4 ms·

The European 'united front' type parties include all communist varieties and they are not social democrats. They include everyone from Anarcho Syndicalists to S

The European 'united front' type parties include all communist varieties and they are not social democrats. They include everyone from Anarcho Syndicalists to Stalinists to Maoists to plain Marxist-Leninists and all the other varieties. For social democrats, you look at center-left (or actually, center) parties. They use the name 'socialist' in the name. Whenever you see one, you are looking at centrist social democrats. The reason why this left coalition with majority centrists is able to do pro-people reforms and fight big money is because the communist coalition partner is pushing hard for it. (And also all of these was signed in the pre-coalition agreement). So its probably the most successful left wing government in West Europe in the last 40 yeras for that reason. They were able to pass major reforms ranging from the labor reform that now protects 'contractors' to raising the minimum wage two times, from rent control to the new minimum income law among many others. I totally did not expect that they would be able to succeed in that much. It was quite a surprise.

anthk 4y ago
Not with Izquierda Unida since Eurocommunism and PSOE's shift to the right since Suresnes. If any, a Marxist would vote them as the "least wrong" choice.
gggggg5 4y ago
>So its probably the most successful left wing government in West Europe in the last 40 yeras for that reason. They were able to pass major reforms ranging from the labor reform that now protects 'contractors' to raising the minimum wage two times, from rent control to the new minimum income law among many others. I totally did not expect that they would be able to succeed in that much. It was quite a surprise. This same government pretty much bankrupted most small restaurants in the country, with many only surviving thanks to Glovo and the likes. Win some, lose some, I guess.
- pvaldes 4y ago
  > This same government pretty much bankrupted most small restaurants in the country, Don't you think that Covid could had played some major role in that?. In any case, your mileage may vary. I see plenty of small restaurants still opened and doing fine. Glovo was being warned several times that had 7000 workers in a precarious illegal situation and that they had to fix it. The company opted for not fixing it, and was fined. Don't blame communists for Glovo's wrong choices, or the government for a global pandemic that nobody asked for.
  - gggggg5 4y ago
    Do you think the government can't be criticised for their covid response?
    - unity1001 4y ago
      Only at the start for not reacting fast, and that was due to them getting fooled by the incessant propaganda that was coming from the US and the UK saying that 'there was no pandemic'. For months, the US state department and media lambasted China for 'exaggerating', that there was nothing to worry about and it was just a flu. https://i.imgur.com/0MNniYD.jpg https://i.imgur.com/0MNniYD.jpg They were doing this to protect the Western stock markets. All the Western European governments were totally deceived by this propaganda. Spain's government was the second one in Europe after Italy to take drastic measures and implement a quarantine. In an environment were nations started to backstab each other to acquire masks and pandemic supplies - like how the US robbed a lot of countries' supplies -... https://nypost.com/2020/04/04/us-accused-of-piracy-as-mask-shipment-diverts-from-germany/ https://nypost.com/2020/04/04/us-accused-of-piracy-as-mask-s... ... the Spanish government cooperated with other countries, foremost China, to take rapid action without backstabbing anyone. It immediately implemented economic measures to protect both people and businesses during the pandemic, diverting cash to small businesses, creating minimum income, postponing taxes and giving pandemic stimulus whereas the US and the UK etc literally hung out their people to dry in the pandemic. I'd say that Spain has been incredibly lucky to have entered the pandemic with this government. Many countries' people suffered a lot in the hands of 'free market' types, who openly declared that they would 'let the pandemic run its course' - to protect corporate tax breaks, of course - no need to spend money for the people. So aside from getting deceived by the US/UK at the start of the pandemic like every single Western European government, I'd say that this Spanish government has handled the pandemic in an exemplary fashion. That they were ALSO able to achieve some major reforms in the middle of a pandemic goes WAY beyond what anyone could expect...
      - gggggg5 4y ago
        This would all be much more reasonable if literature genuinely supported lockdowns, but in reality it's a toss-up. Studies looking at quality-adjusted life years have not discovered a meaningful COVID-related benefit from the lockdowns. The most charitable takes will note that lockdowns did indeed drastically reduce traffic deaths, but it's hard to view that as a genuine pro-lockdown argument.
- wkat4242 4y ago
  All the small restaurants I knew are still here, despite the pandemic even. And it's necessary because Spanish people eat out for lunch a lot. Prices are usually much lower at lunch, with a special menu of varied choices for a set price. There is a problem with local people retiring from the restaurant business and selling off to (usually) Chinese which usually means the quality and variety of food and atmosphere suffers. The old owners usually cared about great food for a good price. Nothing wrong with the Chinese as such but they're more business-like, they don't generally take as much pride in their business. My favorite place was just taken over like that and I miss the old owner who would tell something proud about the food he procured that day, or come over and give us some shots or biscuits after. If he knew you'd really like something he'd serve a little bit extra. He'd serve an amazing three course lunch with drink all for 12€. Service included because tipping is hardly a thing here. The new Chinese just don't care as much, the food is pretty meh and they don't engage with the customers like that. You don't feel as welcome like going to friends for dinner. But it's not caused by policy. It's just not a popular job anymore for Spanish people. It's hard work. People rather go to college than take over the family restaurant. So other people pick it up. It is what it is, but it's kinda sad that the real neighbourly community places are disappearing. Because it's happening to pretty much every small family restaurant now.
- unity1001 4y ago
  > This same government pretty much bankrupted most small restaurants in the country, with many only surviving thanks to Glovo and the likes Its not that the government had allowed such companies into the Spanish market. They entered long before. This government is the one which started to take action against such destructive companies for the first time. Additionally you miss the effects of the pandemic. The pandemic killed small stores and businesses everywhere - or rather, it killed the ones that couldnt branch into selling online... Uber, Glovo, Airbnb etc are global problems now. The only solution to them is keeping electing governments like this insistently and giving them time to hammer those corporations down.
  - gggggg5 4y ago
    The pandemic didn't kill those businesses, that's just straight up dishonest. Government enforced lockdowns killed those businesses.
    - unity1001 4y ago
      Pandemic did kill those businesses, statistically. It actually still is killing restaurants and entertainment sector because people's behaviors during the pandemic changed and they go out to shop less and use online entertainment and shopping more.

