Dawn

Dawn

Monday, December 09, 2013

The over-beneficial UK; Nordic Depression; Election politics; Street offences; & Modern mums.

Baroness Ashton - a Brit - is the EU Foreign Minister. She's told the UK government that it's their own fault that there's likely to be a flood of Rumanians and Bulgarians in 2014, because the British benefits system is too generous compared with that of other EU members. The solution, she says, is to reduce benefits. Not just for immigrants but for everyone. Easy to see she answers to no electorate.

Interesting to note that among those countries with the highest use of antidepressants are the Scandinavian countries which top all those polls of per capital this and per capita that, including 'happiness'. Maybe that's why they're called 'happy pills.

Señor Rajoy - afeared his austerity regime will cost him the elections in 2 years' time - is following the Cameron strategy and playing to the far right of a party that's already righter than other European 'conservative' parties. After the introduction of outrageous penalties for 'security' offences (some of them new), he's now turned to the law on abortion and proposed revisions designed to please not just mere Catholics but the quasi-fascist Opus Dei members of his cabinet. Sad times. But, hey, the politicos and the bankers are still doing OK, thanks.

With said election in mind, said Rajoy has promised there'll be less austerity next year and that he'll aim to reduce taxes. The EU Commission has said Not on your life, mate. And we know who's boss, don't we?

El País the other day carried a chart showing how the 15 or so security offences are treated in other EU states. Naturally, there were significant differences but the most eye-catching column was that for France, where virtually all the boxes simply said 'Sanctionable'. The land of Liberté? I guess it's because the French go in for violent street protest at the drop of a hat. I wish the bloody Spanish would. Nothing will change until they do and shock the politicians out of their bubble of greedy complacency. Perhaps I should take out Spanish nationality and lead the charge. Aux barricades, mis amigos!

Finally . . . Do modern mothers still tell their children every few days to make sure they have clean underwear "in case you're involved in an accident".

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