you couldn't make it up dept. no.110: Rutland lives

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The Italian government's threatened abolition of 36 Provinces (roughly the equivalent of counties) and of all local authorities of less than 1000 inhabitants, as part of the recent emergency expenditure-cutting budget, has predictably caused an uproar. Filettino, a village in the mountains east of Rome, has actually declared independence as the "Principality of Filettino" and is already printing its own money. It also threatens to slap a tax on the water from its reservoir, which feeds most of the city of Rome.

Comments

BRITISH SECESSIONISTS?

[joetexx.livejournal.com]

The Rutland reference goes over my provincial Texas head...

HOW NOTTING HILL OF THEM

[joetexx.livejournal.com]

Welcome Filettino to the comity of nations. What is the Obama / Cameron stance on recognition?

SPEAKING ONLY OF THE LETTER 'M'

[joetexx.livejournal.com]

http://www.buckyogi.com/footnotes/natm.htm

Muscongus Island- Muscongus Island is located off the shore of Maine. In 1860, the island was inadvertantly left off the state’s official maps, and the residents were therefore not allowed to vote. In retaliation, Muscongus Island declared its independence. Like many respectable residents of rural America, they enforced this by firing their rifles at any tax collectors sighted on the island. The Muscongans decided not to press the point after the Civil War began, although the declaration of independence was not formally withdrawn until 1934.