Eideard

She is famed for being the first woman to uncover her breasts live on Italian television, for recording a song entirely about the male organ, and for offering sex to Osama bin Laden (in return, she said, for giving up terrorism).

But now Ilona Staller, better known as Cicciolina, is the unlikely centre of a bitter row over the cost to ordinary Italians of the perks enjoyed by their country’s tens of thousands of politicians. It emerged on Monday that the Hungarian, who starred in almost 40 hardcore pornographic movies, will soon be enjoying a €39,000-a-year pension, provided by the taxpayers of her adoptive homeland.

The stipend, which is for life, is her reward for labouring as a member of parliament for all of five years, from 1987 to 1992. Staller was elected for the libertarian Radical party and sponsored a number of mainly sex-related bills, including one to set up “love parks and hotels”.

Her entitlement is no different from that of any other one-term politician in Italy. But their pensions have come under resentful scrutiny at a time when politicians are seeking painful sacrifices from the rest of society to prevent a Greek-style debt crisis: last week, parliament gave final approval to an austerity package that includes an increase in VAT and provision for big cuts in income tax allowances…

According to one recent estimate, Italy’s cohorts of politicians cost the taxpayers almost €1.3 billion a year. With four levels of government – national, regional, provincial and municipal – the country has an inordinately large number of elected representatives.

But that has not stopped them from giving themselves a distinctly comfortable lifestyle. According to the Italian parliament website, the gross salary of a member of the lower house is €140,000 a year plus an attendance allowance of up to €42,000 and a contribution towards expenses of up to €63,000. They are also entitled to free public transport, free air and sea travel within Italy and exemption from motorway tolls.

Cicciolina played by the official rules of the country at the time and deserves her share of the spoils. I guess. All the other prostitutes and pimps will certainly have their own political parties covering their buns.

They’re no less corrupt and undeserving than our own flavors of politicians – from local to national. They call it service to the nation – and we will be servicing them all for decades to come. While working people have to struggle to get affordable prescriptions.

Germany’s parliament agreed in a conscience vote on Thursday to allow the limited use of genetic testing of human embryos.

Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) — in which a cell or two are extracted from a developing embryo to test for genetic disorders — has divided governments around the world, with many people opposing it on religious and ethical grounds, or arguing that it would let parents choose a “designer baby.”

The new law will allow screening embryos of parents who have a predisposition to severe genetic disorders, where a pregnancy would be likely to result in either stillbirth or miscarriage.

Existing German law did not fully regulate PGD and the German high court last year ruled that parliament should take up the issue with respect to serious genetic defects…

Labor Minister Ursula von der Leyen, from Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservative party, told ARD television before the vote that concern over the issue of “designer babies” was unfounded.

“So-called ‘designer babies’, which would be musically gifted or athletic or have blue eyes, are a fantasy,” said von der Leyen, a physician and mother of seven. “It’s about severe illness of individual cases…”

Kerstin Janich, a woman from near Munich whose four-year-old son Louis died of a genetic disease, told Reuters Television in a recent interview there was little public understanding of why some parents who struggle to have children go through screening.

“It’s not about allowing a ‘designer baby’ with blond hair and blue eyes or a sick child not deserving to live,” she said. “It’s about the suffering of an entire family, for siblings and relatives and friends.”

Under the new law, parents will have to undergo counseling and an ethics panel must approve the procedure to select a developing embryo that tests negative for certain anomalies before it is implanted in the womb.

Overdue.

Once again, the political nannies camp on the Right Bank of the river of life no matter how loud they may declaim their commitment to liberty. The only surprise – for an American looking over the pond – is witnessing a broad coalition from Liberal to Libertarian willing to take leadership.

The Dutch lower house of parliament has passed a law effectively banning the ritual slaughter of animals…

The legislation states that all animals must be stunned before being killed. But the Islamic dhabiha and Jewish shechita methods of ritual slaughter require them to be fully conscious.

The legislation was proposed by an animal rights party with two MPs, which argued that failing to stun the animals subjected them to unnecessary pain.

But debate over the matter swiftly became a focus of animosity towards the Netherlands’ 1.2 million-strong Muslim community. The country’s Jewish population is comparatively small at 50,000.

Following months of debate a last minute concession was offered – the Muslim and Jewish communities will have a year to provide evidence that animals slaughtered by traditional methods do not experience greater pain than those that are stunned before they are killed.

However, observers say finding such proof will be virtually impossible.

The bill must still be approved by the upper house of parliament before it can become law…

In a rare show of unity, the Muslim and Jewish communities condemned the legislation and said it infringed on their religious freedom…

To make meat kosher for Jews or halal for Muslims, animals must be slaughtered while still awake, by swiftly cutting the main arteries and veins in their necks with sharp knives, and then allowing the blood to drain out.

Overdue.

Giving way to religious ritual 3000 years out of date is neither democratic or reasonable. So, of course, our government gives way in the United States.

