06/05/2010

UK GENERAL ELECTIONS

I've been living away from home for so long now that I honestly don't know what's going on there. I counldn't even tell you what the price of a loaf of bread or a pint, or is it a litre now, of milk is these days. I wonder whether any of the three main candidates shown below know the answer.
I'm a socialist at heart, though I liked Ted Heath and was sorry when he lost out after the "Three-day week". I finally left England, however, mainly in order to get away from the Thatcher doctrine.
I found Spain a much more dynamic country where I was able to bring up my kids in a much healthier and much better political, cultural, culinary, educational, and social environment. They now all speak Spanish and Catalan as well as their native English, and needless to say, so do I. Did you know that Spain leads the way in many sports, including Football? Motorcycling? Cycling? Motor Racing (Rallies, Formula 1 (until very recently)? etc.? Where's britain now, I wonder, and will it get back on the track in time for the Olympic games?
I have found, through my Spanish experience especially, that hung parlaments usually produce coalition governments that cannot be as radical as those with an overwhelming majority. Instead, over a period of time, the partners learn to work together to produce laws and policies that benefit more people. In Catalonia, three parties have been working successfully together now for several years; The "Tripartito" they call themselves, or the "Three-party party".
I sincerely hope both the Labour and Liberal parties come to an "entente" and govern jointly for a while in the UK. I'd hate to see the tories back in power, even though it wouldn't be me who would have to live under their nightmarish rule!

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

I didnt know you left UK to get away from Thatcher - thought you buggered off to see the world on your motorbike and didnt get further than Spain!

Joe said...

Yes, I suppose you would! For the record, I went back for the bike three months later, but it had been stripped down of its main parts. I stayed in Spain for a year before going back home. Several years later I decided to go back and live there when a socialist government had been elected.
Anyway, nice to know you're still alive... and try the email next time!

Jennie said...

I emailed but you didnt reply :-(

Joe said...

It probably ended uo in the Spam folder and I suppose I didn't realise who it was from.
Try again...PLEASE...
joesabadell@yahoo.es
Much love. Joe :-)