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Juan Jose Millas: Un sindiós (El Pais, 27 April 2012)
Desde que los ministros de Rajoy, en especial Montoro y Ana Mato, decidieron explicar didácticamente los porqués de la demolición del Estado, entendemos las cosas mucho mejor. He aquí un resumen, claro como el agua, de sus argumentos: Se pone precio a la sanidad para que continúe siendo gratuita y se expulsa de ella a determinados colectivos para que siga siendo universal. Se liquidan las leyes laborales para salvaguardar los derechos de los trabajadores y se penaliza al jubilado y al enfermo para proteger a los colectivos más vulnerables. En cuanto a la educación, ponemos las tasas universitarias por las nubes para defender la igualdad de oportunidades y estimulamos su privatización para que continúe siendo pública. No es todo, ya que al objeto de mantener el orden público amnistiamos a los delincuentes grandes, ofrecemos salidas fiscales a los defraudadores ambiciosos y metemos cuatro años en la cárcel al que rompa una farola. Todo este programa reformador de gran calado no puede ponerse en marcha sin mentir, de modo que mentimos, sí, pero al modo de los novelistas: para que la verdad resplandezca. Dentro de esta lógica implacable, huimos de los periodistas para dar la cara y convocamos ruedas de prensa sin turno de preguntas para responder a todo. Nadie que tenga un poco de buena voluntad pondrá en duda por tanto que hemos autorizado la subida del gas y de la luz a fin de que resulten más baratos y que obedecemos sin rechistar a Merkel para no perder soberanía. A no tardar mucho, quizá dispongamos que los aviones salgan con más retraso para que lleguen puntuales. Convencidos de que el derecho a la información es sagrado en toda democracia que se precie, vamos a tomar RTVE al asalto para mantener la pluralidad informativa. A nadie extrañe que para garantizar la libertad, tengamos que suprimir las libertades.
There is no god (El Pais, 27 April 2012)
Since Rajoy's ministers, especially Montoro and Ana Mato, decided to explain didactically the whys of the demolition of the State, we understand things much better. Here's a summary, clear as crystal, of their arguments: Health care is given a price in order for it to continue to be free and particular groups are expelled from it so that it continues to be universal. Labour laws are liquidated to preserve workers' rights and the retired and the sick are penalised to protect the most vulnerable groups. Regarding education, we raise university fees through the roof to defend equal opportunity, and we stimulate the privatization of education so that it continues to be public. It's not all, as in order to preserve the public order we give an amnesty to big lawbreakers, we offer a graceful fiscal exit to ambitious tax dodgers and we throw into jail for 4 years those who break a street light. All this deep reform programme cannot be set in motion without lying, so we lie, yes, but in the way of novelists: so that truth may shine. In this implacable logic, we shun journalists in order to face the music and we call press conferences without a questions period in order to answer for everything. Nobody with a minimum of good will will doubt that er have authorised a rise in the prices of gas and electricity so that they end up being cheaper and that we obey Merkel without a peep so as not to lose sovereignty. The day cannot be far when we maybe will decide that planes should take off later so they can arrive on time. Convinced that the right to information is sacred in a self-respecting democracy, we're going to take the national TV by assault in order to maintain information pluralism. It should surprise noone that, in order to guarantee freedom, we will have to suppress liberties.


guaranteed to evoke a violent reaction from police is to challenge their right to "define the situation." --- David Graeber citing Marc Cooper
by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Sat Apr 28th, 2012 at 04:41:27 PM EST
[ Parent ]
If I may use a "Britishism" ...

Bloody Brilliant.

Ever since I learnt about confirmation bias I've started seeing it everywhere

by ATinNM on Sat Apr 28th, 2012 at 09:53:01 PM EST
[ Parent ]
He is.

guaranteed to evoke a violent reaction from police is to challenge their right to "define the situation." --- David Graeber citing Marc Cooper
by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Sun Apr 29th, 2012 at 06:01:28 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Classic

"The future is already here -- it's just not very evenly distributed" William Gibson
by ChrisCook (cojockathotmaildotcom) on Sun Apr 29th, 2012 at 10:42:10 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Many of his columns are instant classics. Example.

guaranteed to evoke a violent reaction from police is to challenge their right to "define the situation." --- David Graeber citing Marc Cooper
by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Sun Apr 29th, 2012 at 11:08:52 AM EST
[ Parent ]

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