Italian drivers
In an effort to keep pace with more evolved democracies the Italian government seems to churn out reams of legal measures that, however well intended, are nether respected nor wilfully enforced.
Like the road speed limits - arguments, debates, agreements and police check points for the first weeks after the law come to force. Then violating the limits becomes the norm. What is abnormal is police stopping fast cars. Driving without safety belts or while talking on mobile phones is forbidden too - but everybody does it. Consequently Italians find themselves breaking the law daily, whether through ignorance or plain negligence. Consider for example the recent sign that says smoking smuggled cigarettes should cost you £2,000 - it's routinely ignored. Even smoking in hospitals, banks and post offices was outlawed - but you will always find a lawbreaker with a fag in his/her fingers and nobody to tell this person to stop. And even when caught very few will pay. Of the 2,257 billion government sanctions between 1990 and 1997, only 84 have been successfully executed. (Curiously southerners get away with far more than northerners - Palermo 0.2%, Milan 3.2%). Recently reports of caterpillars going to demolish more than 230.000 unauthorised houses that are destroying our landscape - the main source for our national industry - were front-page news. Sure, a few buildings will be demolished. Then - precedents teach - appeals, oversights, omissions, distractions, populism and new emergencies will put the government's act in a second plan if not undo or repeal it. Is there any hope of Italians resurrecting their impotent democracy?
