What would you do if ...
 

... the mierda really did hit the fan and Spain went pearshaped? If you couldn't get your money out of the bank, supermarket shelves were empty, everyone was on strike and there were curfews on the city streets?

Not a prediction of course, just a hypothetical question!

Would you stock up and stay put, or head for the homeland?

Re: What would you do if ...
 

Unless someone grows their own food everybody would have to head home wouldnt they! Or starve to death

Re: What would you do if ...
 

So 40 million Spaniards who are already "home" will starve to death?

I would of thought you'd come up with something a bit more creative!

Re: What would you do if ...
 

You already said that there would be no access to money and no food on the shelves

Its true that Spain could feed itself so probably noone would starve to death, but it is difficult to imagine such a world.

I'm not hanging around if there is another war or dictatorship. Stuff that

I would support and happily live in some kind of semi-communist state as long as it was democratic and they'd let me keep my savings :rofl:

Re: What would you do if ...
 

I suppose I am lucky because we grow our own food and there are plenty of rabbits! I don't think I would miss material things too much, certainly not enough to make me leave the country. The only thing that would drive me out would be another fascist dictatorship.

I said no food on SUPERMARKET shelves, but I bet the village shops would find something to put on their shelves, and there would be a lot of bargaining and trading.

Re: What would you do if ...
 

I would stick it out with my Spanish friends.

Rosemary

Re: What would you do if ...
 

Well, it's typical. Either a sensational over-exaggeration or a yawner. Sometimes both. But at least he's consistent in that most everything is not-well-thought-through.

Yawn....

Me? Well, god forbid that would ever come to pass, but if it did, the UK would be the LAST place we'd fancy. Probably southern US or Caribbean.

We have some friends from the former east block who say the same. It was much better back then. Living standard very modest, but you didn't have to work much, and you get your bread and a chicken a week. Just do what they tell you and everything is fine (as long as you don't disagree or cross them in any way - something which you might have some difficulties with).

Oh, keeping your savings is probably a bit optimistic. Having any wealth at all would essentially be a crime (as you've eluded to on many occasions) and so the legal thing would be to hand it over to the state. Unless of course you are a high-ranking state official, which would enable you to accumulate as much wealth from any method you want, with complete impunity, and tax free!

Re: What would you do if ...
 

You're confusing communism with totalitarianism. Obviously the USSR was totalitarian, but communism doesnt have to be

My ideal society would be a sort of semi-communal ideal based on a big village. Where people work together towards common goals and share skills, but with basic property being free or very cheap and a salary cap for high earners of maybe 5 times the minimum salary

That doesnt mean it would have to be backward by the way. What I've described basically describes UK universities up until 5 years or so ago.

Re: What would you do if ...
 

I shouldnt really feed the troll, but given that you dont live there already, I can only assume that you are not skilled or rich enough

Re: What would you do if ...
 

Hubby and I would move in with Bil and get my family to ship over food parcel's once a month to complement his homegrown produce:thumbup: As for no money in the banks, well no change there for us would get bank of sister to send us cash when needed:rofl:

Re: What would you do if ...
 

Ahh yes, and everybody in the village would hold hands and sing Kum-by-yah around the campfire.

Just out of curiosity, who exactly pays for your idealistic little garden of eden? Me again, I reckon?

Re: What would you do if ...
 

Have a look back at Spanish history, self-sufficiency= grinding poverty. Perhaps some people have got a touch of the sun:blink: Read what some of the Spaniards said about life in the eg. 1950's

There would be shortages but it wouldn't be that bad. Then there are food parcels from abroad:lol:

Re: What would you do if ...
 

Being personally self sufficient would be no use, those that weren't would murder you for the food
Food parcels from abroad if they arrived at all would be empty.

Glad I wouldn't have to get out I have already done it.

Re: What would you do if ...
 

Sorry but you are talking RUBBISH !!

other than a self seeking advert for your own self sufficiency, if there is no food on the Supermarket shelves there will be no food on shelves - full stop. The buying power of small shopkeepers will be reduced to old clocks, radios, knives, forks - anything - they can take in barter, but that won't be much.

it is a scene you should be fearful of because that means Spain will have the same living conditions as Somalia et al. No electricity, no fuel, no water, no nothing except a long and lingering death unless caught looting when it will be very very short.

So get out there and do something useful to dig the country out of its mess - take a shotgun to those selling the country short, it has alot of potential, a great future

Re: What would you do if ...
 

