Monday, October 01, 2007
a quick link
This made me giggle this morning it is about a Labour minister who was photoshopped in on an NHS photo . Here is a take on this
Recessmonkey1
Recessmonkey2
I really need to start understanding Spainsh politics, it was a task I set myself to do but still haven´t got round to it.
Some good Humour of the satirical type at south of watford here
Recessmonkey1
Recessmonkey2
I really need to start understanding Spainsh politics, it was a task I set myself to do but still haven´t got round to it.
Some good Humour of the satirical type at south of watford here
Labels: Politics
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
How to save 868,000,000 euros
The Air force is buying 87 Euro fighters and according to El Pais each one costs 124,000,000 million euros. Why don´t they just buy 80 and save 868,000,000 euros. One of the justifications is that 22,000 jobs are involved. It seems quite an expensive way to keep down the numbers of people claiming the paro. Funny how an election is around the corner as well.
Thursday, June 28, 2007
When you have been away from England for too long
I was just catching up on the BBC site to see what was happening in the UK. What struck me was that I only recognise about four or five of the cabinet members announced so far. It will be interesting to see how Gordon Brown does, it is always quite exciting when there is a new Government (even if he wasn´t elected by the people). With luck he will do well and hopefully withdraw from Iraq (or any other conflict which Blair might get the UK into now he is some kind of international peace maker). I have been out of the UK for six years now and was a little bit suprized at my lack of recognition of who the current political leaders are. With Spanish politicians I really wouldn´t have a clue apart from the leaders and the presidents of Madrid and Valencia, but I am happy with this situation because it doesn´t allow me to develop obsessive anger rages when they mess things up. However as part of my political education my objective de semana will be to find out who the ministers are here in Spain and over in the UK.
Labels: Politics
Monday, June 25, 2007
Not a bad earner
Victoria Beckham just recieved an extra cash bonus for being insulted, she was called "picky demanding and rude", she won undisclosed compo.
She is surely without shame, there are people starving and she makes a court case out of words which I have been called often and worse.
I know someone who met her while working and they said a lot worse than that about her. I wish she would just piss off from Spain.
Only a few days left in my job and looking forward to the next chapter, I have the feeling I had six years ago in valencia when I knew that anything is possible.
How many more soldiers have to die and get injured on these so called peace keeping missions? I have family out in Bosnia at the moment, although they wouldn´t agree with me I just don´t agree with UN intervention because I can´t actually remember any success stories.
Also I can´t really see the advantage for a settlement in Israel when certain groups strap people up in dynamite. It is a one sided peace? process but images like this do not endear people to a cause for freedom and self determination.
She is surely without shame, there are people starving and she makes a court case out of words which I have been called often and worse.
I know someone who met her while working and they said a lot worse than that about her. I wish she would just piss off from Spain.
Only a few days left in my job and looking forward to the next chapter, I have the feeling I had six years ago in valencia when I knew that anything is possible.
How many more soldiers have to die and get injured on these so called peace keeping missions? I have family out in Bosnia at the moment, although they wouldn´t agree with me I just don´t agree with UN intervention because I can´t actually remember any success stories.
Also I can´t really see the advantage for a settlement in Israel when certain groups strap people up in dynamite. It is a one sided peace? process but images like this do not endear people to a cause for freedom and self determination.
Labels: Politics
Saturday, June 16, 2007
Pure theatre
Soon I will be leaving my job, and I will miss the discussions I have with my pupils. we oftem debate politics amongst other things, however I feel disheartened, not because of the fact that we have some amazing indepth discourse about the future and present circumstances of Spain, but in the fact that the disdain these pupils hold for elected representatives. For the first few years in Spain , I put it down to their age, but when I reflected back to my experinece in the UK, many children had ambitions to be politicians, or work for the Government out of a sense of public duty or to better the world. I worked at both Middle class and Working class schools, but there was a sense in both of these institutions that people can make a difference. So it wasn´t their age or the fact that it was in Spain, it is I believe that politicians have wasted the chances they were given thirty years ago to develop a new Spain and improve the lot for its people.
