The indignados are mostly positive towards risk takers and job creators like Branson while it is Bilderbergers such as Sutherland whom they regard as part of the problem. Interestingly, Rosalía Mera, co-founder of the Zara clothing chain and Europe’s richest woman, has publicly expressed her solidarity with the 15M movement.
Criticism of the 15M movement comes in two forms. First the dismissive observation it is unlikely to achieve anything meaningful and second the more cynical suggestion that they are only against clientelism, corruption and cronyism, if they don’t personally benefit. As The Economist put it “Some Greeks are angry about their paralysed, corrupt country. Others just want the good times to come back”. It is too early to tell how valid these criticisms are but my early impression that there is something more sincere and enduring to the protests. In particular, it is noticeable how apolitical young people of the type who have long believed conformity was best strategy for getting by have become politically assertive. Whereas before, I had to be really persistent to get any debate on the ethics of leverage buyouts, my classroom is now a warren of fully paid up ethical traders. Complicated business models are out and customer centric ones are in.
Sustainability and fair trade are a given.
I remember well a student of mine whose family are originally from Tunisia telling me months before it came to international attention what was going on over there. The authorities had succeeded in quelling the initial protests and probably believed they had the situation under control. However, the day to day problems people were experiencing never went away and change came (as Hemingway said about bankruptcy) slowly, slowly and then all at once. Politicians of whatever hue have to address the problem of young employment or the centre won´t hold. They need to lead, follow or get out of the way.
Arguably, it would be much better if came from within the system. if the political system recognised that the democratic deficit had grown unacceptably large and if they started to act in the interests of the citizens instead of their own. Change would occur more quickly and more effectively. Indeed much of what the protesters are asking for are quite conservative demands, merely that capitalism and the free market should operate as intended (e.g. no taxpayer socialising of losses). There is nothing of the fundamental radicalism of previous generations. So far, the character of the15M protesters is towards transparency, meritocracy and accountability and away from clientelism, corruption and cronyism. I think they deserve a hearing.
Entrepreneurs should support them. 49 entrepreneurcountry 1,000,000
Number of families without any wage earner
53.2% 47.3%
Public debt as a percentage of GDP
Under 25’s unemployment rate
€117.3bn 21.4%
Spain’s overal lunemployment rate Spain’s budget deficit
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