Intoxication and consistency

This is explained by the results of a survey recently published by the Noxa Institute, and is borne out by other research. Surprising? Yes and no. But scandalous, to say the least. At any rate, it is the result of a political and media action that is constantly attacking Catalonia, and with dishonest means.

What does the survey report? It says, for instance, that 60% of Spaniards believe that the Government of the Generalitat is responsible for the serious problems of infrastructures and not the central administration. This is the opinion of 72% of PP voters and 60% of the PSOE voters. These data vary only in Catalonia. That so many believe this – which is outrageous – suggests a methodical and unrelenting operation of intoxication.

This is at odds with the most elemental logic and truth. Because if the suburban train network falls within the powers of the central government and if the REE –that is, the company that runs the power grid in Catalonia – is also the responsibility of the State and not of the Generalitat, how can the bad management and the lack of planning and investment be blamed on the Generalitat and, therefore, on Catalonia?

I repeat. To state this is a serious fabrication and an injustice to the people and to Catalonia. And when, virtually, all the Spanish political forces and the Spanish mass media are taking part or not in this manoeuvre contradict, slight, pour scorn and, at times, spread hatred, it is evident that there is a severe civic and, even, a moral defect in Spain.

Consistency

There is nothing, or little, to say outside of Catalonia. Besides the climate in Spain as a whole is extremely strained and tarnished on this issue.

Some day they will overcome their incompetence and perhaps their extreme lack of solidarity and other negative sentiments, and the suburban train network will once again work. But this alone will not patch up the damage that this and other things have caused us nor will it protect us in the future. And, meanwhile Catalonia has to recover her internal consistency. Because it has already been said more than once that Catalonia has lost her inner strength. In many areas but, above all, in the most fundamental: that of the collective will, of common sense, of trust, hope and ambition. In that of political, social and economic leadership.

It has been often said that Catalonia needs to recoup her self-esteem. And it is true. But there is something prior to self-esteem. Our reality and our history have justified our self-esteem, and they justify it. But something has been shaken; cracks are appearing in our consistency. We have some fragile elements, and we have to repair them. Without wasting time. Because, otherwise, self-esteem will have no sense nor will it be effective.

It is not a question of isolating Catalonia from the rest. The truth remains that our world is the world, as being or trying to be a part of Spain. So, not even now can we give up projecting ourselves – as we have done in Frankfurt, for instance, and very well. But the priority is to consolidate Catalonia and her social fabric, her economy, her culture. And, above all, her outlook, her sentiment, her global project. And her leadership