Spanish politics has become pure theatre. In thirty years of democracy when a new deal could have been found, it has been turned into a self serving process for politicians. There are marches against gay marriage and marches which attack the personalities of politicians from opposite view points, marches which seem to me to play light of terrorism, while ignoring that something should and could be done to stop it, but there seesm to be a lack of protests against issues which effect the social and economic welfare of the people. I was reading yesterday on South of Watford that the only question that Rajoy asked of the prime minister was, what is he doing at the weekend? Is this somesort of Joke, or is it a reflection of the contempt in which politicians hold the people
Beaucracy and paperwork stiffle any attempt at economic liberalisation, friends of mine have told me that in paperwork alone it can cost up to 30,000 euros to set up a restaurant or cafe, unless it is set up illegally. This same beaucracy hinders people from going around their daily business, and living their lives simply, recently in the legalisation of papers department for non-nationals I was informed by the information desk in the legalisation department that they cant give out information about legalisation of papers. The only reasons I have ever heard for poeple becoming civil servants here is that they can´t be sacked and it will help them find a good mortgage, this is not to say it doesn´t exist but I have never been given the rationale of public service as a choice for this career path. When Spain joined Europe, money flowed and whilst there might be nice trains and shiny new roads, many people still have to survive on less than a 1000 euros and on contracts which are not really worth the paper they are written on. What has the present Government done about this, when it had a chance? Very little, in the last three years the circumstances of many workers has not improved
The housing market is in crisis or at least on the cusp of one and the Government reply is basically don´t worry (see the potential implications here on The Big Chorizo)
In Alcala, industry is relocating to other areas which results in job losses, while any attempt at developing new skills is answered by the authorities "send people on some cooking training courses with the unemployment office". What about a debate about public education, rather than the teaching of religion in schools. Spanish public schools are seen as some of the worst in Europe, there is money available to improve them and the morale of teachers, why for example in Valencia a few years ago did the Valencian speaking schools get new ICT suites before the others, is this not politicians playing (bad)politics?
Legalised sexual slavery is visable on many salidas from towns or at the sides of the motorways, and again I have seen no marches in protest at this dispicable act against women, who come here with the promise of work in a disco, but end up becoming future AIDS victims.
Immigrants are vilified, although many blogs hold out the hope that it will be better in the future, my friends who are black still see it has a them and Spanish situation, how can it be argued that all will be fine when a professional friend of mine still gets her basket checked every single time she goes to the self service checkout at a famous Spanish supermarket, she pays taxes does not wrong and is still viewed as a thief. I have argued before that immigration is the poker that prods the economy to keep it burining away at over 3% growth.
Certain sections of the population are literally disenfranchised, and although I am not in agreement with the cause of the basque nationalists, if they have no way of expressing their desires they feel at liberty to find alternative processes, there was a chance for a peace treaty and the politicians did not move far enough, and when Zapatero did, he was vilified as a supporter of terrorism. The conspiracy theories about 11/M still abound, do these people have no shame or respect for the people who died and were injured?
Politicians use nationalism in Catalunia, Valencia and Galicia to feather their nests, offer them referendumns, let them put their money where their mouths are, after the results are known they will still be part of Spain. Turkeys dont vote for Christmas
In my job there are several pupils who could have the ability to be high ranking politicians, when I say to them, go for the top, not one of them sees any virtue in being a politician, I might as well be saying aim to be on the checkout at Ahorra Mas. Is this the state the country is in when the next generation see being a politican as a not worthwhile job, in fact see it has a negative career development. It is a shame over the last 6 years I have taught many wonderful pupils who really could make a difference, but unless the current political game is changed for the better they will be turned away from public service.