Well, that's extraordinary. That sounds suspiciously like jealousy.

Not that surprising, really. I reckon anyone who didn't aspire to achieve anything in life could be jealous of those who did. There's a lot of that going around these days. Pretty common.

But that's life. You meet all kinds.

Re: What would you do if ...
 

No I only assumed that you are poor and unskilled because you love the US so much but do not live there. They wont let anyone in you know

Personally I was offerred a job in the US a few years ago, but turned it down. I couldnt live there

Re: What would you do if ...
 

You can be offered a job there but probably won't get in. Things have changed. You only have to check out the USA forum on here.

Re: What would you do if ...
 

Well, OK, if it helps you feel superior, I am poor and unskilled.
Feel that rush now? Ego boost? I have news for you. It's a human instinct. Comes from our fundamental need to compete and prosper. Look it up.

On another note, since you brought it up, I'm curious how if you are such an expert on the US, why is it that you never seem to have even a remote grasp of even the most basic knowledge of it?

Re: What would you do if ...
 

If things were as the OP said, I would not stick around, I would get me and mine out sharpish, to a better place.

It may sound shallow but as far as I am concerned neiter me or my immediate family would suffer hardship, go hungry, or be put in any danger, if there was a way out that could be sloved by spending a few bob, survial of the fittest is the way for me and mine

Re: What would you do if ...
 

And me and mine we would be right behind yer. If there's a choice why would you stay?

Re: What would you do if ...
 

Why indeed? :D

Re: What would you do if ...
 

Well yes I am talking rubbish, I didn't really mean this thread to be taken seriously! I don't believe it will happen.

Some people would quite enjoy the challenge of being self sufficient, or even better, working and sharing with their community. Wartime spirit and all that? Not everyone has a dog-eat-dog attitude.

As for that shotgun, I'm going to need it to shoot rabbits and pigeons, sorry! ;)

Re: What would you do if ...
 

Yes, we know. We've been studying it for a while. It seems there is still a huge demand to immigrate, so they've made the hurdles extemely challenging.

We're flying over later this year to explore a bit and to meet a prominent specialist in immigration. So far, he seems confident that we can overcome many of the hurdles, especially since we are native citizens of one of the US closest allies, and have decent financials, but yes, it's no slam-dunk. We shall see.

Pertainent to this thread, as things get worse here, we'd like to have a plan in the (hopefully) unlikely event of a disastrous collapse. Otherwise there's always the caribbean, I reckon. Hubby likes the idea. I'm a bit more skeptical.

Re: What would you do if ...
 

Good God, someone who admits to talking rubbish on BE - is that a first ?
Although we are both too young to remember the UK Wartime Spirit, the country wasnt broke, busted, nothing on the shelves. They had things but prices were sky high and they were under the counter.

but let things deteriorate and then come back and tell me there isnt a dog-eat-dog attitude, its already there with people who want/must get to the top of heap no matter what. Even here on BE Spain.

Re: What would you do if ...
 

Are you really say that you would not adapt a dog eat dog attitude if it was vital for your own family?

Because even if I wouldnt( which by the way I would without hesitation) my marida would fight like a tiger.

Or are you just trying to impress us with your nobility and sense of fair play?

Re: What would you do if ...
 

no, I am not saying I wouldn't nor that I haven't in the past.
I am trusting sensible people to not let it happen, but that doesn't mean I am not making preparations. Remember I am the foreigner here and in stress situations it is the foreigner who gets thumped first. The foreigner who gets run out of town - or worse.
It is easy to take it out on the foreigner, you don't upset your friends and relatives.

Re: What would you do if ...
 

Is not this the whole problem with the Eurozone now that things are not going too well? will the other Countries turn on the problem ones? Is Greece going to get the first kicking?
Bit of a what if question in the first place but I would think that most people have left the UK for what they thought was a better life? whatever their particular wants in life are. When it is no longer a better life but a much worse life then commons sense to me to say time to go. However this all seems rather an extreme outcome so fingers crossed as I haven't even moved in yet.

Re: What would you do if ...
 

"Things are not going well" is obviously an understatement, but what happens next is anybody's guess. I'd like to believe there won't be what's described here, but you don't really know until you know, right? People become pretty irrational when things get tough.

Re: What would you do if ...
 

