¡¡¡Y dale en la publicidad con el "absolutamente gratis"!!!
Las cosas o son gratis, o no lo son... pero no hay absolutamente gratis.
Aceptamos "casi" gratis, pero entonces hay que pagar algo. Pero "absolutamente" en este contexto es ridículo, grandilocuente y denota estupidez e inoperancia mental.
Lo mismo para "absolutamente embarazada" o "absolutamente muerto", ambos leídos y escuchados en los medios españoles.
Ferran Adrià dijo, muy acertadamente... "crear es no copiar". Pues eso, a ver si dejamos de copiar ... especialmente las expresiones mal construidas.
jueves, 21 de junio de 2012
lunes, 18 de junio de 2012
Lessons learnt?
Again, I will talk politics...
What have we learnt out of this crisis? What have we done about it?
Well... yes, there have been massive cuts on pubilc expense, some indiscriminate, some late... but the main reasons why we are in crisis have not been addressed. First of all... our economy is extremely ineffcient. Not from now, but from centuries. We are not productive. And that is one of the reasons why we have the record in unemployment rates.
I honestly believe that there are some factors that have never been properly addressed:
1) Capital. In Spain it´s in too few hands and investments are done mainly with high security for the big capital. There is little risk in their profits... but the control of the markets that they have (partly due to the support of the laws and governments) prevent its further and competitive development. Some examples: energy, construction, services... but also industry.
2) Financing tools. Not only the capital is in few risk-averse hands, but also, the small capital does not have enough tools to reach the few entrepreneurs and innovators in every industry. The banks have been, traditionally, the only tools for financing... and this is a big mistake. First, because they have too strong power (and no doubt they belong to the pool of point 1), and secondly, because they are not efficient in certain flows (especially to industry and new ventures). Maybe they should not handle all the money available.
3) Credibility. In all statements... there is fewer credibility than some years ago. The first one, is the speed at which the economy went down once the real estate bubble. Also, the stupidity and stubborness of our politics. And also... the inability to stick to certain commitments. The E Plan was a good example of what should not have happened... spend the money in unproductive investments.
4) Monopoly and oligopoly breakdowns. Since we entered the EU, much have been said that certain sectors should be de-regulated so that they gained competitivity. It happened partially in some of them (airlines), but not enough (like energy, services, banking). The situation of the "cajas", which have been virtually eliminated, make the banks stronger... without further lessons learnt. Is it really good that there are no more "cajas"? Well... I can only talk as a customer... and I remember that the cajas were normally a good alternative source of financing for many small businesses. The way of the banks is not so close, nor understanding with certain investments. I get this impression from the useful projects that I have seen where banks and cajas were involved. I saw the big banks in the big businesses... but rarely in the more local projects, and sometimes riskier projects... where I did see the "cajas"... even if they were not always successful investments. It´s ok to get rid of the political control of the "cajas", but no so sure about their elimination.
5) Education. Not only of the workers... but also of the entrepreneurs and investors. Enough of this autocratic systems and organisations. Enough of this under-utilisation of the talent and capacity of the people. Enough of the stupid training programs who do not fix real issues... but provide useless certificates with very little exigence and self-crtique about the suitability of the contents. There are not enough enterprises who can use the excellent sets of skills in our prime students... and there are too few students of certain level for our current industries.
6) Public Finances. For too long the worse and most ineffective user of the capital has been the public sector. From excellent but empty public buildings to useless infrastrucures such at airports or high speed trains. But also excess of civil servants. And also, the country should have a more coherent approach to certain sectors that are key for the future. They do so in all developed economies... prioritising certain industries over others with special investments or tax conditions. But this has to be through a flexible, quick and monitored organisation(s). I am still shocked that the public expense is not published with standardized format and tools that make it possible to monitor them, the same as the shareholders can monitor the companies they own.
There is a number of reforms that should be made so that we don´t find ourselves in the same situation as today in some 10-15 or 20 years... No more investment in brick (at least, no more than in developed countries), no more investment without control, and also... no more spreading stupidity (through these means that we have in this contradictory country).
What have we learnt out of this crisis? What have we done about it?
Well... yes, there have been massive cuts on pubilc expense, some indiscriminate, some late... but the main reasons why we are in crisis have not been addressed. First of all... our economy is extremely ineffcient. Not from now, but from centuries. We are not productive. And that is one of the reasons why we have the record in unemployment rates.
