Spain

[nowaysj]

I knew unemployment was high in Spain but talking to a Spanish visitor the other day had me realize the place is crumbling...well past people protesting and now withdrawing from civil obligations like tax. The 6% self-employed paying 40% (or something way disproportionate) of taxes collected. Nepotism rampant for the few public service jobs going. Cocaine use obiquitous with increasing numbers of angry addicts. Sounds like the only positions available are with the smugglers coming in from the Azores. And then there's climate change...which doesn't sound all bad: now growing tropical crops inland from Malaga.
This guy was relatively fortunate; having a contract with an English University. Even with his impressive skill set he reckoned he'd be on the end of a mile long queue just to apply for a position in Spain.
How's Spain gunna get out of this one?...looks like the monarchy's sidestepped abolition, big energy companies are screwing consumers & people who are self-sufficient on solar (http://www.thelocal.es/20140321/sun-tax-talk) and the brain drain continues

I know a three letter word that will get a country out of condition like this, but what is it good for?

[m8son666]

leave the european union is more than 3 letters

[nousd]

hey, no time to cry or go to war
Spain's got a lot going for it
the young unemployed have to start acting for their future,
get some ideas and start taking over

it seems Spain has largely depended upon remittances for its wealth
whether from it's empire or migrants
probably because it never had much by way of mineral/energy resources
and its forests were quickly depleted
it isn't known for technologically innovative nor standards of production excellence
social mobility is limited by nepotism and a laissez faire culture
but
dependence on the welfare state isn't as entrenched as other European countries
so self-reliance is a persistent value worthy of seed-funding for entrepreneurial ideas

there are strong historical trading links throughout the world
which can be invigorated with an effort towards restitution and reconciliation

it is, in part, a safe, cheapish, accessible European escape from winter gloom
and an accessible, safe, democratic refuge for the African diaspora
an innovative interaction of these sheltering visitors could be exploited economically

its range of climates grows a great variety of foods
which, up to now, have not been rigorously enough held to the standards that attract high export prices

with a few exceptions, contemporary Spanish creative arts have not been produced or promoted internationally
to the extent that it represents a significant export

football drains a lot of energy from social engagements and increases wealth inequality
Start dissembling it's power and redirect people's motivation towards volunteerism and community-building

but, like a lot of times and places of trouble
the hard thing is to let go the past and move into the new reality
I don't know what Spain's new reality is
but from my perspective, they've got a lot better chance of embracing it than most countries
because they have a penchance to resist being sheep (or goats)

[nowaysj]

leave the european union is more than 3 letters

OUT

@SillyDude: Yes, and I just bathed at the base of a hundred and fifty foot waterfall, but instead of unicorns there was only a pair of angry prairie dogs. The unicorns are so rare, I'll leave you to expect them. I'll continue with oiled steel.

[nousd]

last time I looked, Spain owed most money to the UK
how's getting out of the EU & German support gunna help the Spanish people?

[lazyalf]

.

[nousd]

now that's lazy Elf

[jaydot]

They're shit at football, their beer is shite and their economy is bust what's to like?

[_ronzlo_]

http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinio ... 11694.html

[DiegoSapiens]

Bring the caliphate back

[magma]

They're shit at football, their beer is shite and their economy is bust what's to like?

..... everything else?

[DiegoSapiens]

Even our football and beer is good (exept san miguel)

[magma]

I quite like San Miguel

A key part of the British national experience is sitting in departures at Malaga desperately trying to formulate a way you can not be in Gatwick in 3 hours time.

[jaydot]

They're shit at football, their beer is shite and their economy is bust what's to like?

..... everything else?

Even their food is shite. Tapas wouldn't fill a mountain of a man like me. Give me a Sunday roast any day

[OGLemon]

Sounds homoerotic

[lazyalf]

Even our football and beer is good (exept san miguel)

Ahhhh c'mon Diego, you can defend your country's football, weather, food, culture, whatever, but the beer... Please. It's utter shite. The only decent one is Alhambra verde and that's it.

[DiegoSapiens]

Alahambra and cruzcampo are both sick, ambar, skol, cruz del sur are fine too and pretty cheap. Rest are not very good but they only serve cruZcampo here thet is the besg lager ever so...

[Samuel_L_Damnson]

I know it is cliche, but when I was in Catalonia, I just thought everyone sounded like a sissy. If you've been to the west coast of california, and more specifically San Francisco, you probably would be familiar with the root dialect.

But I feel you. Northern California, Oregon really talking about forming a new state. The energy level is going up, bonds are beginning to break down. We're about to go to political plasma.

its nothing new, hisorically theres always been small groups of people proposing various splintered off states, none of em ever gain serious traction



this is what the US would look like if they had all succeeded, 124 states!

This is very very interesting

[kaili]

They're shit at football, their beer is shite and their economy is bust what's to like?

..... everything else?

Even their food is shite. Tapas wouldn't fill a mountain of a man like me. Give me a Sunday roast any day

hey thats harsh, i dont like fish but the meat version of paella is FIT
i agree all the beer here fuckin sucks tho

[DiegoSapiens]

Paella is not only fish they are lot of versions. The bull tail one is the ficking best thing in the world