Yes I was being kind to the EU politicians when I said "not going well" :thumbdown: but turning into a pile of s***e may not have gone down well but probably more accurate. However I am sure they will all start falling out sooner or later or maybe just turn on the UK as an easy target with our nasty £ (why not just blame Gordo we all do). Time will tell but I have a feeling the German public are starting to wish maybe the EU politicians should have stuck rigidly to their rules for entering the Euro. I do agree no one knows what will happen in the end one thing is for sure they will get worse before getting better.

Re: What would you do if ...
 

With you mate, but if the Germans would have demanded that the EU were rigid about the rules, Germany would never have been admitted. Ironically, Spain would have, though. Figure that one out.

Re: What would you do if ...
 

We're not all fortunate enough to have a plan B if it all blows up. Most of us will probably have to sit tight and try and ride out the storm.

A family member staying with us on holiday from the UK suggested earlier that when he returns next year, he will be coming over with Pesetas rather than Euros. We had a happy conversation remembering when we could paint the town red on a mil Pesetas a day.

I value his judgment because he has spent his life working in the City, but I don't share his politics. (Nor his bonuses).

Re: What would you do if ...
 

Would any replacement currency be called pesetas or even nuevo pesetas ?

It would cause quite a few complications as many bank statements and other facturas still show the old peseta value next to the euro value.
Naturally any new currency peseta or otherwise would have a different rate.

On top of that quite a few old timers around me still only discuss various values such as house prices in pesetas as at 160 to the euro.

Re: What would you do if ...
 

how would Germany not have got into the EU ? Do you mean the €uro?

A United Europe was formed around Germany and France, it being Germany's alternative to war, just take over all the European countries by stealth.
When you owe them enough money you will be taken over by an army of unsmiling accountants rather than unsmiling soldiers. France fell in line as they saw Germany as being better Europeans than UK, which is why they kept us out of it so long. Their relationship with Germany was just a continuation of the Vichy relationship during the war.

Re: What would you do if ...
 

You really can't go back to all those years ago, things like the Vichy government in France are an irrelevance in modern times.

'The Boers have got my daddy, my soldier dad'.

'Hitler has only got one ball, Himmler has got no balls at all'.

You can sit on your rocking chair somewhere and sing those songs, but you'll be without an audience, the world has moved on.

Re: What would you do if ...
 

Firstly if you currently have savings in Spanish banks you are crackers ,Spanish government guarantees will be worth squat as things get tougher.

As for no food , curfews and civil unrest I`d get my family out asap , guiris /immigrants will be blamed for everything and there will be lynchings , just like Jews were in Germany in the 30`s .
My gut feeling is that I`m only around 60% sure it wont happen for real.

Re: What would you do if ...
 

Quote:




Originally Posted by Domino

how would Germany not have got into the EU ? Do you mean the €uro?

A United Europe was formed around Germany and France, it being Germany's alternative to war, just take over all the European countries by stealth.
When you owe them enough money you will be taken over by an army of unsmiling accountants rather than unsmiling soldiers. France fell in line as they saw Germany as being better Europeans than UK, which is why they kept us out of it so long. Their relationship with Germany was just a continuation of the Vichy relationship during the war.


So you really believe that Dom is wrong and that Germany does not control the EU?
From where I sit it looks to me like we are all in debt to the bank of Germany and what they say goes for us all, without a shot being fired they have managed to achieve what two wars failed to do! :blink:

Re: What would you do if ...
 

Well it always surprised me how quickly they not only jumped in bed together, but virtually entered into a state of matrimony after all that had supposedly gone on shortly before, but I suppose that's the slimy frogs for you.

Re: What would you do if ...
 

I question the common belief that the motivation behind a "United Europe" was to avoid war, simply because at the time of its conception, war was far from a threat. I tend to subscribe to the obvious: the motivation was primarily economic, not only the concept of a single currency, but more importantly, free trade. But what it turned out to be was "highly regulated" trade. Slightly different.

Germany was the first to violate, and has always violated the stability pact.

"United Europe" is a bit of an oxymoron, as the disunity of Europe is a major part of the problem. One currency, 17 divergent fiscal policies... ??

In economic terms, a Greek Euro should be worth less than a German Euro ... but it's not, and cannot be... It's the same currency.

Re: What would you do if ...
 

Move your rocking chair next to Dom's and 'prepara te'.

'Die Fahne hoch, die Reihen fest geschlossen . . .'

Do you really hope for those times to return?

The Germans have had the good sense to ban the song.

Re: What would you do if ...
 

True, thats one of HBGs common misconceptions.
The Germans had been disarmed and the country heavily occupied so it was a none starter in any event and to a lesser extent the same situation still applies today.