I honestly believe that there are some factors that have never been properly addressed:
1) Capital. In Spain it´s in too few hands and investments are done mainly with high security for the big capital. There is little risk in their profits... but the control of the markets that they have (partly due to the support of the laws and governments) prevent its further and competitive development. Some examples: energy, construction, services... but also industry.
2) Financing tools. Not only the capital is in few risk-averse hands, but also, the small capital does not have enough tools to reach the few entrepreneurs and innovators in every industry. The banks have been, traditionally, the only tools for financing... and this is a big mistake. First, because they have too strong power (and no doubt they belong to the pool of point 1), and secondly, because they are not efficient in certain flows (especially to industry and new ventures). Maybe they should not handle all the money available.
3) Credibility. In all statements... there is fewer credibility than some years ago. The first one, is the speed at which the economy went down once the real estate bubble. Also, the stupidity and stubborness of our politics. And also... the inability to stick to certain commitments. The E Plan was a good example of what should not have happened... spend the money in unproductive investments.
4) Monopoly and oligopoly breakdowns. Since we entered the EU, much have been said that certain sectors should be de-regulated so that they gained competitivity. It happened partially in some of them (airlines), but not enough (like energy, services, banking). The situation of the "cajas", which have been virtually eliminated, make the banks stronger... without further lessons learnt. Is it really good that there are no more "cajas"? Well... I can only talk as a customer... and I remember that the cajas were normally a good alternative source of financing for many small businesses. The way of the banks is not so close, nor understanding with certain investments. I get this impression from the useful projects that I have seen where banks and cajas were involved. I saw the big banks in the big businesses... but rarely in the more local projects, and sometimes riskier projects... where I did see the "cajas"... even if they were not always successful investments. It´s ok to get rid of the political control of the "cajas", but no so sure about their elimination.
5) Education. Not only of the workers... but also of the entrepreneurs and investors. Enough of this autocratic systems and organisations. Enough of this under-utilisation of the talent and capacity of the people. Enough of the stupid training programs who do not fix real issues... but provide useless certificates with very little exigence and self-crtique about the suitability of the contents. There are not enough enterprises who can use the excellent sets of skills in our prime students... and there are too few students of certain level for our current industries.
6) Public Finances. For too long the worse and most ineffective user of the capital has been the public sector. From excellent but empty public buildings to useless infrastrucures such at airports or high speed trains. But also excess of civil servants. And also, the country should have a more coherent approach to certain sectors that are key for the future. They do so in all developed economies... prioritising certain industries over others with special investments or tax conditions. But this has to be through a flexible, quick and monitored organisation(s). I am still shocked that the public expense is not published with standardized format and tools that make it possible to monitor them, the same as the shareholders can monitor the companies they own.
There is a number of reforms that should be made so that we don´t find ourselves in the same situation as today in some 10-15 or 20 years... No more investment in brick (at least, no more than in developed countries), no more investment without control, and also... no more spreading stupidity (through these means that we have in this contradictory country).
domingo, 17 de junio de 2012
Transición
Cerró los ojos. Inspiró lentamente y se vació de pensamientos. Se concentró en el aire llenando su pecho, en sus células atrapándo el oxígeno de la sangre, en todas las sensaciones que le rodeaban en ese preciso instante. Se concentró exclusivamente en sentir. En memorizar ese momento, esa sensación.
Y saltó. Desde lo más alto. Sin nadie mirando. Liberado de pensamientos, de rencor, de angustias, de ambiciones. Vacío de todo, salvo de la sensación de estar vivo.
Su cuerpo se aceleró y cayó como un peso muerto. Había muy poca gracia en aquella caída, pero no importaba. Abajo no se veía el fondo. Caía y caía... y al cabo de unos segundos la inevitable aceleración de su organismo desapareció y se sintió cómodo en la caída. En poco rato, le pareció normal el viento agitándole el cuerpo, la falta de apoyo y el pitido en sus oídos y centró su atención en alguna parte del fondo. En un punto oscuro concreto. Tardó unos minutos, pero creyó vislumbrar un destino. No había nada. Oscuridad total, y ya estaba en los siete minutos de caída, aunque nadie los contaba. Se centró en aquel punto, que no se distinguía en realidad de cualquier otro punto allí abajo. Pero decidió que en aquel punto, allá abajo, en la oscuridad, estaba su futuro. No había futuro. No había definición. No había referencias. Nada estaba decidido, ni siquiera definido.
