Catalonia to vote in fierce independence row with Spain

AFP ^ | September 24, 2015 | Roland Lloyd Parry

[C19fan]

A bitter standoff dragging in everyone from politicians to footballers hits a climax Sunday when nationalists in Catalonia hope voters will back them to strike out for independence from Spain. Insults and threats have been flying between Barcelona and Madrid this week ahead of the regional election that Catalan nationalists have framed as a vote on whether to break away and create a new state in Europe.

[C19fan]

Catalonia has always wanted to go its own way. It supported the Hapsburg claimant to the Spanish throne during the War of Spanish Succession. It was the base of the Republican government, with various Leftists parties, during the Spanish Civil War

[dfwgator]

One of the biggest impacts would be the fate of FC Barcelona if Catalonia goes independent. La Liga basically told them they would be out if Catalonia is independent.

[Marko413]

I understand Catalonia wanting to be independent, but I don’t see how it will be a benefit to them. It’s not the same situation like the US and Texas because Texas is big and can easily be self-sufficient. Catalonia going independent in Europe would almost look like if Indiana or Ohio suddenly wanted to break off. I just don’t think they have the infrastructure or the revenue output to sustain themselves.

[17th Miss Regt]

A small state that is really not sustainable by itself would tend to be unstable. That would make it a good target for muslims to try to subvert and take over. The population might not be suitable for now but that can be changed by immigration.

[FroggyTheGremlim]

I thought it read "California."

As far as I am concerned, Spain can keep California.

[Gumdrop]

This begs the question. Should Bavaria decide to go independent from Germany again? It is vary large, and could be sustainable on its own, and would not be forced to accept all the Muslim refugees mandated by the Euro-Union.

[Hawthorn]

>> I just don’t think they have the infrastructure or the revenue output to sustain themselves <<

They pay a lot more in taxes to Madrid than they get back in return.

[SaraJohnson]

It is a heavily taxed, wealthy part of Spain. One of the complaints is they pay Spain taxes and see little of that money back home. They feel like Spain’s red headed step child.

I worry they would not be able to defend themselves. Being independent and thinking independent is not the same thing. Although they have protected a lot of their own culture, they are Spainards after so long. And Spain has socialist economic programs and problems.

They would have to stop thinking dependently and think as independent people responsible for their economy, themselves and their families. People of a free Republic under the thumb of the EU with all it’s stupid edicts will mess them up. A lot of the educated work in Barcelona. Spain will be meaner to them.

I have friends there. They want independence badly. I prayed to God a lot today about it and asked Him to let happen what is best. He knows the people, can see the future and knows best. When I told my friend this, she was not so happy. She wanted me to pray for independence - period. I told her God would make it happen if it was safe for Catalonia. These are weird days.