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Apparently Spain is being hit by some of the largest protests yet. I don't know a lot about the situation there but I hear the unemployment is above 30%, people are being forced to eat out of garbage cans in some cases. I don't know the Spanish to take much crap. Hopefully the people will put a stop to this nonsense. I remember a long time ago Argentina told the IMF to get lost. Spain needs to do the same and get its act together.

'Democracy kidnapped!' Madrid police fire rubber bullets as thousands surround Spanish Congress (VIDEO, PHOTOS) — RT

While some are complaining that the gov't isn't coddling them like children, others have figured out that they don't need the gov't.

After saving money for years, Lola Sanchez was finally able to buy a car refitted with a ramp and space for a wheelchair in the back for her teenage son, who has cerebral palsy.

A nurse used to come each day to help with her son's care. That service was cut amid government austerity measures, though Sanchez still gets a small check every month.

"What I need is physical help, even more than financial assistance," Sanchez says, "because I can't physically lift him on my own."

So earlier this year, Sanchez joined a local "time bank" that sends members to help with her son's care. She doesn't pay them. Instead, she reciprocates by using her handicap-friendly car to transport other disabled people in her community.

With Spanish unemployment near 25 percent, many people have more time than money to spend. So in the past two years, the number of time banks in Spain has doubled, to nearly 300. Most have anywhere from 50 to 400 members, and some even print their own currency.

Most of all, they stress equality, Sanchez says.

"For me, it's good to know that my time has the same value as anyone else's," she says. "There's no difference between one hour of work for a computer specialist or for a cleaning woman."


'Time Banks' Help Spaniards Weather Financial Crisis : NPR

Dependence results in weakness, but if we simply ask for help and offer help, we will find that we don't need the gov't to take from others to give to us. We don't need to be taken care of. Interdependence on each other is far more empowering than dependence on others.

eta: Something like this would probably be made illegal in America.

Accountable;1405667 wrote: While some are complaining that the gov't isn't coddling them like children, others have figured out that they don't need the gov't.







'Time Banks' Help Spaniards Weather Financial Crisis : NPR



Dependence results in weakness, but if we simply ask for help and offer help, we will find that we don't need the gov't to take from others to give to us. We don't need to be taken care of. Interdependence on each other is far more empowering than dependence on others.



eta: Something like this would probably be made illegal in America.


At a minimum they would try and find a way to tax the recipient for the value of the time they used.

Until this thread I hadn't heard of any problems in Spain. I admit that I watch less and less news during this election process because I get tired of the political crap.

Riot ?

The English would tut.

Dependence results in weakness, but if we simply ask for help and offer help, we will find that we don't need the gov't to take from others to give to us. We don't need to be taken care of. Interdependence on each other is far more empowering than dependence on others.


I agree. Dependance on any government or system breeds weakness. We on one side have become too dependent on this government that is incapable of doing its job and too dependent on a monetary system that is incapable of creating conditions where all people will have a means to make it. I think both our government and the monetary system are seriously flawed, I am losing my ability to distinguish the 2 anymore.