Italian court rules food theft 'not a crime' if hungry

Re:Italian court rules food theft 'not a crime' if hungry by scurvy on Tuesday May 03, 2016 @10:09AM (#11620778)

Europeans (DHH for example) constantly brag about what great social safety nets the European countries provide for their people, and that US style charities are a waste. Implying charity money should be given to the government as tax money and let the state do their work instead.

Italy has just admitted that it can't take care of its citizens' basic needs. I'm not saying it's time to eat crow, but I am saying it's time to realize that both systems have flaws and there's no reason to get righteous about one approach over another.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Italian court rules food theft 'not a crime' if hungry by megalodon on Tuesday May 03, 2016 @10:21AM (#11620919)

What the what? Your generalizations are way out of line. You can argue about or criticize the ruling but don't use it out of context to push your own agenda.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Italian court rules food theft 'not a crime' if hungry by scurvy on Tuesday May 03, 2016 @10:28AM (#11620977)

I don't have an agenda, that's my point. I'm saying it's time for certain people to stop pushing theirs.

OK, I have an anti-agenda agenda.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Italian court rules food theft 'not a crime' if hungry by megalodon on Tuesday May 03, 2016 @11:01AM (#11621245)

> Europeans (DHH for example) constantly brag about what great social safety nets the European countries provide for their people

> Italy has just admitted that it can't take care of its citizens' basic needs.

Maybe you don't, but you are implying that this somehow is a failure of social safety nets.

As someone else in this thread mentioned, the italian justice system is based on civil law, not on precedent (common law) so this ruling doesn't have the repercussions many seem to think. I'm not a lawyer however, so don't quote me on this.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Italian court rules food theft 'not a crime' if hungry by toopok4k3 on Tuesday May 03, 2016 @10:30AM (#11620998)

You draw a bit too many conclusions here.

Maybe he was drunk or slept during the food lines, or he just didn't give a fuck that day? Poor people can decide not to receive any help they are provided. It's not like we can throw them into a prison for being poor.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Italian court rules food theft 'not a crime' if hungry by scurvy on Tuesday May 03, 2016 @10:36AM (#11621043)

So neither system can take care of all the people all the time? That was my point. It's time to stop pontificating that one approach is the only approach.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Italian court rules food theft 'not a crime' if hungry by googletazer on Tuesday May 03, 2016 @10:31AM (#11621013)

Mr Ostriakov, a homeless man of Ukrainian background.

Somewhat doubtful that Mr Ostriakov is Italian, or from an EU member country. Very likely that Mr. Ostriakov had to illegally go to Italy to find work after Biden & co decided it was time to "liberate" Ukraine. Just a theory.

[ Parent | on HN ]