas. Our health system, the very Italians people, is one of the first. Everyday a doctor appears in court for a nonsense, while judges never pay. They are a cast above us, spitting over common citizens. Do you know we are the first the whole world over, to have an increase in drug abusing, strong drugs? Our alcohol intake is no lesser than every other country? A student, here, says we need a revolution, and he is right. Away with Vatican, and the mafia in power. Young’s, I am not, in Italy are suppressed, on account they think honestly. Until, out of despair, they drink and take drugs the dirty old system has nothing to be afraid of. I am remembered of Friedrich II: “Dogs do you think to live forever?”

Silvio A., S.Pellegrino T., Italy

This article is absolutely FAIR. I think the crisis Italy is experiencing (a crisis that has been around for more than a decade) is the result of the unbearable luck of competitiveness of our people, due to the widespread lack of professionalism, preparation and of the respect of rules and laws.

If young Italians are the one supposed to propel our country and bring us back to a position of international co-leadership how can they do so when they do not speak proper English, they complete university five years later than their European counterparts, and where the excessive protection of their families make them spoiled individuals?

Until Italians keep on complaining to their lousy government and do nothing, things can only worsen.

On the contrary, if they accept the idea of working hard and stop expecting the State to take action for themselves, they will bring Italy back to its shine and happiness.

Eric Tirabassi, London,

I'm VERY disappointed too with the article. i lived in uk for 13 years , i come from Rome but after many years i have realized that my own country is not the only "unhappy " country in europe. there is worst....UK. why english people drink so much? the answer is very simple : because this VERY SAD country has never known and never will meaning of Dolce Vita .sorry, but in my life i never knew people so sad and depressive like english people. they don't know how to enjoy life , they don't know what smile, friendship, hospitality,tolerance mean. they don't take a liking to everybody....what a shame! ..in a such multicultural country like
this they didn't still learn to socialize with their one's neighbours WITHOUT alcool ....like italians do.

ciao a tutti e.......a presto Italia!

francesca

francesca, london, uk

Dear Friends from Italy,
It is true that the feeling you have in your country is a little bit as you all describe here, in some cases I even agree with you regarding some matters in Italy. But I am totally sure that this is a oversized common feeling that will dissapear in a near future. Don't think about the fact that Spain has overtaken Italy in terms of GDP per capita. This is not so important, and it is the first time than Spain achieves it. I am sure that next year or two more years and you will recover your situation.
The only thing you may need is probably a bigger hope and a more practical point of view from the present situation. Rely on yourselves as you have always done. And so well done.
Viva Italia.
Oscar, Madrid. Spain

Oscar Centeno, Madrid, Spain

I'm VERY disappointed with this article.
It's too generous with our politicians, the portrait of inefficiency and patronage system. In Italy we have the say "doing everything to do nothing"; with this ridiculous government they don't even pretend to do anything (deferring problems apart). We have no choice but to vote always the same people. Politically speaking, the newest leader we must undergo in Italy is a politician, Valter Veltroni (the leader of the democratic party, the nth reincarnation of the communists) who entered in politics more than 30 years ago. Sadly, this is our idea of "new".
Another piece of Italy is gone (Alitalia, or Alifrance if you prefer). I wonder what else they will ruin to sell later. Not our national dignity, they already did.
I am convinced that our politicians simply cannot listen the sighs and the sufferings of their people: the echo of the sneers and laughs coming from France and Spain is deafening....

Matteo Emanuele Minnai, Cagliari, Italy

I wish I could say the situation was different but it's undenyable... I lived in England for 2 years which made wander even more why do things don't work in Italy only! Italy is the only country in Europe where people still debate, with perfect intelligence, what the red on a stop light might mean. There is not civic sense anymore not matter where you. And things are never going to change regardless from who is governig the nation. And this is going on from decades now... lets make a revolution! This is the only way to save our country!!

Daniele , Rome, Italy

Hello from Tuscany, life here is stll good but there is a general sense of disillusion among people. Young or adults, no difference. There are no positive perspectives, no goals to struggle for, no feelings you can make it. The governement is completely detached from society, they run a race on their own, with their own rules not shared with citizens who have to face a different reality. We need to discover again our roots and our values, our culture has to be the flag of all these values. School has to be the most respected institution in the country while at present it is considered almost useless with students who have no respect for their teachers. TV and newspapers must start again to talk about values that build an healty society, we have a national tv which is completely devoted to reality shows: let's find a balance with culture at least. I just came home from India and the comparison with my country is that we are paralised!
Viva l'Italia.
Franca, Lucca

franca, Lucca, Italy

I am Italian and I have some experience of life in some European countries: I can tell for sure that Italy has the highest average living standards. There are statistical data that confirm such statement: for instance, the average value of the family assets in Italy amount to 8 times the average yearly income of the family. Such ratio was reached only by few countries in the world, like the U.S. for instance.
Our problems are mostly related with the huge public debt, with the enormous gap between the northern, highly industrialised and modern part and the southern part of the country, with the unwillingness of large parts of the population to undergo a sharp liberalisation process.

Causes of this crisis lie far back, in the 70ies, when the former, powerful Italian Communist party, which in 1976 nearly conquered the majority in the political elections, strongly influenced the political and social scenario, helping the Unions to block the modernisation of the country.