anthk 4y ago

Not with Izquierda Unida since Eurocommunism and PSOE's shift to the right since Suresnes. If any, a Marxist would vote them as the "least wrong" choice.

gggggg5 4y ago

>So its probably the most successful left wing government in West Europe in the last 40 yeras for that reason. They were able to pass major reforms ranging from the labor reform that now protects 'contractors' to raising the minimum wage two times, from rent control to the new minimum income law among many others. I totally did not expect that they would be able to succeed in that much. It was quite a surprise. This same government pretty much bankrupted most small restaurants in the country, with many only surviving thanks to Glovo and the likes. Win some, lose some, I guess.

pvaldes 4y ago
> This same government pretty much bankrupted most small restaurants in the country, Don't you think that Covid could had played some major role in that?. In any case, your mileage may vary. I see plenty of small restaurants still opened and doing fine. Glovo was being warned several times that had 7000 workers in a precarious illegal situation and that they had to fix it. The company opted for not fixing it, and was fined. Don't blame communists for Glovo's wrong choices, or the government for a global pandemic that nobody asked for.
- gggggg5 4y ago
  Do you think the government can't be criticised for their covid response?
  - unity1001 4y ago
    Only at the start for not reacting fast, and that was due to them getting fooled by the incessant propaganda that was coming from the US and the UK saying that 'there was no pandemic'. For months, the US state department and media lambasted China for 'exaggerating', that there was nothing to worry about and it was just a flu. https://i.imgur.com/0MNniYD.jpg https://i.imgur.com/0MNniYD.jpg They were doing this to protect the Western stock markets. All the Western European governments were totally deceived by this propaganda. Spain's government was the second one in Europe after Italy to take drastic measures and implement a quarantine. In an environment were nations started to backstab each other to acquire masks and pandemic supplies - like how the US robbed a lot of countries' supplies -... https://nypost.com/2020/04/04/us-accused-of-piracy-as-mask-shipment-diverts-from-germany/ https://nypost.com/2020/04/04/us-accused-of-piracy-as-mask-s... ... the Spanish government cooperated with other countries, foremost China, to take rapid action without backstabbing anyone. It immediately implemented economic measures to protect both people and businesses during the pandemic, diverting cash to small businesses, creating minimum income, postponing taxes and giving pandemic stimulus whereas the US and the UK etc literally hung out their people to dry in the pandemic. I'd say that Spain has been incredibly lucky to have entered the pandemic with this government. Many countries' people suffered a lot in the hands of 'free market' types, who openly declared that they would 'let the pandemic run its course' - to protect corporate tax breaks, of course - no need to spend money for the people. So aside from getting deceived by the US/UK at the start of the pandemic like every single Western European government, I'd say that this Spanish government has handled the pandemic in an exemplary fashion. That they were ALSO able to achieve some major reforms in the middle of a pandemic goes WAY beyond what anyone could expect...
    - gggggg5 4y ago
      This would all be much more reasonable if literature genuinely supported lockdowns, but in reality it's a toss-up. Studies looking at quality-adjusted life years have not discovered a meaningful COVID-related benefit from the lockdowns. The most charitable takes will note that lockdowns did indeed drastically reduce traffic deaths, but it's hard to view that as a genuine pro-lockdown argument.
wkat4242 4y ago
All the small restaurants I knew are still here, despite the pandemic even. And it's necessary because Spanish people eat out for lunch a lot. Prices are usually much lower at lunch, with a special menu of varied choices for a set price. There is a problem with local people retiring from the restaurant business and selling off to (usually) Chinese which usually means the quality and variety of food and atmosphere suffers. The old owners usually cared about great food for a good price. Nothing wrong with the Chinese as such but they're more business-like, they don't generally take as much pride in their business. My favorite place was just taken over like that and I miss the old owner who would tell something proud about the food he procured that day, or come over and give us some shots or biscuits after. If he knew you'd really like something he'd serve a little bit extra. He'd serve an amazing three course lunch with drink all for 12€. Service included because tipping is hardly a thing here. The new Chinese just don't care as much, the food is pretty meh and they don't engage with the customers like that. You don't feel as welcome like going to friends for dinner. But it's not caused by policy. It's just not a popular job anymore for Spanish people. It's hard work. People rather go to college than take over the family restaurant. So other people pick it up. It is what it is, but it's kinda sad that the real neighbourly community places are disappearing. Because it's happening to pretty much every small family restaurant now.
unity1001 4y ago
> This same government pretty much bankrupted most small restaurants in the country, with many only surviving thanks to Glovo and the likes Its not that the government had allowed such companies into the Spanish market. They entered long before. This government is the one which started to take action against such destructive companies for the first time. Additionally you miss the effects of the pandemic. The pandemic killed small stores and businesses everywhere - or rather, it killed the ones that couldnt branch into selling online... Uber, Glovo, Airbnb etc are global problems now. The only solution to them is keeping electing governments like this insistently and giving them time to hammer those corporations down.
- gggggg5 4y ago
  The pandemic didn't kill those businesses, that's just straight up dishonest. Government enforced lockdowns killed those businesses.
  - unity1001 4y ago
    Pandemic did kill those businesses, statistically. It actually still is killing restaurants and entertainment sector because people's behaviors during the pandemic changed and they go out to shop less and use online entertainment and shopping more.