From reconstruction to hedonism via the Welfare State

In the second stage, this wealth was fairly distributed. It was the stage that saw the change to a Welfare State. This included health, education and social services for everyone, higher unemployment benefits and state pensions, a lower retirement age. Poverty was tackled and grants and a wide range of services were made available to all. Since these two stages largely overlap one another, the second – the more social stage - was gradually adopted in line with wealth creation. Progressively more and more was added. There were increasingly more pledges and greater expectations.

Then the third stage began. With a high per capita income and an ever more consolidated and generous Welfare State, politicians were unsure what else to offer. By this time, a highly demanding State had been established and the endeavour of effort and responsible solidarity of the two previous stages had become a distant memory. This led to a call for a hedonistic society. And one part of the political class signed up to this emotional response and looked for a way to benefit from it.

This situation has been especially evident in Spain over the last seven or eight years. Hedonism, which, as well all know, identifies wellness with pleasure, became the order of the day. Not with responsibility, not with the common good, not with fairness, but with pleasure. This was progressively applied with an almost infantile rashness in order to outstrip everyone else. All of it conducted in a climate that placed its trust in infinite growth, which would be possible – it was believed - without effort. Because it was assumed we would be freed of the postindustrial economy and rely instead on services. This was a mistake, because the economy is by no means post-industrial and services also require effort and involve risk. And seriousness and demandingness.

In short, after the stage of striving for wealth creation and its distribution, the Welfare State and stability, we entered a stage that many supposed would be one of gradually increasing ease and guaranteed personal satisfaction.

But we have also reached a point of fatigue in this hedonistic stage. We have good social services. Since, overall, society has become fairly affluent. We have spent more than could and we have produced less than was needed.

And it's time to tell an entire generation that it's over. That, in fact, this was never a serious scheme, but a frivolous one. This especially holds true for Spain, and those who believed in it now find themselves facing an extremely uncertain future. For the country in general and they themselves in particular. And for political leaders and intellectuals who irresponsibly steered us in this direction.

All of this is a digression. It has to do with the fact that Catalonia has (and Spain even worse) a high level of unemployment among the young. More than double that of European Union. It's a disgrace and a responsibility.

This fact compels us, among other things, to tell the country the truth. And to take painful measures. And hence to adopt a policy based on political seriousness, transparent information and an understanding of the people’s needs.

With confidence, yet without complacency or self-pity.