The main stream media is plastered with Italy-based panic mongering since the recent general election saw 20% of the vote go to comedian Beppe Grillo, and the majority of the vote go to anti-austerity parties. The EU imposed austerity technocrat Mario Monti meanwhile received only 10% of the national vote. But a closer look at the decline of Italy in the last two decades under Berlusconi, suggests this turn of the electorate might be more exciting than terrifying for those with an interest in democracy over austerity.