Be careful what you wish for....
As "they" say, "Be careful what you wish for, as those wishes just may come true."
The Catalan Independence is one step closer to being a reality.
The Basque are certain that this bodes well for their cause as well....
Independence sounds good, but what are the realities of the ongoing struggle for a small state? Trade agreements that can be bargained on a larger scale as Spain would be relegated to back burner issues from small nation-states. Services that are provided from the larger collective, such as healthcare and a national defense, become expensive burdens on the smaller state....
I do hope that both the Catalan, as well as the Basque, get exactly what they dream of...I just hope that the reality of those dreams lives up to the expectations.
The Catalan Independence is one step closer to being a reality.
The Basque are certain that this bodes well for their cause as well....Independence sounds good, but what are the realities of the ongoing struggle for a small state? Trade agreements that can be bargained on a larger scale as Spain would be relegated to back burner issues from small nation-states. Services that are provided from the larger collective, such as healthcare and a national defense, become expensive burdens on the smaller state....
I do hope that both the Catalan, as well as the Basque, get exactly what they dream of...I just hope that the reality of those dreams lives up to the expectations.
posted by bisbohemian at 7:30 AM
1 Comments:
David,
We need to break down all paradigmas regarding this issue of independence for small states.
Yes, what you mention deserves to be considered.
But we have to take into consideration that Europe is doing away with borders, and that is going to benefit regions more than states.
Both Euskal Herria (Basque Country) and Catalunya are considered among the 10 richest regions in Europe. Both regions have achieved that despite having to drag the Spanish economy as a whole for the last 6 decades.
Neither EH nor Catalunya care for a national defense, think more like a Swiss style here.
Regarding healthcare and all those other subsidies, well, that is why both regions are wrestling for more autonomy from Madrid, because it is EH and Catalunya who are funding those social services in areas of Spain that lag behind.
They want for their taxes to be used in their infraestructure.
All in all, they would win out of this situation, and let us remember her that Lichtenstein, Andorra, and San Marino are smaller and count with fewer resources, and yet, no one is afraid for their economies.
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