beppe's been tooting this horn for a long time. he doesn't think the germans will want to be in any different kind of eurozone than this one, that if the other EZ countries stand together and threaten to leave germany alone with the euro-mark, she will either change policies so not to be perceived by history as the mean-spirited opportunist that broke the common currency through hysterophobia of inflation, or leave to avoid the embarassment.

in other words germany's position is a bluff waiting to be called, and renzi says he's the man to do it.

the 5* movement have the same approach, tell the ECB to take a hike and see what happens...

yes it would be a mess if the euro crumbled, but a slow strangling through austerity is not necessarily am easier fate.

letta, sack-o-money, fassina are stooges to keep the status quo, spinning green-shoot fantasies to keep the balls (of steel) in the air. they will never challenge the ECB, their job consists of dispensing the soothing anesthetic to the public while the country's assets are flogged off to the highest bidder.

berlu's leaving is symbolic, but the problems run much much deeper than just him.

he is puffing out his chest and saying 'l'etat, c'est moi!', when not indulging in the most shameless victimology, such as his claim that his family is suffering (in their palaces!) much like the jews did in the lagers.

painfully hilarious...

they are interviewing b's supporters in the street, and it's curious how in some ways they resemble the tea party.

the same mix of dumb and schmaltzy.

'The history of public debt is full of irony. It rarely follows our ideas of order and justice.' Thomas Piketty