Spanish politics has become pure theatre. In thirty years of democracy when a new deal could have been found, it has been turned into a self serving process for politicians. There are marches against gay marriage and marches which attack the personalities of politicians from opposite view points, marches which seem to me to play light of terrorism, while ignoring that something should and could be done to stop it, but there seesm to be a lack of protests against issues which effect the social and economic welfare of the people. I was reading yesterday on South of Watford that the only question that Rajoy asked of the prime minister was, what is he doing at the weekend? Is this somesort of Joke, or is it a reflection of the contempt in which politicians hold the people
Beaucracy and paperwork stiffle any attempt at economic liberalisation, friends of mine have told me that in paperwork alone it can cost up to 30,000 euros to set up a restaurant or cafe, unless it is set up illegally. This same beaucracy hinders people from going around their daily business, and living their lives simply, recently in the legalisation of papers department for non-nationals I was informed by the information desk in the legalisation department that they cant give out information about legalisation of papers. The only reasons I have ever heard for poeple becoming civil servants here is that they can´t be sacked and it will help them find a good mortgage, this is not to say it doesn´t exist but I have never been given the rationale of public service as a choice for this career path. When Spain joined Europe, money flowed and whilst there might be nice trains and shiny new roads, many people still have to survive on less than a 1000 euros and on contracts which are not really worth the paper they are written on. What has the present Government done about this, when it had a chance? Very little, in the last three years the circumstances of many workers has not improved
The housing market is in crisis or at least on the cusp of one and the Government reply is basically don´t worry (see the potential implications here on The Big Chorizo)
In Alcala, industry is relocating to other areas which results in job losses, while any attempt at developing new skills is answered by the authorities "send people on some cooking training courses with the unemployment office". What about a debate about public education, rather than the teaching of religion in schools. Spanish public schools are seen as some of the worst in Europe, there is money available to improve them and the morale of teachers, why for example in Valencia a few years ago did the Valencian speaking schools get new ICT suites before the others, is this not politicians playing (bad)politics?
Legalised sexual slavery is visable on many salidas from towns or at the sides of the motorways, and again I have seen no marches in protest at this dispicable act against women, who come here with the promise of work in a disco, but end up becoming future AIDS victims.
Immigrants are vilified, although many blogs hold out the hope that it will be better in the future, my friends who are black still see it has a them and Spanish situation, how can it be argued that all will be fine when a professional friend of mine still gets her basket checked every single time she goes to the self service checkout at a famous Spanish supermarket, she pays taxes does not wrong and is still viewed as a thief. I have argued before that immigration is the poker that prods the economy to keep it burining away at over 3% growth.
Certain sections of the population are literally disenfranchised, and although I am not in agreement with the cause of the basque nationalists, if they have no way of expressing their desires they feel at liberty to find alternative processes, there was a chance for a peace treaty and the politicians did not move far enough, and when Zapatero did, he was vilified as a supporter of terrorism. The conspiracy theories about 11/M still abound, do these people have no shame or respect for the people who died and were injured?
Politicians use nationalism in Catalunia, Valencia and Galicia to feather their nests, offer them referendumns, let them put their money where their mouths are, after the results are known they will still be part of Spain. Turkeys dont vote for Christmas
In my job there are several pupils who could have the ability to be high ranking politicians, when I say to them, go for the top, not one of them sees any virtue in being a politician, I might as well be saying aim to be on the checkout at Ahorra Mas. Is this the state the country is in when the next generation see being a politican as a not worthwhile job, in fact see it has a negative career development. It is a shame over the last 6 years I have taught many wonderful pupils who really could make a difference, but unless the current political game is changed for the better they will be turned away from public service.
Labels: Politics
Friday, June 15, 2007
telefonicaised
I now feel like a proper expat, we have had three days of the runaround by telefonica: I have been telefonicasriseated. Threatened them with a denunciation and hey presto workmen came around tonight. On monday in the hospital again I was asked to queue for the registration for the second time in a month because the first time after queing for an hour and half, they made a mistake, I refused to and held my ground for half and hour or so, and then they let me push in. I have the key to bad customer service, dont move and hold your ground don´t threaten a reclamation and again hey presto problem solved. Although it can lead to a headache lasting for a couple of hours after. My new philosohpty is reply with the bad attitude and they will give in.
Some update on the ETA from two other great sites.
The Bad Rash
South of Watford
It seems to me that it is either black or white with regards to the ETA issue. If people are blocked from voting in a democracy, and today is the 30th anniversary of the return of democracy, where do people turn to. If you cut out a tongue the person must find another way of communicating and its not always hand signals.
On tele 5 breakfast programme this morning they interviewed several of the old party leaders at the start of the democracy, the Communist seemed really really happy and quite content, does this tell us anything?
Some update on the ETA from two other great sites.
