Assembly in Puerta del Sol in Madrid. 22 feberro of the 2011. Drawing: Cretinolandia
We present a series of excerpts chosen from book the same title published this year have teachers of Political Science and Economics Vicente Navarro, Juan Torres and Alberto Garzón. In a situation as serious as we are experiencing some reflections are relevant and necessary to have the power to go against the dominant thinking about in relation to the current situation of our country.
"Spain urgently needs to generate more revenue and therefore it is essential, first, increase economic activity and employment, ensure forcing companies solvent demand and sufficient funding. And secondly, reform our tax system to make it fairer and consistent with globalization and the abundance of movements and financial transactions in which economies operate. "
"To avoid extra costs which would have to do is cut those that make the economy and society functions best, those related to education, research, health, dependence, job training, support to companies that create jobs, etc., but optimize their management to avoid the type of waste produced years ago and prevent root causes, arrest, poverty and, above all, political power of the banking, allocate forcing dozens of billions of euros to save the cause of the crisis instead of jail. "
"To control that speculators are more expensive to finance governments need, what you need to do is impose filters to speculative capital movements and force the European Central Bank to act as it should be: a bank to finance European governments so that they are not eaten by the markets. And keep in mind that if that is not possible within the euro and if we only suffer this hell, we have the right and obligation to set ourselves the masters of our destiny opting for other ways to avoid it, getting out of this mission so badly designed monetary, so unfair and so subject to the financial powers "
"The reason why companies continue to close and losing jobs is clear: businesses have no customers, not sell enough and the banks do not provide funding (or they give rationed, in very small quantities. And it does not take a Nobel laureate in economics to realize that the cost reduction measures that are being imposed in Europe aggravate the situation, because the cut that expense reduce demand required by employers and, to give money to the banks without imposing financial obligations, only achieved to continue speculate endlessly and won many more million without solving problems. "
"This is a failure of the long announced financial sector because it is born of not wanting to recognize and deal with the real situation starting: trying to increase their business infinitum (generating debt) banking system has destroyed making him jump into a thousand pieces. "
"If bankers have managed to put their orders to governments with much discipline, especially in Spain, is something. On the one hand because of the enormous political power they have accumulated. And, otherwise, because they managed to impose on society a vision, according to which the economy goes ahead only if they give wings to the private sector. And that is what leads governments to privatize public capital, to apply labor and financial reforms to enable corporate profits multiply rapidly, and to put more and more resources in ,years of the big banks and investment funds through privatization of pensions and public savings. "
"The problem is that this is not only an extremely unfair to spread the wealth, but also a formula that does not act to ensure the overall operation of the economy: what you get is deteriorating demand and without it can only succeed companies have much market power and completely defenseless and forced customers. For these and for banks remain open bar European Central Bank and copious government assistance is a perfect move. But is lethal for small and medium businesses, for workers and the economy in general. "
"What is happening in Spain unfortunately-the difficulties we have to carry out more effective policies to overcome the crisis and slavery with which we must continue to implement the strategies that worsen our situation check- has to do with our limited democracy and this, and the embroidery, with our recent history. Franco's dictatorship was a political system primarily intended to consolidate the interests and privileges of the large landowners who, under the scheme, created large business groups and financial. It was a period of great social backwardness, contrary to what happened in Europe, slowed the creation of the welfare state in this country. And so they formed a very powerful oligarchic power that not only has not disappeared with the current situation but even democracy has been strengthened in recent years. And left in your hands not only the material basis of the economy but of the media or his influence in key institutions such as the judiciary. This allowed them to establish very unfair electoral laws to ensure the privilege of the parties committed to the system. "
"To ensure mastery dominant conservative forces in the transition have greatly limited the representativeness and the modus operandi of the political institutions and that has meant that citizens have very few opportunities to participate in the governance of the country, while oligarchic groups enjoy considerable influence through informal channels and derived from its great economic and media power.
"The enormous influence of bankers and big business groups that hold oligopolies on the economy (especially energy and communications), who have managed to enact these policies to governments, they both agree and do so much damage to the other members of society, brings to the table a key issue and it is essential to take into account to understand what happens in the economic life of our country: Los economic problems are the technical issues, and the operation of machinery, are resolved objectively and neutrally, but are actually political problems. That just means you solve any economic problem involves, bar none, allocate resources from one pocket to another. "
"It follows, therefore, that economic problems are resolved one way or another depending on the power they have different social groups, this is their ability to get their interests or preferences imposed on others. If society were a truly democratic regime (that would allow all individuals were available accurate and truly in the same capacity for decision) then decisions on economic issues would be taken according to the majority interest of the population. But its democracy is flawed and does not allow all persons with the same force influence in decisions, they were taken in favor of those with more power or ability to decide.
"Faced with the policies that are being implemented what really is needed to deal with the situation would materialize in the following proposals:
A truly plural I expand social debate and democratic leading to a binding referendum to be the public who decide the policies to be pursued by the government and not the great economic and financial powers.
A second transition to free society from the embers of the dictatorship and remove the power that large oligarchic groups maintained since then. Committees supported independent personalities and institutions safeguarding regime should elucidate the possible intervention open spurious power groups (political, economic and financial, media, religious or otherwise) on the agenda of national problems and propose measures that control and responsibility avoided in future.
It would be desirable that all this will materialize in a new constitution. For one freed from slavery has meant the last reform of the current and completely emptied the principle of popular sovereignty. On the other, effective measures to ensure the full exercise of human rights and social and thus prevent the popular will can be supplanted by the privileged social groups. "
More information:
Vicenç Navarro personal Page
Copies of the book available in digital format. What Spain needs
And political scientist Professor Vicente Navarro
