Polente, Rîs, e Vuardi

Polenta, Rice, and Barley

Appears in
La Terra Fortunata
La Terra Fortunata

By Fred Plotkin

Published 2001

  • About

And he gave it for his opinion that whoever could make two ears of corn grow upon a spot of ground where only one grew before, would deserve better of mankind, and do more essential service to his country than a whole race of politicians put together.

—JONATHAN SWIFT

It has been frequently observed to me that although Friuli-Venezia Giulia has made enormous contributions to Italy for such a small region, it has not given the nation too many politicians. You may say this is a good thing (though I believe that we need to develop and support talented leaders rather than disdain all politicians), but the people of Friuli-Venezia Giulia have their own outlook. It is a society that is fundamentally egalitarian, while Italy is a nation where politicians have incredible privileges.