The Bad Rash
South of Watford
It seems to me that it is either black or white with regards to the ETA issue. If people are blocked from voting in a democracy, and today is the 30th anniversary of the return of democracy, where do people turn to. If you cut out a tongue the person must find another way of communicating and its not always hand signals.
On tele 5 breakfast programme this morning they interviewed several of the old party leaders at the start of the democracy, the Communist seemed really really happy and quite content, does this tell us anything?
Labels: life in spain, Politics
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
ETA
Having been near two terrorist acts in my life one in Israel when a bomb was discovered on my bus going into the airport and another when I was young in London on Oxford street, I am a peace process person, I believe that while people are talking no-one is being killed or maimed. So my view on the ETA announcement is that it is sad. The bombs in Barajas were a sign of a lack of seriousness on the side of ETA. Here is what the well respected English speaking blogs in Spain have said so far.
Notes from Madrid
Big Chorizo
Iberian notes
I don´t think that the Government has given into ETA since they were elected, I genuinely believe that Zapatero wanted a peace process, but it takes more than one side to reach anagreement.
Notes from Madrid
Big Chorizo
Iberian notes
I don´t think that the Government has given into ETA since they were elected, I genuinely believe that Zapatero wanted a peace process, but it takes more than one side to reach anagreement.
Labels: life in spain, Politics
Monday, May 28, 2007
The chicken didn´t win
The green english speaking chicken didn´t win here in Alcala and to be honest I really can´t understand why, obviously people like the extra traffic, fumes, dust and new buildings popping up every hour on the hour.
The mayor patted me on the back in the voting station and I didn´t have the heart to tell him I wasn´t voting for him, but my colleague at work told me that he got in anyway.
The voting system is amazing here, it was very different in Valencia a few years ago. The voting forms were laid out on a table so anybody could see the list you picked up before placing them in the envelope. Also finding the room where I supposed to vote turned into a trek around the school. Still it was nice to be part of something important, and I am sure that in four years time, when we have to walk around Alcala in face masks with automatic asthma inhalers while dodging traffic looking for the last tree, the green chicken will win.
There´s space for at least two blocks of flats and a road here.
The mayor patted me on the back in the voting station and I didn´t have the heart to tell him I wasn´t voting for him, but my colleague at work told me that he got in anyway.
The voting system is amazing here, it was very different in Valencia a few years ago. The voting forms were laid out on a table so anybody could see the list you picked up before placing them in the envelope. Also finding the room where I supposed to vote turned into a trek around the school. Still it was nice to be part of something important, and I am sure that in four years time, when we have to walk around Alcala in face masks with automatic asthma inhalers while dodging traffic looking for the last tree, the green chicken will win.
There´s space for at least two blocks of flats and a road here.
Labels: Politics
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Voting - la fin
I have enjoyed this Spanish election, because the last time I voted in Spain I was influenced by the Americas Cup, so I voted PP in Valencia (probably a big mistake). This time we both decided long ago that we would vote Green, and yesterday I found an extra reason for placing my cross next to them, well two reasons really. One the Greens candidate in Alcala anglicanised name is Julius Caesar (one of my favourite historical figures), secondly because yesterday while in carrerfour, a man dressed as a chicken came up, although in Spanish I always say duck after several times I have pronounced Pollo the wrong way, I once informed R´s mum that I really really love cock, and the Duck man spoke English. Who could not vote for a English speaking green duck? I must admit though, I did feel a bit guilty driving past them when leaving the store pumping who knows what into the air.
My friend Alison also saw the Chicken in the Plaza los Santos Niños in Alcala (click here)
Los verdes website
Apart from environmental concerns the Greens sign is a Sunflower, my friends in valencia own a bar called Girasol on Calle Turia, its the best bar in valencia, so if you are there call in say hello to Nicolas and have a smoke ( they sell tea as well. Super).
Seriously, it has been amazing to see how blogsphere in Spain has viewed the elections. I think it shows that Spain has made people welcome and people feel attachment to the country in such a way that they want to partake in the political process to build a better Spain.
My friend Alison also saw the Chicken in the Plaza los Santos Niños in Alcala (click here)
Los verdes website
Apart from environmental concerns the Greens sign is a Sunflower, my friends in valencia own a bar called Girasol on Calle Turia, its the best bar in valencia, so if you are there call in say hello to Nicolas and have a smoke ( they sell tea as well. Super).