Sintió miedo. Y por un instante se dejó invadir por sus pensamientos. Pensamientos sobre su pasado. Sobre lo que había conocido... le invadió la certeza de que había perdido la seguridad de lo conocido. Pensó en los momentos con su familia, en sus logros personales, en las sensaciones que había dejado allí arriba. Y lloró. Apenas una lágrima, apenas una pequeña congoja. Y su caída se desaceleró. El viento le agitaba menos el cabello. Y no notaba tanta presión del aire desplazado. Estaba casi ingrávido. Sorprendido, y a la vez avergonzado, intentó concentrarse en el punto de allá abajo. Se enjugó la lágrima y se dijo que aquel sería su último momento de debilidad. Sabía que lo tendría. Se había entrenado para ello y creía que le atenazaría en el momento del salto... pero no después. Pero ahí estaba. Aunque sabía lo que tenía que hacer. Respiró de nuevo, varias veces... cerró los ojos y al abrirlos sólo vio el punto oscuro en el fondo. Sólo un destino, negro, negrísimo... pero el único que tenía sentido para él.
De nuevo pareció acelerarse hacia abajo. Y cayó, más y más. Y siguió cayendo, hasta que la noción del tiempo se perdió. Ni un solo instante miró hacia arriba. Ni a los lados. Nada cambió a su alrededor. Al cabo de otro rato dejó de notar el viento, o cualquier otra sensación externa. Sabía que seguía cayendo, pero ya no había aire a su alrededor. Ni necesidad de respirar. La conciencia a través de los sentidos se estaba difuminando en aquél entorno sin cambios. Una larga caída en la oscuridad.
De pronto, el punto negro pasó al blanco. Ténue, pero brillantísimo allí abajo. En segudos fue agrandándose, y el sentido de la caída se hizo patente. Iba directo a la luz. Ya no recordaba quién era, qué era... sólo veía la luz y se sentía bien yendo hacia ella. ¿Qué otra cosa se puede hacer en un entorno tan oscuro sino ir hacia la única luz que hay? La luz, brillante, fue cada vez más y más cegadora... Hasta que lo inundó todo y tuvo que cerrar los ojos.
Sintió un fuerte dolor en alguna parte y sólo pudo gritar. Gritó como si fuese en ello su vida, gritó a pulmón lleno y con todas las ganas que pudo reunir. Y escuchó... un gran murmullo, y luego estas palabras -"aquí tiene a su bebé, Sara. Es una niña!". Y supo que sería una niña en su nueva vida.
Y saltó. Desde lo más alto. Sin nadie mirando. Liberado de pensamientos, de rencor, de angustias, de ambiciones. Vacío de todo, salvo de la sensación de estar vivo.
Su cuerpo se aceleró y cayó como un peso muerto. Había muy poca gracia en aquella caída, pero no importaba. Abajo no se veía el fondo. Caía y caía... y al cabo de unos segundos la inevitable aceleración de su organismo desapareció y se sintió cómodo en la caída. En poco rato, le pareció normal el viento agitándole el cuerpo, la falta de apoyo y el pitido en sus oídos y centró su atención en alguna parte del fondo. En un punto oscuro concreto. Tardó unos minutos, pero creyó vislumbrar un destino. No había nada. Oscuridad total, y ya estaba en los siete minutos de caída, aunque nadie los contaba. Se centró en aquel punto, que no se distinguía en realidad de cualquier otro punto allí abajo. Pero decidió que en aquel punto, allá abajo, en la oscuridad, estaba su futuro. No había futuro. No había definición. No había referencias. Nada estaba decidido, ni siquiera definido.
Sintió miedo. Y por un instante se dejó invadir por sus pensamientos. Pensamientos sobre su pasado. Sobre lo que había conocido... le invadió la certeza de que había perdido la seguridad de lo conocido. Pensó en los momentos con su familia, en sus logros personales, en las sensaciones que había dejado allí arriba. Y lloró. Apenas una lágrima, apenas una pequeña congoja. Y su caída se desaceleró. El viento le agitaba menos el cabello. Y no notaba tanta presión del aire desplazado. Estaba casi ingrávido. Sorprendido, y a la vez avergonzado, intentó concentrarse en el punto de allá abajo. Se enjugó la lágrima y se dijo que aquel sería su último momento de debilidad. Sabía que lo tendría. Se había entrenado para ello y creía que le atenazaría en el momento del salto... pero no después. Pero ahí estaba. Aunque sabía lo que tenía que hacer. Respiró de nuevo, varias veces... cerró los ojos y al abrirlos sólo vio el punto oscuro en el fondo. Sólo un destino, negro, negrísimo... pero el único que tenía sentido para él.
