questionmark Posted October 8, 2007 #1 Share Posted October 8, 2007 Italy Lures Mamma's Boys Away from Home Italian Economics Minister Tommaso Padoa-Schioppa has proposed a tax break to lure Italian men in their 30s away from home. Politicians from across the spectrum have berated him for calling these men 'big babies,' blaming the problem on high rents and poor job prospects. A whopping one-third of Italian men over 30 still live at home with their parents but now the Italian government is hoping to provide an incentive for these aging mamma's boys to grow up. Italy's Economics Minister Tommaso Padoa-Schioppa is offering a €1,000 ($1,411) tax break for young Italians who rent, in a bid to lure what he calls the "big babies" away from the bosom of the family home. "We must send those we call bamboccioni ('big babies') out of the house," the minister told a Senate hearing on the 2008 draft budget. But his comments have caused uproar in Italy, with politicians from both left and right rushing to defend young Italians who they say cannot be blamed for a stagnant economy and soaring rents. "This absurd gaffe shows how he's probably not clear how precarious is the situation afflicting an entire generation," Franceso Caruso, a communist member of Romano Prodi's coalition government told Reuters. Isabella Berolini of the right-wing Forza Italia party urged Prodi to scold his minister for his "offensive" words, while trade union leader Guglielmo Epifani said that the sharp rise in the cost of living meant that the tax break -- which would add up to around €1,000 over three years for those whose annual income does not exceed €15,000 -- would not be enough to help young Italians stand on their own two feet. Full story, Source: Der Spiegel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rhyknow Posted October 8, 2007 #2 Share Posted October 8, 2007 Calling them big babies might just work. They're ever so insecure Seriously though, when I was living in Italy, I observed that family was a huge thing, moreso in the small villages. Every sunday the whole family would gather at nonna's place for a massive feast. Pretty cool actually! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unlimited Posted October 8, 2007 #3 Share Posted October 8, 2007 Calling them big babies might just work. They're ever so insecure Seriously though, when I was living in Italy, I observed that family was a huge thing, moreso in the small villages. Every sunday the whole family would gather at nonna's place for a massive feast. Pretty cool actually! extended family is nice but1/3 of all men still at home...wow that'll hurt birth rates... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rhyknow Posted October 8, 2007 #4 Share Posted October 8, 2007 extended family is nice but1/3 of all men still at home...wow that'll hurt birth rates... True. When Berlusconi was in power, one of his cabinet ministers jokingly suggested forcing all men and women at gunpoint to reproduce. Turns out he took it seriously and tried to push a bill that made stuff like that legal. Okay, I kid, I kid. But I wouldn't put it past him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
War Eagle Posted October 9, 2007 #5 Share Posted October 9, 2007 Man i tell ya, i laugh whenever i hear stories like that i got a city slicker cousin like that, although i'm sure it happens in most european families, just some more so than others i guess, it was the polar opposite me and my brothers thats for freaking sure. I consider myself lucky and grateful in a way though that mum & dad were brought up/went to the school of hard knocks in country Italy, nothing ever came easy or free in them days. When they came to Australia in 1960 with barely the suitcases in their hands and the cloths on their backs, then having eight of us making sure we all went thru the same thing lol! (the you got to be cruel to be kind motto was rife in my family...always tough but fair) They always said that self reliance and independence were two important keys to successful living later in life, do the hard time 'now' so you can take it easier later in life. Yet here i am yrs down the track doing practically the opposite with my boys lol!. * they're still very young but i fix em * Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glorybebe Posted October 9, 2007 #6 Share Posted October 9, 2007 Man i tell ya, i laugh whenever i hear stories like that i got a city slicker cousin like that, although i'm sure it happens in most european families, just some more so than others i guess, it was the polar opposite me and my brothers thats for freaking sure. I consider myself lucky and grateful in a way though that mum & dad were brought up/went to the school of hard knocks in country Italy, nothing ever came easy or free in them days. When they came to Australia in 1960 with barely the suitcases in their hands and the cloths on their backs, then having eight of us making sure we all went thru the same thing lol! (the you got to be cruel to be kind motto was rife in my family...always tough but fair) They always said that self reliance and independence were two important keys to successful living later in life, do the hard time 'now' so you can take it easier later in life. Yet here i am yrs down the track doing practically the opposite with my boys lol!. * they're still very young but i fix em * Well, a guy who lives at home is not what I think of as a future boyfriend. There are enough problems in relationships without Mommy being there all the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
