Spanish Protests

The Spanish are beginning to feel that their government is corrupt and it doesn't have their best interests at heart:

"While we may call the protests in Spain "austerity protests" they're better characterized as being anti-corruption protests.

It's not the cuts, per se (though they don't help, when unemployment is already where it is), it's the feeling that people have no power over government, that the government favors elites, and that the country is losing sovereignty that drive people mad.

This is what should terrify the Eurozone as a whole, and Spanish PM Mariano Rajoy, who has to make the call to ask for aid."

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/why-they-protest-in-spain-2012-9#ixzz27xQ30X2W

Opportunities are not available for the people of Spain, especially the young.  "Pablo Rodriguez, a 24-year-old student doing a master’s in agricultural development in Denmark, said the austerity measures and bad economy mean most of his friends in Spain are unemployed or doing work they didn’t train for.

He plans to work abroad after graduating and doubts he will put his education to use in Spain until he is at least 35 or 40, if ever.

“I would love to work here, but there is nothing for me here,” Rodriguez said. “By the time the economy improves it will be too late. I will be settled somewhere else with a family. One of the disasters in Spain is they spent so much to educate me and so many others and they will lose us.” http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/spanish-anti-austerity-protesters-clash-with-riot-police-near-parliament-3rd-time-this-week/2012/09/29/faa2a568-0a98-11e2-9eea-333857f6a7bd_story.html

Unemployment rates are approaching 25% overall and 50% for people under 25.  Spain is educating it's young professionals, but they are having to leave the country so they can support themselves.  You would think that Spain is doing the right thing by investing in it's most valuable asset, it's young people, by paying for their educations so they can develop opportunities in Spain.  What are the true barriers to developing opportunities in Spain?  Why won't businesses invest in Spain?  Is the government the only place to lay blame for their problems?


The United States is quickly developing European style social programs.  Once these are fully developed, we will have the same type of citizenry and investment environment as Spain.  We can do better.  People need to feel that they are contributing something to the community or they become detached from it.  I would like to see a system developed where everyone fully understands that we all have a stake in the outcome. Without every citizen's contributions, we will end up like Spain.