Along with Greece, Spain
represents the epicenter of decaying Western societies. Multiple rounds
of social spending cuts reflect Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy's war on
his own people.
Complicit parliamentarians go along. At issue is class warfare, transferring
household wealth to bankers, other corporate predators, and privileged
elites, eroding Spain's middle class, and destroying a whole youth generation
and perhaps others to come. More on this below.
Spaniards protest angrily against what no one should tolerate. They're
back after the latest announced austerity package.
On July 19, London's Guardian headlined "Spanish take to streets in
protest as MPs pass ($65 billion) austerity package," saying:
They raged in 80 cities nationwide. They're mad as hell and won't take
it anymore. The Guardian downplayed turnout. Possibly millions participated.
Around 800,000 rallied in Madrid. Other major cities saw huge crowds.
Police attacked protesters violently. "Angry civil servants had blocked
traffic in several main Madrid avenues earlier in the day, with protesters
puncturing the tires of dozens of riot police vans, amid growing upset
at austerity, recession and 24% unemployment."
Youth unemployment is 50% and heading south. Spain is deteriorating
in plain sight. Madrid marchers carried Spanish flags and banners saying
"No to the cuts." "You have ruined us." "Hands up, this is a robbery."
In Mieres near Oviedo, eight firemen disrobed. A wall above them displayed
a banner saying "With so many cuts we have been left naked."
On July 21, Russia Today said "rallies turn violent" as millions march
for social justice. In Madrid, police charged protesters violently.
They used batons, rubber bullets, and tear gas.
At least 15 arrests were made. Dozens were injured. In urban areas,
trash cans were set ablaze. Barricades were erected to block police
vehicles from entering.
Clashes continued daily since the latest mid-July austerity cuts were
announced. Each turnout ups the stakes and gets more violent.
One protester said:
"There's nothing we can do but take to the street. We have lost between
10 and 15 per cent of our pay in the past four years."
Another said:
"We have to make some noise, because they're making fun of us and of
all working people."
Coal industry subsidy cuts threaten around 50,000 mining and related
jobs. Since May, thousand of miners struck, blocked streets and railroads.
They and others vowed to keep struggling for justice. Police attack
them violently.
According to Spanish sociologist Carlos Delclos:
"If Mariano Rajoy had any sense of decency, or even a fragment of dignity
that the miners and the protesters have, then he would resign, along
with the rest of his government."
"He’s broken every campaign promise that he’s made, some even at comical
levels. His entire party was saying that raising sales tax was unthinkable
and all that, and now we have a 21-per-cent sales tax."
He thinks he can get away with anything. "What we are seeing is the
impunity of a government that has a lot of people that pertain to groups
that had affinity with the Franco government, the Fascist government,
40 years ago, and have never had to sit before trial since then," he
added.
Multiple rounds of cuts assure more coming. Social Spain is being destroyed.
New measures call for raising the VAT from 18 to 21% effective August
1. Over $800 million in domestic spending reductions is planned. Expect
much more later.
At issue now is freezing public sector wages, cutting them for some
state workers, slashing unemployment benefits, raising the retirement
age from 65 - 67, and linking eroding pensions to life expectancy.
In addition, closures and/or privatizing state industries, ports, airports,
and rail assets are planned. Town councillor numbers are being reduced
by one-third. Regional and local government authority is eroding. Trade
union and political party subsidies face 20% cuts.
Sentiment across the country reflects rage. Protests continue daily.
On July 16, Madrid streets were blocked. Firefighters, off duty police,
civil servants and miners marched on Spain's parliament. Police confronted
them violently.
Civil servants are especially hard hit. They took 5 - 15% previous cuts.
They lost Christmas bonuses. They're 7% of their reduced annual income.
Sick pay is lower. Fewer days off and less rights overall became policy.
Firefighters lost up to 30% of their income. One protesting nurse said:
"There are hospitals with whole floors that are not being used because
they are firing and cutting jobs. We have little hope, but staying at
home would just make it easier for the government to keep on doing what
it wants."
Protesters include doctors, nurses, teachers, professors, students,
cops, firemen, other civil servants of all stripes, unemployed and underemployed
people in all age groups, and youths representing a lost generation
being destroyed.