Seriously, it has been amazing to see how blogsphere in Spain has viewed the elections. I think it shows that Spain has made people welcome and people feel attachment to the country in such a way that they want to partake in the political process to build a better Spain.
Labels: life in spain, Politics
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Voting part 3
Some monsters who call themselves Alcala Habitable two days ago put a poster on the door of our building, Informing us not to be ostriches. I read further, it told us basically that immigrants are bad and indiginous population are good, and I assume that they believe Alcala would be a much nicer place to live if immigrants all left. Do these people not understand the irony of the fact that the reason Alcala is HABITABLE is because of immigration, the buildings, the growing economy , the new fushion of cultures. If they would have bothered in look further into the inhabitants of our building, there is a real mix of cultures, no problems, and now the idiot neighbours next door have gone, everyone is friends again. Needless to say I ripped the poster down and will definately not be voting for them.
The PP theme tune is really irritating me now, I would have thought handing out leaflets quitely and explaining the issues to the voters face to face might be more successful in helping them get their vote out. The Council did find time to clean the pirates mask that had been drawn on Esperanza in the park, her picture in the bus stop has a speech bubble now but my linguistic skills do not stretch as far as scribble, so I will never know the political intentions of the culprits. Maybe it was a couple of biddys waiting for the bus and they found that they were a little bit bored.
The PP theme tune is really irritating me now, I would have thought handing out leaflets quitely and explaining the issues to the voters face to face might be more successful in helping them get their vote out. The Council did find time to clean the pirates mask that had been drawn on Esperanza in the park, her picture in the bus stop has a speech bubble now but my linguistic skills do not stretch as far as scribble, so I will never know the political intentions of the culprits. Maybe it was a couple of biddys waiting for the bus and they found that they were a little bit bored.
Labels: Politics
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Voting part 2
Esperanza´s face has been covered up by opponents posters on my bus stop. All thats left of her is a mouth which uncannily resembles an upsidedown mooncat from the 1980´s childrens programme.
Labels: Politics
Blair - good riddance
When he was elected in 1997 it was fanfared as a new Jerusalem, he believes it was and that he created one. I was one of the only people amongst my friends who didn´t seem pleased. Today I have been trying to think of positive things I believe he could leave as a legacy. I thought of two main ones, the minimum wage, once the lowest in Europe but now one of the highest , due to market led forces in my opinion, what business was prepared to pay based on productivity and efficiency in the economy. Although philosphically I dont agree with tax credits, they have brought benefit to many many people, and they are a good legacy. The Northern Ireland pece settlement I believe he pushed along but the current stage in the peace process is down to the energies and compassion of the people of Northern Ireland.
However, I believe sincerely, that he has left the UK in a much much worse condition than when he arrived. During his tenure, we have had an illegal war which has costs tens of thousands of lives and has changed geopolitics for the worst. Corruption at a low level is rife at various levels of Government . Wistleblowers have been "got rid off" when they try to tell the truth, and this is followed by whitewashed Government reports. He has developed a cruel cancer at the heart of british political life (or continued it at least). Spin has nearly replaced all political dialogue The gap between the rich and poor is wider. His ministers vilified single mothers. The far right is on the rise and in powerful positions in some areas of local government. Genuine refugees have been found sleeping homeless on the streets. Crime is at record levels (or at least the perception is). Old people still die waiting for hospital treatment. Schools are still failing many many people. University education is no longer free. The United Kingdom is gradually developing into the disunited Kingdom, even in England the calls for a separate Parliament are becoming louder. Civil liberties have been eroded and his efforts on the environment have been words matched by very little action.
He has had ten years to heal the wide divisions which exsited in British society and I genuinely believe that they are now wider and he is resposible ultimately for this.
I am glad he has gone. Good riddance to bad rubbish.
