So far, nothing I’ve read indicates definitely whether if Catalonia splits from Spain, it will then join the European Union (EU). It would seem strange if it did, since it would then be part of an entity of which Spain was a part, but going it alone is supposed to be stupid, as we’ve been told endlessly about Brexit. Yet, it seems that those Americans talking about the stupidity of Brexit nevertheless support Catalonian independence. On the other hand, if Catalonia did join the EU, the EU may order them back into union with Spain. Of course, they may order Spain to back off, or they may order them both to work it out for themselves. Whatever happens, it seems the EU will enrage someone.
Meanwhile, both sides seem perfectly willing to be overwhelmed by Muslims, so I’m not sure why I should support Catalonian independence, except in the most minimal way. See here.
Here is an essay by Spengler who gives lavish praise to the Catalonians. Yet, despite what he says, the populism in Catalonia really has little to do with Brexit, Trump’s victory, or the recent victories by the far right in Germany. Those were about countering elites who have made non-elite whites feel unwelcome in their own countries, a phenomenon that has been gathering steam since the Vietnam War at the earliest. Catalonia seems quite different since it depends on feelings that have been festering since the 1930s, if not much earlier.
I don't follow why separatist Catalonians think would benefit from independence. Maybe there are reasons, but it seems dumb idea to me.
What's of interest to me, though, is the heavy-handed way the Spanish government is trying to crush this. People with dumb ideas still have rights, and if people who have dumb ideas are to be suppressed, it's hard to think of any of us who will be unscathed.
Posted by: Charles N.Steele | 10/06/2017 at 05:33 PM