Since 2008 crisis conditions erupted, massive cuts in jobs, income,
healthcare, education, pensions, and other social benefits were instituted.
So-called reform involves dismantling public services entirely. It's
also about slashing wages and pensions to the bone.
Growing unemployment, poverty, hunger, homelessness, and despair for
some, rage for many others, reflects current conditions growing numbers
won't tolerate.
Cutting Spain's deficit from 8.9% of GDP to 2.8% by 2014 is cover for
waging ruthless class warfare. It's raging across Europe, America and
Israel.
High-paying/full-time jobs are disappearing. Benefits are eroding en
route to eliminating them altogether. Ruler/serf societies are planned.
People have two choices - rebel or starve. Fight back or face heart
of darkness big brother conditions. Prioritizing monied interests over
popular needs assures the worst of what Conrad and Orwell conceived.
"The horror! The horror!" reflects what at stake.
A Final Comment
On July 19, Germany's Bundestag overwhelmingly approved bailout aid
for Spanish banks. European Financial Security Facility (EFSF) funds
will supply it.
Despite criticizing Chancellor Angela Merkel's handling of crisis conditions,
Social Democrats and Greens largely supported her. Germany's Left Party
voted no.
Spain gets $123 billion. It's coming in several tranches through yearend.
It's a down payment on what's needed. Expect hundreds of billions more
before crisis conditions end. Major Spanish banks are insolvent. They're
drowning in toxic debt. It's impossible to repay.
Instead of being nationalized, shut down, or broken up, bailouts hand
them taxpayer money. Eurozone countries contribute EFSF funds. Troika
(EU/ECB/IMF) diktats control policy. Ordinary people have no say on
how their money is misused and spent.
In June, Eurozone leaders agreed to allocate EFSF loans to Spain's Fund
for Orderly Bank Restructuring (FROB).
Conditions involve deep social spending cuts and regressive reforms.
German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schauble defended the aid package.
He said Spain's financial sector faces stability issues. Other Eurozone
countries are affected. Madrid is responsible for repayment. Taxpayers
are stuck with the tab.
Parliamentary opposition was weak. Social Democrat leader Frank-Walter
Steinmeier accused Merkel of not leveling with German voters and explaining
the burden accurately.
German President Joachim Gauck said "(s)he now has the duty to explain
in great detail what (her plan) means, also in fiscal terms."
Thursday's parliamentary vote came during its summer recess. It reconvened
on Merkel's request. On June 29, it adjourned.
Members left with Bundestag President Norbert Lammert instructions not
to "swim to far out and make sure your carry-on baggage is within close
reach."
In other words, giving criminal bankers taxpayer money is prioritized
over parliamentarian fun in the sun and providing vital social services
to German citizens who need them.
The name of today's game is destroying decades of social progress. It's
about money power over popular needs. It's about exploiting people,
not serving them. It transforming Western societies into dystopian nightmares.
Only public rage can change things. Key is mobilizing it before it's
too late.
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.
His new book is titled "How Wall Street Fleeces America: Privatized
Banking, Government Collusion and Class War"
http://www.claritypress.com/Lendman.html
Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to cutting-edge
discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News
Hour on the Progressive Radio Network Thursdays at 10AM US Central time
and Saturdays and Sundays at noon. All programs are archived for easy
listening.
http://www.progressiveradionetwork.com/the-progressive-news-hour
Likud, Kadima, Labor, or new centrist party leadership hardly matters.
Israel remains hardline, belligerent, and repressive. Arab citizens
have no rights.
They and most Jews chafe under neoliberal harshness. Instead of improving
conditions, they're worsening.
Malcolm X once said "I see America through the eyes of the victim. I
don't see any American dream - I see an American nightmare."
Israelis face similar harshness. Remaining rights are eroding en route
to being lost altogether. Populist change demands sustained public rage.
Nothing else can work.
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.
His new book is titled "How Wall Street Fleeces America: Privatized
Banking, Government Collusion and Class War"
http://www.claritypress.com/Lendman.html
Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to cutting-edge
discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News
Hour on the Progressive Radio Network Thursdays at 10AM US Central time
and Saturdays and Sundays at noon. All programs are archived for easy
listening.
http://www.progressiveradionetwork.com/the-progressive-news-hour
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