A momentous day for the
EU; the technocrats, bankers and bureaucrats who run 'the project'
and who've been experimenting with a single currency for more than a
decade finally got round to hosing money at the southern European
states that have been mired in recession/depression for 5 years or
more. Of course, none of these people will ever be held responsible
for the increased misery caused by their delay of at least 3 years.
And now the question is whether Europe's effective rulers - Germany
- will accept this defeat lying down. As Our Ambrose has noted: This
Latin revolt violates the sacred contract of EMU: that Germany
gave up the D-Mark and bequeathed the Bundesbank's legacy to the ECB
on the one condition that Germany would never be out-voted on
monetary issues of critical importance. And the germans are not the
only angry party; Holland, too, is making nasty noises. So, will they stay
in the club? Our Ambrose - who supports the ECB measure, feels Mr Draghi may have saved
Italy from a debt-deflation trap in the nick of time. He may have
gained another year or two for Southern Europe to recover before
radical populist parties sweep the stale elites from the political
scene. But in doing so he risks losing Germany. Vamos a ver. Will the Germans take it lying down? Probably.
I've taken to wearing
my first plastic wrist-band - a yellow one. Or I will when I find
one. But this is not just
because the lovely Queen Letitia does so; it's because the band is a
plea for sensible working hours in Spain. This may take another 20
years or more but it has to come. You can't really know how
ridiculous Spain's horario is until you live and, more so, work here.
So, I commend to you the efforts of the Association for the
Rationalisation of the Spanish Timetable, the good folk responsible
for the yellow wrist-bands. Being far too individualistic and proud -
not to say bloody argumentative - the Spanish don't go in much for
associations but this is clearly one which merits existence and
success. Which might be more assured, if you could find out how to
buy one of their bands.
Talking of living in
Spain . . . Here's the latest useful list from The Local - Moving to
Spain; a Guide for Beginners.
And here's one piece of advice from me for all visitors and newcomers:- Spanish pastries will
always entice and will always disappoint. Especially if you've lived
in France. I'm still trying to find a meringue that isn't all goo in
the middle.
One obstacle not really
mentioned in The Local's list for tyros is Spain's infamous bureaucracy. Or Los
funcionarios. An outfit called Legally Yours says of them, quite
accurately: Like most civil services, Spain’s bureaucracy wants to
bring order to the world and everything in it. But while in other
places they seek to do this simply with laws and regulations, Spain
adds a wild card to the mix: it gives public servants discretionary
powers whenever possible. More here.
Finally . . . There are
other anti-religious cartoons which are milder, more even-handed and
a damn sight funnier than those of Charlie Hebdo. One such is Jesus
and Mo, which even Christians have been known to enjoy. Nine years
ago it mentioned Charlie Hebdo and you can see the cartoon here. If
you don't want to be offended, don't look.
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