Italians, don't you just love them?

Begob, it is the land of Michaelangelo and Leonardo but, frankly, that's not the half of it. You see, they still make things there. No, not just furniture and lighting, not just cars and clothing; they make lots of things you would never think about. Machine tools, aluminium extrusions, glass - and it is usually less expensive and better. Do you know it is cheaper for me to buy an 18mm thick plate glass table top in Milan and cart it across the Alps, than to buy it from Pilkingtons? So where do I buy it?
Listen, this didn't happen by accident, and it didn't happen overnight. This has happened since the war - 60 years. They are not really more 'artistic' than we are. Did anybody ever apply paint better than Turner? Did Wren have to tip his hat to anybody? Is there a more prolific architect than Foster drawing breath today? Faith, no there isn't.
It's industry. Industry got behind the designer, paid his milk bill while he was scratchin' away with the HB; then they paid for the mock-up; then they paid for the tools to make the piece. Later they built a factory to produce it, and paid the people for miles around to come and work there. And they had still sold nothing, not one unit.
So don't talk to me about the 'mystique' of Italian design. Talk to me about what this government is going to do to foster a climate where the artisan is king, not the merchant banker or the computer operator.