Don’t worry – I’ll be OK!
Daylife/Reuters Pictures used by permission

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation today released its calculations of estimated pension and severance payments paid to the 113 MPs who were either defeated or did not seek re-election in the May 2, 2011 general election. Defeated and retiring MPs will collect $4.9 million in pension payments in their first year, reaching a cumulative total of $111.5 million by age 80. In addition, another $4.3 million in severance cheques will be issued to former MPs…

“While many MPs went down to defeat last night, most are still big winners,” said CTF National Research Director Derek Fildebrandt. “Even though losing an election can be hard, MPs should find a nice soft landing with their ‘golden parachute…’”

Defeated or retiring MPs are eligible to collect a fully-indexed pension at age 55 if they have served at least 6 years in the House of Commons. MPs who have not served the minimum years and receive no pension collect a severance equal to 50 per cent of their total salary. Former MPs who are eligible for a pension but have not reached the age of 55 are entitled to both a severance and pension. If a member turns 55 years old within six months of being eligible for a pension, a reduced severance cheque is paid to them. Lump sum severance payments range from a low of $78,866 to a high of $116,624 – a figure paid out to defeated Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff and several ministers.

Defeated Labrador MP Todd Russell was less than once month short of qualifying for his pension, being elected in a May 24, 2005 by-election. Fildebrandt noted, “By keeping Mr. Todd out of Parliament, the voters of Labrador saved Canadian taxpayers almost $600,000 in pension payouts.”

Why must so many nations consider loving lifetime care for politicians a national priority? Here in the GOUSA, we provide Congress with a healthcare plan the rest of us can only dream of.

The payback from Beltway politicians? “Screw you” – I’ve got mine. Find an insurance company to take your money.

Daylife/Getty Images used by permission
Judge Mahmoud Attiya

Egyptian voters overwhelmingly approved proposed constitutional amendments that pave the way for parliamentary elections in June, according to the head of the judicial committee overseeing the referendum.

“We are proud of the Egyptian people for deciding their own destiny,” Judge Mahmoud Attiya said Sunday. “We assure the world that the March 19 referendum was fair and transparent at all stages.”

Of the 18,366,764 ballots cast Saturday, there were 14,192,577 “yes” votes and 4,174,187 “no” votes, Atiya said…

The proposed amendments included limiting the president to two four-year terms, capping emergency laws to six months unless they are extended by public referendum, and placing elections under judicial oversight…

Presidential candidate and head of the Arab League Amre Moussa, who urged a “no” vote, lauded the referendum as “the first official step towards the democracy called for in the January 25 movements.”

“‘Yes’ or ‘no’ is not the issue — that Egyptians are participating and voting today is what’s important,” he said Saturday.

Attiya told CNN that the next step in the transition to a civilian government is for the military to move forward with parliamentary elections in June.

Hey – it’s a start.

One of the joys of a constitutional democracy is that there can be – hopefully, will be – opportunities for further discussion and referendums if needed. The essential point is that the Egyptian people have had a first chance at an election that wasn’t rigged by a despot.

Wales has said a resounding Yes in the referendum on direct law-making powers for the assembly.

When the last result was declared, all 22 counties except one – Monmouthshire – backed change. Turnout is provisionally put at 35%.

The final result saw 517,132 vote Yes, and 297,380 say No – a 63.5% to 36.5% winning margin.

The vote will give the assembly direct law-making power in 20 devolved areas, such as health and education…

First Minister Carwyn Jones told celebrating supporters in the Senedd, the assembly building in Cardiff Bay: “Today an old nation came of age.”

Deputy First Minister and Plaid Cymru leader Ieuan Wyn Jones said it marked “the beginning of a new era of Welsh devolution – the decade to deliver for Wales”.

“To demand respect, you must first display self respect,” he said. “Today we have done just that, and the rest of the world can now sit up and take notice of the fact that our small nation, here on the western edge of the continent of Europe, has demonstrated pride in who we are, and what we all stand for…”

A No vote would have kept the current system where the assembly asked Parliament for powers to be transferred to Cardiff on a case-by-case basis.

Bravo!

Walid Jumblatt [R] meeting with Israeli-Druze delegation
Daylife/Getty Images used by permission

Walid Jumblatt, a Druze leader from Lebanon’s opposition camp, has announced his support behind Hezbollah in a move that could give the group and its allies a veto over who becomes the country’s next prime minister.

Hezbollah, which has a parliamentary bloc as well as a powerful military wing, commands overwhelmingly support among Lebanon’s Shia Muslim community.

Jumblatt said the aim of his decision on Friday was to preserve Lebanon’s stability.

