  We discuss the effects of a quantum critical point located nearby optimum
doping and related to local charge segregation (stripe phase). The fluctuations
in the critical region produce at the same time a strong pairing mechanism and
a non-Fermi liquid behavior in the normal phase above the superconducting
critical temperature. Superconductivity is a stabilizing mechanism against
charge ordering, i.e. the incommensurate charge density wave quantum critical
point is unstable with respect to superconductivity. A complete scenario for
the cuprates is presented.
