On the economic, political and moral crisis
Jordi Pujol
Editorial / February 10, 2009
Around 1920 Catalonia experienced hard times. It was after she had enjoyed years of strong economic growth brought about by the First World War, when our factories had been working at full capacity for the belligerent countries. After the expectations raised by the 1916 Assembly of Parliamentarians and the project for a Statute of Autonomy. After some years the Mancomunidad’s good governance and the consolidation of the cultural, social and political project of Catalan nationalism. After all this came the lean years. Great social strife, pistolerisme instigated both by the workers and by the management, political instability, unease in the army, economic crisis. And a crisis in the banking sector following the collapse of the main Catalan bank, the Bank of Barcelona.
It is in this context that Eugeni d’Ors, on 9 January 1921, wrote the following article.
The extent of the crisis
They say that the banking crisis will be less serious if it is localised. Do you believe, however, in good faith, that it is possible in Catalonia to localise a crisis? I do not refer to mitigating it! But to solving a crisis favourably, the transactions in themselves and in their totality should not be in crisis. And for the transactions themselves not to be in crisis, Catalonia should not be in a political crisis, as she has been for some time. Moreover, in order not to be in political crisis, she should not to be in moral crisis or in a cultural crisis.
They speak of panic, they speak of panic! Panic always has an irrational element; yet at the heart of panic, there also exists a rational core. If the image of the external danger is not clear, the image of inner weakness is always clear. Since inevitability, what sees itself as weak is weak. The small account-holders whatever bank will have their credits returned to them. But who will return to all the Catalans the spiritual current account that we all possess in political Catalan nationalism? Who will underwrite us for the immeasurable losses incurred from this collapse, the most serious collapse, as it has occurred without suspending banking operations? When and how will those be indemnified who, for example, had deposited in this insecure bank, of late badly managed by too bold a people, an entire generation of the young?
Eighty-eight years later this article remains relevant. Let us examine it in depth.
Ors says there is a banking crisis. And he does not speak lightly of it. However, he is more concerned about the general crisis, the crisis in the business sector, the crisis that we now call the real economy. He adds that a recovery from this crisis will be difficult, since underlying it is a political crisis. And a moral and cultural crisis, namely, a crisis of values and ideas.
This is precisely what is happening now.
Yet Ors also says something else that is equally pertinent. He speaks of panic. Of fear. Once again he is right because the exterior danger is what it is, great or small, but what we should really worry about is the fear – he speaks of fear – which is born of the feeling of inner weakness. Because whoever believes he is weak, is truly weak.
And this is happening now. We also feel insecure.
-------------------------
That economic crisis was overcome. With victims, but it was overcome. And more crises followed, which were also overcome. And political crises and crises of the soul. Thus, we should not think that there is no future. Provided we thoroughly assess our political failures and above all our individual and collective failures derived from mistaken attitudes.
Because what has happened could have been foreseen. We did not have the right foresight, or, according to some people, we simply ignored it. Some could have seen it coming had they not had the nouveau riche outlook, and as such had not been so presumptuous and nonchalant. Others would have seen it coming had they not perverted noble words such as solidarity. And others, had they not allowed themselves to sit back in their idleness. And others, had they not played with fire in economic and political questions, and even social ones. With flippancy and a lack of seriousness. Catalonia herself has not been able to foresee her own strengths and the Spanish context. And this has provoked what Ors argues as especially negative: one is weak when one loses one’s self-esteem and believes oneself to be feeble.
Now it seems that the Spain that devoured everything, the champion in so many areas, which gave lessons to everyone else is now the champion of something entirely different: unemployment. High unemployment. And it is said – and it is true – that its financial institutions are in a good state of health. As Ors remarks: we may say that the small account-holders will not lose their savings. Yet we are mired in a system that has difficulties in helping businesses. More than anyone else.
As we already said, we overcame the crisis of which Ors spoke. And the crises of the seventies and the eighties, not forgetting the crisis of 1991-1993, as well. They were also very serious. With victims. With the demise of entire sectors of industry. With 22% of the active population unemployed. But we overcame them. And despite everything we now have more political recognition than ever, a more prominent presence abroad, a higher standard in science and university education, and a raised awareness on the part of civil society. This we need, if we are to revive our enthusiasm and confidence. Ors would tell us we have to overcome the political crisis and the moral crisis.
