Tea Party Italia!

It’s official: the Tea Party has infiltrated Europe! On May 20, Italians held their very first Tea Party in Prato, an ancient city near Florence. I had the opportunity to do an interview with the Italian Tea Party’s organizer, David Mazzerelli. Despite what Washington would like you to believe, not all Europeans are content with big government after all!

PR: Why did you decide to organize a Tea Party?

DM: Because the excess of taxation! Here our state is very socialized and the government takes half of our income. We would like our income back, and we wish to have money in our pockets to spend in a free market. We fight for the values of individual responsibility. In Italy the government treats citizens like kids. We want to be treated like adults.

PR: How many individuals attended?

DM: About 100 people came from Italy. Many people heard about these issues for the first time and there was a big interest around the themes of individual liberty and the free market.

PR: Are you planning to expand the Tea Party movement?

DM: Sure! We are planning the second Tea Party (Rome June 26th) and we want to spread the Tea Parties all over the country. More than ten cities are ready to continue our battle. We would also like to create a European Tea Party to fight together against the European Union.

PR: What are the main concerns the Italian Tea Party has?

DM: We are concerned about the possible collapse of the state. States can fail? Of course! Greece failed and the European situation is disastrous. The euro is a fake and our economies are weak and imprisoned by a big amount of laws and absurd political rules.

PR: How has the Italian media responded to the first Italian Tea Party? Do you feel the coverage of your event was fair and accurate?

DM: We have had media coverage on local television stations, an article in the Tuscany newspaper, and big coverage in one of the most popular Italian newspaper named "Libero".

PR: What type of taxes do individuals and businesses pay in Italy?

DM: Businesses and Italian families pay taxes of every kind: more than half of our income must go to the state.  We work until June for the government. It is crazy. Over 60% of the price of gas goes to taxes (1.4 euro per liter). Every other purchase is 20% tax- not to mention the taxes on the car, the house, and the public tv. You must even buy a ticket to go in the square to protest! It happened to us in the Tea Party near our cathedral!

PR: Are you satisfied with healthcare in Italy and what type of healthcare system is in place?

DM: We are not satisfied with the Italian health system. We want reform based on a free market that allows everyone to choose. We want our money in our pockets and we do not want the state to tell us what is good for us. We don't like Obamacare either. However, even this reform - for Europe and Italy - could be a great revolution because our health care is fully socialized which means:

            1. Long queues at the hospitals

            2. Bad doctors

            3. Wasting of public money

            4. You have to pay a lot for medicine!!!

PR: In the U.S., a handful of politicians and celebrities have come out publicly supporting the Tea Party. Are there currently any politicians or celebrities who have shown support for the Italian Tea Party?

DM: Not for now, but we're hoping for future endorsements.

PR: The U.S. Tea Party has also been demonized and misrepresented by individuals like our Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, and news stations such as MSNBC. Has the Italian Tea Party experienced anything like this?

DM: Before being demonized, we must be understood! Most of the people, media, and politicians do not understand what we ask for and what we do. We look like aliens! So our first goal is to make everyone understand that the only way we can save our economy is through freedom and not through big government

For more information on the Italian Tea Party check out their Facebook page (and maybe even become a fan!) Tea Party Italia!