As an example, his "legacy" still breathes poison into political life. http://www.theliberati.net/quaequamblog/2007/05/10/blairying-bad-news/
However, I believe sincerely, that he has left the UK in a much much worse condition than when he arrived. During his tenure, we have had an illegal war which has costs tens of thousands of lives and has changed geopolitics for the worst. Corruption at a low level is rife at various levels of Government . Wistleblowers have been "got rid off" when they try to tell the truth, and this is followed by whitewashed Government reports. He has developed a cruel cancer at the heart of british political life (or continued it at least). Spin has nearly replaced all political dialogue The gap between the rich and poor is wider. His ministers vilified single mothers. The far right is on the rise and in powerful positions in some areas of local government. Genuine refugees have been found sleeping homeless on the streets. Crime is at record levels (or at least the perception is). Old people still die waiting for hospital treatment. Schools are still failing many many people. University education is no longer free. The United Kingdom is gradually developing into the disunited Kingdom, even in England the calls for a separate Parliament are becoming louder. Civil liberties have been eroded and his efforts on the environment have been words matched by very little action.
He has had ten years to heal the wide divisions which exsited in British society and I genuinely believe that they are now wider and he is resposible ultimately for this.
I am glad he has gone. Good riddance to bad rubbish.
As an example, his "legacy" still breathes poison into political life. http://www.theliberati.net/quaequamblog/2007/05/10/blairying-bad-news/
Labels: Politics
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
Voting part 1
We are trying to work out who to vote for in the elections. We will weigh up all the positives and negatives of each party. At the moment the PSOE van is belching out fumes and informing us through incredibly loud speakers that someone called Simicas is coming to town. They are telling us about the environment in Alcala while simultaneously polluting the air with carbon and noise, so thats a tick in the negative column there then. My bus stop has a lovely picture of a blonde Joan Collins asking us to have confidence or faith in the future, someone has drawn a lovely protruding nose on la Esperanza can´t decide whether she should be in positive or negative column. I bet her Avon lady makes a mint with her order.
UPDATE
I have seen him on the Posters, Simicas is PSOE.
UPDATE
I have seen him on the Posters, Simicas is PSOE.
Labels: life in spain, Politics
Thursday, May 03, 2007
Shes going down
What will happen to La Pantoja?
If my Spanish is not letting me down, she spent the night under house arrest, and has spent today in court
R is distraught, I am finding it hillarious and if I wasn´t in pain with my foot today, I am sure I could engender a few laughs.
Many years ago I trained in Law and used to beleive strongly in the rule of Law (until my court case in Spain which I won but recieved nothing in return), however it seems at the moment that those who act and think that they are above the law seem to be getting just deserts, two of the nobility Lord Browne and La Pantoja may soon be getting a taste of porrage rather than using avacado as margarine.
Will she soon feature in her very own bad girls series on tele 5
He will still makes loads out of his prison diaries
Photos of Avila and Salamanca tmw
If my Spanish is not letting me down, she spent the night under house arrest, and has spent today in court
R is distraught, I am finding it hillarious and if I wasn´t in pain with my foot today, I am sure I could engender a few laughs.
Many years ago I trained in Law and used to beleive strongly in the rule of Law (until my court case in Spain which I won but recieved nothing in return), however it seems at the moment that those who act and think that they are above the law seem to be getting just deserts, two of the nobility Lord Browne and La Pantoja may soon be getting a taste of porrage rather than using avacado as margarine.
Will she soon feature in her very own bad girls series on tele 5
He will still makes loads out of his prison diaries
Photos of Avila and Salamanca tmw
Labels: celebs, economics, Politics
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Worlds Apart
A new princess was born today and as a somewhat royalist thats good news for Spain.
She is named Sophia after the Queen.
However the other news important to me today was in the Sunday times and related to something from my political days in the Liberal Democrats (I still prefer the term Liberal party, still dont accept these SDP upstarts, they are still labourites). However I digress. In a great multi-cultural ward in which many of my family live, a ward in which I have canvassed, delivered leaflets and used up tons and tons of shoe leather, the Labour Party have been accused of electoral fraud (see article in Sunday Times). Now I know it is not only labour who have in the past committed fraud, but this is a ward where the majority of the people work hard but much of the time life is a battle, in the last few years they have voted Liberal for a reason. This is a ward where there are high levels of poverty but people just get on with their lives do not turn to the far right for an easy way out, and they vote for councillors who work on their behalf. They have been neglected by labour for many many years and now Labour feel they have the right to basically view their democratic rights like crap. I sincerely hope that the culprits go to Jail, but like most politicians they will probably walk away scot bloody free. Grrrr
She is named Sophia after the Queen.