“I am announcing the right political stand … by assuring the steadfastness of the group [Progressive Socialist Party] alongside Syria and the resistance [Hezbollah],” he said…

Hariri announced on Thursday in a televised speech that he would seek to form a new government despite strong pressure from Hezbollah for him to step down…

Al Jazeera’s Rula Amin, reporting from Beirut, said Hariri made it clear in his speech that he will accept any outcome from political consultations expected to be launched by Michel Suleiman, the country’s president, on Monday…

“He seems to feel that he might lose the battle with the Hezbollah-led opposition if they get enough votes to nominate their own prime minister and form the next government without him,” our correspondent said…

In Lebanon’s power-sharing political system, the prime minister must be Sunni Muslim, the president Maronite Christian, and parliamentary speaker a Shia Muslim.

Stay tuned. Monday should be interesting.

Meanwhile, of course, Americans who spend all their time reading the American press, watching American TV – will be shocked to learn that many Lebanese not only don’t consider Hezbollah a terrorist organization – they feel they are patriots for resisting Israel’s invasions.

A journalist for national Ukrainian television sparked a scandal on Tuesday by turning up at work in parliament dressed as a bunny in protest at the sometimes farcical behaviour of MPs.

Dressed head-to-toe as a white bunny with two huge ears sprouting from his head, Roman Vintoniv somehow managed to keep a straight face as he conducted lobby interviews with besuited politicians.

He said his action was a protest against the sometimes comic behaviour of lawmakers in the Verkhovna Rada who last week exchanged blows in a bloody punch-up that wounded several of them.

“If the Verkhovna Rada is turning into a circus, then this needs to be officially acknowledged and people need to dress appropriately,” Mr Vintoniv told the news website Ukrainska Pravda.

Ukrainska Pravda said the parliament press service tried to have him expelled on the grounds that his external appearance was not in line with the rules.

But his colleagues then pointed out that the parliament has no dress code and he was able to carry out his work, carrying out interviews with some MPs, video footage posted on the internet showed.

However some of his normal contacts refused to talk to him, Ukrainska Pravda said…

Now, how should an American reporter working Congress dress to express a comparable sentiment.

Poisonally, I think someone would get the most attention costumed as a roll of hundred-dollar bills.

When Paul Martin became finance minister of Canada in 1993, the government was spending itself into a deep hole. Its spiraling debt was prompting observers to compare it to a Third World country. Martin unveiled budgets that steeply cut the $42 billion deficit and eliminated it in four years without long-term damage to the economy.

The example of Canada has been cited and debated as governments in developed countries around the world are looking for ways to cut spending and reduce the size of their debts. Britain has embarked on sweeping spending cuts with an eye toward Canada as a model. In the United States, the midterm elections focused attention on the size of the budget deficit.

Martin, a Liberal Party member who later became prime minister, says lessons can be learned from his nation’s experience, though he says many differences exist between Canada’s situation in the 1990s and the U.S. economy today. For one thing, the U.S. is now recovering from the most serious recession in decades. He accepts the view of many economists that the U.S. economy is too fragile for deep spending cuts now, but believes there should be progress on a medium-term plan to cut the deficit.

RTFA. Martin spoke to CNN earlier this month; here is an edited transcript.

We waltzed in and tried to be the Emperors of Earth. We pick up the tab for American troops stationed in 170 military bases and more – around the world. About as counterproductive as it gets.

David Chen (center) flanked by Alicia Chow, David Lindsay – Not Guilty

Prime Minister Stephen Harper has [finally] demanded a fix to laws governing citizen’s arrests and called on Justice Department officials to look at changing the Criminal Code.

After weeks of ignoring opposition calls to amend the law, Mr. Harper told a surprised Commons yesterday he wants to prevent a recurrence of a case in which a Toronto shopkeeper was charged after making a citizen’s arrest of a shoplifter.

David Chen and two employees at the Lucky Moose market were acquitted last week on charges of assault and forcible confinement…

The Prime Minister’s announcement came within hours of the Conservatives refusing to give unanimous consent to a motion that would have allowed Parliament to swiftly approve a private member’s bill to allow citizens to detain criminals within “a reasonable amount of time” after a crime is committed.

New Democrat Olivia Chow, the author of the citizen’s arrest bill, said she doesn’t care who gets credit as long as the law gets changed after the experience of Mr. Chen.

“I have said for a long time that hard-working shop owners should not be treated like criminals,” Ms. Chow, a Toronto MP, told reporters.

“I’m very happy today that finally the Prime Minister said that he will change the Criminal Code. We should call this a Lucky Moose bill, because really had David Chen’s case not occurred, the Criminal Code wouldn’t be changed…”

At issue in Mr. Chen’s case was whether he was within his rights to make the arrest because he apprehended the man hours after he had committed the theft.

I never spent much time working retail; but, I can appreciate the frustration felt by any shopkeeper over dealing with shoplifters and similar thugs.

The biggest danger in my neck of the prairie is that local politicians would like to keep security guards and shopowners defenseless when facing down armed thieves. A losing proposition for ordinary folks simply trying to halt a crime.