Spain is headline news – at least in Europe where protests, heavy handed politics and police are not taking Catalonia’s independence with ‘grace’. And the media is quick to defend unity with who they call the silent majority of supporters who deny the right to sovereignty. It is interesting to note exactly ‘who’ the protestors are and who they support; Ciudadanos of the Catalan Socialist Party (PSC), the former Socialist minister Josep Borrell, the former PP Foreign Minister Josep Piqué (by videolink), and Paco Frutos, the former general secretary of the Spanish Communist Party.
In other words the call for unity is coming from the Communists and hard left Socialists.
Reuters and CNN and the Washington Post would tout that ‘over one million’ in favor of unity were protesting over the weekend. The Spanish police claim the number is closer to 300,000, but exaggeration is newsworthy. The only reason the mainland Spaniards would even care is the fact that the Catalans are a primary source of revenue – as in ‘share the wealth’. Except for that one detail, no one would care.
California has considered similar options wherein the uber wealthy would split from the welfare block. But the schism of political parties is significant because the party determines ‘how the wealth is shared’. And while Communism is about a dictator having all the wealth, and everyone else sharing what is left, The People currently holding the wealth aren’t liking the deal any more.
Unfortunately, Spain is refusing to negotiate, instead they are attempting to bully, force, manipulate and coerce.
Like the UK, the Royal Budget to uphold a relatively useless monarchy in Spain runs nearly 10 million Euro per year. Still, the budget pales compared to other EU countries supporting an outdated flow of regents. France tops the list at over 100 million Euros, UK is second at roughly 40 million, followed by Holland, Norway, Sweden, Demark, Belgium – then Spain.
Perhaps it is long overdue time to phase out the monarchs of the EU. They serve no purpose. And they spend like – well, Monarchs. The US should follow course by eliminating the post presidency budgets completely. The idea that multi millionaires who have spent 4 to 8 years representing our country should be entitled to annual budgets in the millions is shameful.
The US shells out $3-$4 million per year for past presidents whose respective net worth spans ridiculous numbers; Clintons combined = over $120 million, Bush Sr. = estimated $35 million and Jr. = roughly $25 million, Obama has an estimated $52 + million, and Carter, by far the poorest of the lot touts a piddlin’ = $5 million.
The absurdity of paying these people anything after 8 years of service is disgraceful. The fact that they would accept the money is sheer greed and begs the question of how can they not ‘share their wealth’? Isn’t that their entire political premise?
Worse, these net worth figures are most likely relatively low given the Swamps penchant for offshore hidden assets, hidden foundation monies, monies in their children’s names, etc….
Countries have vied for their independence from other countries for centuries. Eastern Europe is rife with such changes. The Roman Empire to the south became the Ottoman Empire, became Turkey. Bulgaria was siphoned off into Yugoslavia and Albania. Ukraine was Russia.
Today, the Spanish government has filed a lawsuit against the leaders of Catalonia claiming sedition, rebellion and embezzlement. It sounds like third world games, hardly the actions that would be likened to a respectable European country… Of course, the charges are meant to inject fear and potential prosecution, aka jail, also a third world manipulative tactic.
The mere fact that the Spanish government would approve a ‘takeover’ of Catalonia, smells decidedly coupish given that a legitimate vote of The People of Catalonia decided that Independence was indeed their choice.
Coup: A sudden appropriation of leadership or power; a takeover by force.