De nuevo pareció acelerarse hacia abajo. Y cayó, más y más. Y siguió cayendo, hasta que la noción del tiempo se perdió. Ni un solo instante miró hacia arriba. Ni a los lados. Nada cambió a su alrededor. Al cabo de otro rato dejó de notar el viento, o cualquier otra sensación externa. Sabía que seguía cayendo, pero ya no había aire a su alrededor. Ni necesidad de respirar. La conciencia a través de los sentidos se estaba difuminando en aquél entorno sin cambios. Una larga caída en la oscuridad.
De pronto, el punto negro pasó al blanco. Ténue, pero brillantísimo allí abajo. En segudos fue agrandándose, y el sentido de la caída se hizo patente. Iba directo a la luz. Ya no recordaba quién era, qué era... sólo veía la luz y se sentía bien yendo hacia ella. ¿Qué otra cosa se puede hacer en un entorno tan oscuro sino ir hacia la única luz que hay? La luz, brillante, fue cada vez más y más cegadora... Hasta que lo inundó todo y tuvo que cerrar los ojos.
Sintió un fuerte dolor en alguna parte y sólo pudo gritar. Gritó como si fuese en ello su vida, gritó a pulmón lleno y con todas las ganas que pudo reunir. Y escuchó... un gran murmullo, y luego estas palabras -"aquí tiene a su bebé, Sara. Es una niña!". Y supo que sería una niña en su nueva vida.
miércoles, 13 de junio de 2012
Left vs Right... truly different?
It seems that the world of values and ideas, concepts... is less vulnerable to change than the world of physical things. This could be seen as a very gross and generic statement, because it may be argued that ideas precede the physical world, and many ideas need to be created amd modified before they are transformed into something "real". For instance... transportation. The idea of transportation, can be put into reality simply, like walking. Then above animals. Then above carriages. Then on motorised vehicles, before on 2 rails, then on any path. Also on water, swimming or sailing. Then flying in vehicles. Then, maybe, between planets... and why not, transportation in time.
Ok... but overall, there will be more changes in the effective form than in the concept. We see many makes of cars, many of them look different and within a definite timeframe, like 50 years... the changes are very notorious each year... but the essential concept of the transportation by car has not changed.
Transportation was a simple example. But... what about social organisation? What about power management? I would say that the idea should be reflected in the reality through a certain form of government... with certain rules... States, economy organisation...etc... but here I must say I am disappointed at the speed the changes take place.
We live in democracies, true, more or less effective, more or less expensive. But... conceptually, we still, at least in Spain, thing and assess in terms of right and left. "Conservative" and "Progressist". Recently I read an interesting article where it differentiated how the different parties in the different countries have evolved slightly differently, and some minor groups have been incorporated to one or other side... slightly modifying some of its basics. Like, for instance, the liberals (apparently inexistant in Spain), or the nationalists. For a while religion also had an impact, and I guess it still has... even though the effective impact in terms of power management is limited.
Then we have the usual topics that seem to split a society in 2: abortion, social expenditure, public vs private ownership, individual protection vs public interest, international affairs...
It´s sometimes difficult to separate the Estate as an entity, from the politicians that "control" it for a while. A policy may be defined by a certain government, but remain in place for years, or decades... and hence, somewhere becoming part of the policy of the State. This is fine. It may be even be better to dissociate the policy from its origin (the ideological view that defined it)... and try to stick to its impact in the society. Because, in the end, do the citizens really care about whether a certain government makes a right or left policy? How much does the budget of Education, Health, Military, Social, Infrastructures, Foreign Affairs... really change depending on the colour of the government? Maybe a 5% swing is enough to completely change the way the policy is enacted. After all, the money is just the tool to put in place that policy. What matters, or so they say, is the idea, the laws and policies.
I am personally liberal, and I do not hide that I prefer to think about each topic, one by one... than affiliating my decisions to the ideological book of any given party. When we give out our right to think and decide by ourselves... we give away an important asset.
My point here is that I think it´s despisable that we are still so much influenced by ideas of the XIX century (left vs right, labour vs capital, rich vs poor...). In Spain, the conservative party was "refounded" in the late 80´s (from AP it moved to PP... big change...). The socialist party was founded... ups!!... in 1879. And the Nationalist parties in the late Franco years or just after its death. But, essentially, no changes in the composition of the power structure. Still in a Monarchy. Still little REAL debate between people that have data and ideas about the topics at stake. Still very poor journalists... and worse... every year getting worse. More tv´s and newspapers... and less readers and quality programs. Still the most effective way to earn votes is to shout old claims on either sense...
