There is a lot of politics to be done. There are lots of innovative policies that need to be developed and applied. Tragically, until now, the state has only been able to apply the predictable and destructive austerity-based plans.
©European Greems/Barry Sandland - EGP Committee member Mar Garcia Sanz
Recently, another of my friends, Guillem, was also fired. He worked in the regional government and speaks fluent French and English. Has a degree and was once able to represent Catalonia abroad in the field of public lotteries. He is also a father of a six years old girl.
None of them are very hopeful of finding a new job.
Those are only two examples of what is happening not just in Catalonia, but across Spain - and most certainly in Portugal and Greece.
People being kicked out of their jobs, deprived of a dignified way of earning their living, and at the end, of freely living their lives.
Why is this happening all together? Not because Mariona failed at her job. Nor Guillem. It's because we are deeply immersed in a major crisis and in an economic crisis this government failed to face, mainly with three key failures:
First: A rapid and major decrease of public sector deficit, which has resulted in a deep welfare cuts and a major public disinvestment. So today we have a state that is not able to guarantee its citizens the basic rights our Constitution provides. We have a state that, rather than promoting economic regrowth, is breaking down our economy.
Second: Implementing a labor market reform that has brought us to the horrific figure of six million people unemployed. The results are brutal. Easier and cheaper dismissals. Lowered wages. Unilaterally modified working days and conditions. Weakened trade unions.
Third: Reform of the financial sector has failed because, until now, our government has been unable to confront banking sector interests. Spain, the Spanish people, spent 40 billion Euros to save the banks - the culprits. But there is no money for the victims!
On top of that, this government's neoliberal policies are being accompanied by a conservative restoration project. They are planning to modify our abortion law, our penal code, the education system, etc...
There is a lot of politics to be done. There are lots of innovative policies that need to be developed and applied. Tragically, until now, the state has only been able to apply the predictable and destructive austerity-based plans.
Good luck Mariona and Guillem! Fighting for better conditions for you two and our children is one the main reasons why I do politics!
