Originally Posted by cricketman

We're talking about situations where people need to find food to eat - or they starve

Its already started to happen in Andalucia, families have gone back to the small holdings that were left neglected in the boom years.

Originally Posted by bob_bob

In that situation it would make far more sense to keep them in the towns and cities and let intensive farming methods provide the food.

Originally Posted by Fredbargate

The small holdings are exactly that. Very small pieces of land often inaccessible to large machinery and divided and scattered across the landscape.
Intensive farming methods would require large capital investments to improve the infrastructure, whereas a man and wife with a spade and hoe can work the small parcels.

Originally Posted by Fredbargate

The small holdings are exactly that. Very small pieces of land often inaccessible to large machinery and divided and scattered across the landscape.
Intensive farming methods would require large capital investments to improve the infrastructure, whereas a man and wife with a spade and hoe can work the small parcels.

Originally Posted by Pocaloca

You're dead right. This one belongs to my BF's family. Now you know why I'm so fit!

Originally Posted by cricketman

Do you know what the communication network was like back then?

There would have been complete ignorance of the situation in the North, it's not as if Franco publicised it. And anyway most Northerners were relatively wealther i.e. they had basic food to feed themselves, not actually any money

The only way South out of Asturias until the 50s was by donkey over the mountains!

Originally Posted by jackytoo

Didn't Pol Pot try to turn the country into a farming society. Sent everyone out into the countryside resulting in the deaths of millions.

Some of you are barking mad

If Spain defaults and cannot borrow money the IMF would step in with emergency cash. Of course we are seeing the fringe of it now. Health clinics open only in the morning, schools running out of basics. Pharmacists not getting paid. Some drug companies are owed millions by the spanish regions. It won't be a matter of swapping a few tomatoes for a couple of cucumbers!

Originally Posted by Fredbargate

The small holdings are exactly that. Very small pieces of land often inaccessible to large machinery and divided and scattered across the landscape.
Intensive farming methods would require large capital investments to improve the infrastructure, whereas a man and wife with a spade and hoe can work the small parcels.

Originally Posted by Pocaloca

Not so, the "second homes" and parcelas aren't mortgaged to the banks, they belong to the families and are inherited. They aren´t like the second homes rich Brits have in the UK, just used for holidays. Nearly everyone I know round here has one and even if they are on hard times they wouldn't dream of selling them. They keep pigs and poultry and grow enough produce to feed themselves and their extended families.

You must have a very poor view of human nature if you think the campesinos would let the townies starve to death - but they might put them to work with a spade or a plough so they earn their keep!

Originally Posted by Pocaloca

Because Franco would have accused them of being rojos and had them shot?

Originally Posted by cricketman

Do you know what the communication network was like back then?

There would have been complete ignorance of the situation in the North, it's not as if Franco publicised it. And anyway most Northerners were relatively wealther i.e. they had basic food to feed themselves, not actually any money

The only way South out of Asturias until the 50s was by donkey over the mountains!

Originally Posted by Rotor

Cars have been used all over Spain since they were invented ,admittedly roads were just rough tracks but some people did travel ,Spain has always had some roads , Romans. Moors ,Napoleon and Wellington managed to travel around ,but not in a car

Originally Posted by Rotor

Cars have been used all over Spain since they were invented ,admittedly roads were just rough tracks but some people did travel ,Spain has always had some roads , Romans. Moors ,Napoleon and Wellington managed to travel around ,but not in a car

Originally Posted by cricketman

What point are you trying to make? I have never said that Spain didnt have roads, but in 1960 there were 20,000 cars in the whole of Spain!

Thats one for every 150 people back then

And there were no roads South for cars out of Asturias I can assure you. There are stonking great mountains in the way

Anyway the main point is that with Franco controlling radio and TV communication between 1935-1980 then Spaniards were only aware of what Franco wanted them to be aware of. And the majority of people never travelled outside of their village, never mind province

Originally Posted by HBG

Jesus H Christ, Spain has borrowed 30 billion, the UK has printed (borrowed} 375 billion, the US has borrowed trillions, and us expats are panicking.

Civil unrest? For sure. It might start in Detroit and spread to Washington, it might start in Manchester and spread to Liverpool, and in Spain?

They'll let off a few fireworks in Madrid, and get back to enjoying life.

Originally Posted by cricketman

What point are you trying to make? I have never said that Spain didnt have roads, but in 1960 there were 20,000 cars in the whole of Spain!

Thats one for every 150 people back then

And there were no roads South for cars out of Asturias I can assure you. There are stonking great mountains in the way

Anyway the main point is that with Franco controlling radio and TV communication between 1935-1980 then Spaniards were only aware of what Franco wanted them to be aware of. And the majority of people never travelled outside of their village, never mind province

Originally Posted by steviedeluxe

I don't disagree with your main points, but I believe Franco died quite a few years before 1980. His ghost gets blamed for a lot of things (a lot of anti-Real Madrid haters still use this to knock the club's success) but let's try and keep to facts?