It is up to the politicians to ensure that businesses receive guarantees and that government suppliers are paid in advance, that the right tax cuts are implemented, that there is good arbitration between the business world and the unions. They must likewise address serious social situations. In other words, the politicians’ remit is to address the economic and social issues. But politicians, together with people with intellectual and emotional leadership capacity, need to rekindle the idea of a country and the enthusiasm for it. To rekindle civic seriousness and responsibility.
By and large, all this falls to people with a positive and generous outlook. In all areas, it is everyone’s responsibility.
The extent of the crisis
They say that the banking crisis will be less serious if it is localised. Do you believe, however, in good faith, that it is possible in Catalonia to localise a crisis? I do not refer to mitigating it! But to solving a crisis favourably, the transactions in themselves and in their totality should not be in crisis. And for the transactions themselves not to be in crisis, Catalonia should not be in a political crisis, as she has been for some time. Moreover, in order not to be in political crisis, she should not to be in moral crisis or in a cultural crisis.
They speak of panic, they speak of panic! Panic always has an irrational element; yet at the heart of panic, there also exists a rational core. If the image of the external danger is not clear, the image of inner weakness is always clear. Since inevitability, what sees itself as weak is weak. The small account-holders whatever bank will have their credits returned to them. But who will return to all the Catalans the spiritual current account that we all possess in political Catalan nationalism? Who will underwrite us for the immeasurable losses incurred from this collapse, the most serious collapse, as it has occurred without suspending banking operations? When and how will those be indemnified who, for example, had deposited in this insecure bank, of late badly managed by too bold a people, an entire generation of the young?
Eighty-eight years later this article remains relevant. Let us examine it in depth.
Ors says there is a banking crisis. And he does not speak lightly of it. However, he is more concerned about the general crisis, the crisis in the business sector, the crisis that we now call the real economy. He adds that a recovery from this crisis will be difficult, since underlying it is a political crisis. And a moral and cultural crisis, namely, a crisis of values and ideas.
This is precisely what is happening now.
Yet Ors also says something else that is equally pertinent. He speaks of panic. Of fear. Once again he is right because the exterior danger is what it is, great or small, but what we should really worry about is the fear – he speaks of fear – which is born of the feeling of inner weakness. Because whoever believes he is weak, is truly weak.
And this is happening now. We also feel insecure.
-------------------------
That economic crisis was overcome. With victims, but it was overcome. And more crises followed, which were also overcome. And political crises and crises of the soul. Thus, we should not think that there is no future. Provided we thoroughly assess our political failures and above all our individual and collective failures derived from mistaken attitudes.
Because what has happened could have been foreseen. We did not have the right foresight, or, according to some people, we simply ignored it. Some could have seen it coming had they not had the nouveau riche outlook, and as such had not been so presumptuous and nonchalant. Others would have seen it coming had they not perverted noble words such as solidarity. And others, had they not allowed themselves to sit back in their idleness. And others, had they not played with fire in economic and political questions, and even social ones. With flippancy and a lack of seriousness. Catalonia herself has not been able to foresee her own strengths and the Spanish context. And this has provoked what Ors argues as especially negative: one is weak when one loses one’s self-esteem and believes oneself to be feeble.
Now it seems that the Spain that devoured everything, the champion in so many areas, which gave lessons to everyone else is now the champion of something entirely different: unemployment. High unemployment. And it is said – and it is true – that its financial institutions are in a good state of health. As Ors remarks: we may say that the small account-holders will not lose their savings. Yet we are mired in a system that has difficulties in helping businesses. More than anyone else.
As we already said, we overcame the crisis of which Ors spoke. And the crises of the seventies and the eighties, not forgetting the crisis of 1991-1993, as well. They were also very serious. With victims. With the demise of entire sectors of industry. With 22% of the active population unemployed. But we overcame them. And despite everything we now have more political recognition than ever, a more prominent presence abroad, a higher standard in science and university education, and a raised awareness on the part of civil society. This we need, if we are to revive our enthusiasm and confidence. Ors would tell us we have to overcome the political crisis and the moral crisis.
It is up to the politicians to ensure that businesses receive guarantees and that government suppliers are paid in advance, that the right tax cuts are implemented, that there is good arbitration between the business world and the unions. They must likewise address serious social situations. In other words, the politicians’ remit is to address the economic and social issues. But politicians, together with people with intellectual and emotional leadership capacity, need to rekindle the idea of a country and the enthusiasm for it. To rekindle civic seriousness and responsibility.
By and large, all this falls to people with a positive and generous outlook. In all areas, it is everyone’s responsibility.
