Time to Leave Portugal?
It's sad to read week after week the complaints about the way of life
here in Portugal. Rather a lot of people simply cant take it any more
and leave. Almost all my friends have upped and left, and that includes
Portuguese friends.
The problem is that in many countries of the world the government is
your main enemy. The government has become too big, and too intrusive,
and that means it has too much power. You know the phrase: Power
corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely.
The main trouble here in Portugal is that power is abused at all
levels. Infrastructure projects which should benefit the community are
set up to divert money to private persons. Certain classes of the
bureaucracy are immune from prosecution, and so are effectively above
the law. Every branch of government is on the take, and all levels
demand special privileges.
I was especially struck by a couple of incidents last year. In Lisbon
the leader of the communist party was talking to some students about
communism and a caring society. He then got into his chauffeur driven
limo. The following day I was on the tube somewhere in London, leaping
into the carriage at the last minute as usual. I nearly knocked over
the prime minister, who was strap hanging. The difference between a
true blue British conservative and a Portuguese communist was startling.
I'm not sure that English society is not going the same way as some
other states, but it is a long way from the police state that is the
USA, or the fascist state of Portugal.
There are many countries with a better climate, a warmer sea, better
infrastructure, less government interference, a respect for the rule of
law, and a cheaper way of life. One does not have to put up with this.
It wouldn't be so bad if one could see some improvements taking place.
Unfortunately, things seem to be getting worse at all levels.
The country is bankrupt, the future is mortgaged, the politicians and
their hangers-on take more and more out of the public purse, the
populace is treated like serfs, and even if one can insulate one's self
from these things, there is that general air of depression which
dampens all enthusiasm. However, I dont want to live in a country where
I have to avoid people so I dont have to listen to their bad news. When
I first came to live in the Algarve folks use to say "Why should I go
abroad for a holiday when I already live in Paradise?" Now they cant
wait to leave.
I keep thinking back to a little catch-phrase used in the money
markets: 'When the Jews get out, it's time to leave; when the
Portuguese get out, it's too late'. The Portuguese all seem to want to
leave. Ooops!
john