Alberto, Milan, Italy

I am 17 and I'm an exchange student in the USA.
here I really understood what is wrong with Italy.
Probably we need a revolution or something like that because everything is getting worse in italy and even though i'm proud to be Italian there are so many things that i hate about my country.
I guess a revolution is going to happen within 10 years.
It's depressing because people just complain about everything but nobody tries to change something.
Cristiano is right in all he said.
Maybe I'll be in politics when i will be old enough.

England is a great country...I've been to london and I couldn't believe how clean it was!

federico, torino, Italy/USA

Good and well balanced article. Unfortunately, the Spanish vs. Italian GDP per head (if confirmed) is only one of the many symptoms of the Italian decline. Even more worrying, in my opinion, is the steady slide in the OECD league tables regarding numeracy and science skills in secondary schools (26th in the 2006 rank, well below all the other major EU countries).
Well, the Times correspondent ends with a warm note. I'm afraid the Country looks more like an old groggy boxer in this period, longing to terminate the round. Let's hope Santa brings some cheer - and a lot of luck for the incoming year

Fabrizio, Bristol, UK

What is extremely sad is that politicien do not hear the cry coming from society . Politicians have not yet understood that people have 'enough' of such selfish politicy ! Yes we need a new policy in the interest of the country and not in the interest of political class ! But is there any way to get out from this situation ? ....regrettably reply is NO and that's what makes Italian sad and hopeless about future !
Rgds
Sabrina , Roma

sabrina, Roma, Italy

I'ts very difficult to live in italy for honest people ,nowadays.We are governed by a geriatric oligarchy:more italian families are going into poverty,also they have a job.I'm an artisan, and for me is more and more difficult to survive with my job:it is almost antieconomic.My dream is to escape to France to work.I only need a normal Country to live,and it's impossible in italy:the only possibility for Italians is to migrate abroad,and it's not a joke!
Cristina(upholsterer)

Cristina, La Spezia, italy

Thank you for helping us with the true. Can you imagine a country where the justice system has 20.000.000 sentences in the drawers? To read a sentence is a job of lunatics. To get one, 10 years are the average, 20 is the not seldom. I saw a pregnant lady standing against the wall for hours in my city’s tribunal. People coming and going out of the room, begging for a hearing. 22 hearings in a morning are the rule. Two brothers are entitled by law, to run the civil and criminal tribunals in the same city. The few judges daring to challenge the system get under duress. So are we. To hold a job you may get a political card. The Pope “Divide et impera” divide and rule, has the last saying. Don’t you believe me? Two killings are at stake since months. Some boys are making of us, a lacking spot. The new mafia is killing the old one, the only visible change of power. Alitalia is on garage sale. I usually get my post a month’s later, from my neighbour, giving she hers. HHHHOOOOOOOOO

Silvio A. , S.Pellegrino T., Italy

It is true that Italy is having an identity crisis and that its leadership is unable to create one. However, it's NOT true that Spanish GDP per capita has surpassed the Italian one. The World Bank in its International Comparison Program denies any such situation. It is undeniable that Spain has done a lot to become a major player in Europe but if a more detailed analysis is carried out, you will see that its boom was because of foreign investment not from national capital. And you forget that many Spanish families have huge debts so, please, make a more informed research.
However, I agree with Mr Caltagirone saying that Italy needs a Margareth Tatcher, because one of its many cancers is the unions, their blindness and arrogance. Italy is a country in transition not in decline, and I am sure that in an extraordinary situation such as this one, we will rise again, because Italians are gods in extraordinary moments not in ordinary ones. But again, you can't pretend everything.

Federico Nuccio, Palermo, Italy

It is embarassing that Italians have to read an account on their own current situation on a foreigner newspaper. Our politicians cost a large amount of money, all of them are old and they should resolve problems for a future that they will never live. Prodi as well as Berlusconi are 70 and so are the majority of MPs. It is ludicrous. For instance, Zapatero is 47 and I am sure he is much more motivated to do the best for his country than an old prime minister.

Alessandro, Rome, Italy

Our health care system is good respect to other countries in Europe, but it is very expensive for our economy.
Usually our politicians are so old and they discuss so much instead to decide and to do something, we need young politicians and that have strong decisions for our country, instead of talk talk and talk.
Our companies need less taxes to grow-up and less bureaucracy for all. I believe that our Universities and our Schools are good, but it's difficult later to find a good job well payed, thing that doesn't happen in Europe. Universities like Politecnico in Turin are the best in the world in their researches, but our politicians don't understand that (see what said Carlo Rubbia), they need more money for their researches. We need atomic energy with atomic centrals instead to import energy from France,Austria,Germany,Swiss. We need to improve our mentality on ourselves, less taxes, young politicians with young ideas, more money for Universities researches and more infrastructures.

Cristiano Macaluso, Lucca, Italy

It's not our reputation that is at stake it's our kids future!.
And it's not a joke that Italy has the lowest birthrate of the whole first world countries and I would like to see the emigration figures if our government ever releases them....
simply put our middle class has difficulty making ends meet, more and more families slowly slid into poverty, good food and great fashion and great soccer are basically worhless when you have difficulty arriving at month end.
That's the situation..
sincerely,
Alessandro Biglioli (from Calgary, Canada)

alessandro biglioli, calgary, canada

Finally an article which gives an independent and rather positive insight on the general political/social condition in Italy without throwing up sharp demagogical statements which so often, unfortunately, appear in Italian media to then spread around world papers ruining the reputation of this country.

Flavio Clenchet, Milan, Italy