War Eagle Posted October 9, 2007 #7 Share Posted October 9, 2007 Well, a guy who lives at home is not what I think of as a future boyfriend. There are enough problems in relationships without Mommy being there all the time. Thats a fact! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caesar Posted October 9, 2007 #8 Share Posted October 9, 2007 Well, a guy who lives at home is not what I think of as a future boyfriend. There are enough problems in relationships without Mommy being there all the time. LMAO... thats the truth! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_Nyx_ Posted October 9, 2007 #9 Share Posted October 9, 2007 (glorybebe @ Oct 8 2007, 09:05 PM) Well, a guy who lives at home is not what I think of as a future boyfriend. There are enough problems in relationships without Mommy being there all the time. Just because he doesn't live at home doesn't mean Mommy isn't still attached to him. I speak from experience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caesar Posted October 9, 2007 #10 Share Posted October 9, 2007 Just because he doesn't live at home doesn't mean Mommy isn't still attached to him. I speak from experience. Are you saying you have his phone traced and spycams in his car? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_Nyx_ Posted October 9, 2007 #11 Share Posted October 9, 2007 Are you saying you have his phone traced and spycams in his car? All that would have done was tell me who his current girlfriends were Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caesar Posted October 9, 2007 #12 Share Posted October 9, 2007 Whew... Just checking Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
War Eagle Posted October 9, 2007 #13 Share Posted October 9, 2007 Just because he doesn't live at home doesn't mean Mommy isn't still attached to him. I speak from experience. lol! I completely forgot about that, another good point Nyxie. 'Everyone Loves Raymond' ? . . . . . Hey lets not forget i've experienced/seen this kind of thing working both ways eh, no as bad but happens...*cough cough* Lucky for me i left home at 17, worked and lived on my own for many years (tis the best way to learn/become independent) I tell ya them folks appreciate you so much more when your not lingering around living off them on free food & board... ''Son, hurry up and get out of here, you bother me boy...'' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glorybebe Posted October 9, 2007 #14 Share Posted October 9, 2007 lol! I completely forgot about that, another good point Nyxie. 'Everyone Loves Raymond' ? . . . . . Hey lets not forget i've experienced/seen this kind of thing working both ways eh, no as bad but happens...*cough cough* Lucky for me i left home at 17, worked and lived on my own for many years (tis the best way to learn/become independent) I tell ya them folks appreciate you so much more when your not lingering around living off them on free food & board... ''Son, hurry up and get out of here, you bother me boy...'' I've dated a few guys who didn't seem mommas boys until we were dating. The next time I get asked out, I'm going to ask the guy if his mom is still alive, if he says yes I'm out of there. What is it with women not letting their sons make their own decisions and wanting to be the only woman in their sons lives? Good grief. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
War Eagle Posted October 10, 2007 #15 Share Posted October 10, 2007 The next time I get asked out, I'm going to ask the guy if his mom is still alive, if he says yes I'm out of there. LOL! What is it with women not letting their sons make their own decisions and wanting to be the only woman in their sons lives? Good grief. I'm guessing they don't wanna see their big babies hitching up with women that don't meet their expectations. It sounds to me like they're being too over protective...thats friggin sad. How do you ever expect anyone to learn without making mistakes in life. My mum's 73 still runs two farms, shes one rock solid woman, both mentally & physically, never had a drivers licence but rides her bicycle everywhere probably out live me. lol! When i first told her at 17 i'm leaving home to go work interstate she said straight out ''good luck son make yourself lots of money for the future take care & take your time don't hurry back'' (all said in Italian of course) lol! Later gb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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