However the other news important to me today was in the Sunday times and related to something from my political days in the Liberal Democrats (I still prefer the term Liberal party, still dont accept these SDP upstarts, they are still labourites). However I digress. In a great multi-cultural ward in which many of my family live, a ward in which I have canvassed, delivered leaflets and used up tons and tons of shoe leather, the Labour Party have been accused of electoral fraud (see article in Sunday Times). Now I know it is not only labour who have in the past committed fraud, but this is a ward where the majority of the people work hard but much of the time life is a battle, in the last few years they have voted Liberal for a reason. This is a ward where there are high levels of poverty but people just get on with their lives do not turn to the far right for an easy way out, and they vote for councillors who work on their behalf. They have been neglected by labour for many many years and now Labour feel they have the right to basically view their democratic rights like crap. I sincerely hope that the culprits go to Jail, but like most politicians they will probably walk away scot bloody free. Grrrr
Labels: life in spain, Politics
Friday, April 27, 2007
property
In the financial times the other day there was an article of the end of the boom in Spanish property. This has no consequences for me, but many of my friends are mortgaged to the hilt. I rent and will always rent, when I owned a house it was an hassle and when I sold it it was more hassle and everytime I return home my friends tell me how much I would have made if i kept it, I reply yes but I would need a stress ball the size of Pudsey Asda. My own opinion is that there will be a decrease in prices in many areas of Spain but not in hotspots such as Madrid and Barcelona. My friends in Valencia tell me that prices are not rising, but thankfully they are not falling.
In the FT article it talked about the impact of several corruption scandals in Spain on the fall in property stock prices. This may be the case but it seems to me that the whole system in based on corruption, many friends have left spain with 100, 000 euros in bags when they have sold their properties here, many people seem to pay a part of the price with "black money". It would therefore seem axiomatic that a industry built on corruption with corrupt foundations will be destroyed by corruption and corrupt practices. The corruption seems to be practised at individual, local governmental and corporate level. I know it is not the same in every instance, but it seems to me that it is in a reasonable amount of cases
In the FT article it talked about the impact of several corruption scandals in Spain on the fall in property stock prices. This may be the case but it seems to me that the whole system in based on corruption, many friends have left spain with 100, 000 euros in bags when they have sold their properties here, many people seem to pay a part of the price with "black money". It would therefore seem axiomatic that a industry built on corruption with corrupt foundations will be destroyed by corruption and corrupt practices. The corruption seems to be practised at individual, local governmental and corporate level. I know it is not the same in every instance, but it seems to me that it is in a reasonable amount of cases
Saturday, April 21, 2007
A bit of politics
Is it me or does Zapatero look a tinsy bit camp, he looks at though he is taking her on a pasadoble.
Photo stolen from El Pais website
Photo stolen from El Pais website
Labels: Politics
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
smoking update:
Havent smoked today but used strong patch, and even better it was 27 degrees this afternoon in Alcala and 22degrees at about 10:00 summer has arrived.
There is a brilliant program on the proposed standard for blogs in UK. Link is through this link. Be quick cos I think its only on for about another 5 days. Interesting arguement of whether Blog code of practice shoudl exist, I think there are reports of cyber bullying and bad comments among some blogs in UK and elsewhere.
Personally, there is always a delete button and I don´t think blogging should be another area where Governments can further curtail our Freedom of Speech.
One of the things which makes blogging unique is the free market in blogs if you dont like it you can choose another. My favourite blogs are linked on the side of the screen, and they themselves contain lnks to many wonderful pages.
There is a brilliant program on the proposed standard for blogs in UK. Link is through this link. Be quick cos I think its only on for about another 5 days. Interesting arguement of whether Blog code of practice shoudl exist, I think there are reports of cyber bullying and bad comments among some blogs in UK and elsewhere.
Personally, there is always a delete button and I don´t think blogging should be another area where Governments can further curtail our Freedom of Speech.
One of the things which makes blogging unique is the free market in blogs if you dont like it you can choose another. My favourite blogs are linked on the side of the screen, and they themselves contain lnks to many wonderful pages.
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