My point here is that so long we keep thinking with the same frameset we will be reaching the same conclusions. In a world where the old concept of capitalist setting up a company and making money out of exploiting and organising the work of others should have been long overcome... we should think different. Maybe we would find that forgetting old clashes and redefining the approaches to problems would help us move forward.
This could also apply to the concept of Nation... am I from Barcelona? a Catalan? A Spaniard? European? or citizen of the world? Maybe we could move some power up... and approach the problems in the world from a more global perspective, but not only as agreement of countries, but as decisions from top-down, imposing, if necessary, some decisiones into some few for the benefit of all.
I know... it´s acceptable only depending on the power of those affected... and the history is full of abuses... but we can only reach new frontiers with a new approach... and even Estates cannot confront certain troubles by themselves.
Ok... but overall, there will be more changes in the effective form than in the concept. We see many makes of cars, many of them look different and within a definite timeframe, like 50 years... the changes are very notorious each year... but the essential concept of the transportation by car has not changed.
Transportation was a simple example. But... what about social organisation? What about power management? I would say that the idea should be reflected in the reality through a certain form of government... with certain rules... States, economy organisation...etc... but here I must say I am disappointed at the speed the changes take place.
We live in democracies, true, more or less effective, more or less expensive. But... conceptually, we still, at least in Spain, thing and assess in terms of right and left. "Conservative" and "Progressist". Recently I read an interesting article where it differentiated how the different parties in the different countries have evolved slightly differently, and some minor groups have been incorporated to one or other side... slightly modifying some of its basics. Like, for instance, the liberals (apparently inexistant in Spain), or the nationalists. For a while religion also had an impact, and I guess it still has... even though the effective impact in terms of power management is limited.
Then we have the usual topics that seem to split a society in 2: abortion, social expenditure, public vs private ownership, individual protection vs public interest, international affairs...
It´s sometimes difficult to separate the Estate as an entity, from the politicians that "control" it for a while. A policy may be defined by a certain government, but remain in place for years, or decades... and hence, somewhere becoming part of the policy of the State. This is fine. It may be even be better to dissociate the policy from its origin (the ideological view that defined it)... and try to stick to its impact in the society. Because, in the end, do the citizens really care about whether a certain government makes a right or left policy? How much does the budget of Education, Health, Military, Social, Infrastructures, Foreign Affairs... really change depending on the colour of the government? Maybe a 5% swing is enough to completely change the way the policy is enacted. After all, the money is just the tool to put in place that policy. What matters, or so they say, is the idea, the laws and policies.
I am personally liberal, and I do not hide that I prefer to think about each topic, one by one... than affiliating my decisions to the ideological book of any given party. When we give out our right to think and decide by ourselves... we give away an important asset.
My point here is that I think it´s despisable that we are still so much influenced by ideas of the XIX century (left vs right, labour vs capital, rich vs poor...). In Spain, the conservative party was "refounded" in the late 80´s (from AP it moved to PP... big change...). The socialist party was founded... ups!!... in 1879. And the Nationalist parties in the late Franco years or just after its death. But, essentially, no changes in the composition of the power structure. Still in a Monarchy. Still little REAL debate between people that have data and ideas about the topics at stake. Still very poor journalists... and worse... every year getting worse. More tv´s and newspapers... and less readers and quality programs. Still the most effective way to earn votes is to shout old claims on either sense...
My point here is that so long we keep thinking with the same frameset we will be reaching the same conclusions. In a world where the old concept of capitalist setting up a company and making money out of exploiting and organising the work of others should have been long overcome... we should think different. Maybe we would find that forgetting old clashes and redefining the approaches to problems would help us move forward.
This could also apply to the concept of Nation... am I from Barcelona? a Catalan? A Spaniard? European? or citizen of the world? Maybe we could move some power up... and approach the problems in the world from a more global perspective, but not only as agreement of countries, but as decisions from top-down, imposing, if necessary, some decisiones into some few for the benefit of all.
I know... it´s acceptable only depending on the power of those affected... and the history is full of abuses... but we can only reach new frontiers with a new approach... and even Estates cannot confront certain troubles by themselves.
Suscribirse a:
Entradas (Atom)