Slovenia

Žarko Petan explains that, in times of inflation, “It's not meat that's become dearer, but money that's become less dear”. His advice: “Die today... tomorrow your funerals will cost even more”. About socialism, he points out that: “In socialist countries, even crises have been nationalised”. He is all in favour of a cultural revolution, but “provided that the revolutionaries are cultured”. About taxation, he quips: “They strip you of your trousers, and then tell you to tighten your belt”. Josip Stritar and Ivan Cankar pass a harsh judgement on the power of money. According to Slavoj Žižek: “Today, you’re rich if you own your time”. Janez Drnovšek makes the case that economic progress must be at the service of all, not a handful. For Tone Partljič: “the State is […] also the guardian of the common interest”. Spomenka Hribar’s view is that: “The measure of a society is how it looks after its most vulnerable members”. Maša Stošič asks: “What's the point of our beautiful façades if there is nothing behind them?” Janez Mencinger has this warning: “Wealth in itself does not bring pleasure, but subjects the human spirit to the fleeting power of things”. Tone Partljič considers that: “Wealth without morality is just a bunch of empty numbers”. For Andrej Velkavrh, evolution depends on setting ambitious objectives. Matjaž Gruden urges us to be careful in any undertaking and not take risks without thinking about the consequences. The poet Simon Gregorčič champions economic patriotism, making the point that: “What you do for yourself disappears with you. What you do for the nation lives on forever”.