Is Spain's situation as bad as I think it is?

[Guanche]

Its something I've been thinking about for a while. I, as many of you know, live in a small village and I'm the only foreigner I know. Apart from my family in the UK that I phone regularly and the forum, of course I am fully enveloped in Spanish life.
I know I've posted about the situation some of the wife's family are in, not to mention our friends and it is, well dire! I can't think of another word for it. The wife said last night that one of her brothers is having the phone and internet taken out because he cant afford it. I know he got rid of his mobile some time ago.

The thing is, am I failing to see the good for the bad?

[Myrtle Hogan-Lance]

No.  I do think we do take some of the good for granted, like the weather, way of life, and so on.  However the economic situation is worsening and there are zero signs of anything  happening to improve it*.  I am worried about how grim it may get. 

That said, it is good to remember what is great about living in Spain.  Imagine, for example, if your wife's brother were in the same position in a place like Newcastle where it's cold and dark most of the time.  (Nothing against Newcastle, I just picked it as an example of a place with a reputation for being bleak.  Anybody who objects, we can change it to Slough.  As in despond.)  You can stop and watch school kids playing and on occasions, performing in their groups, without somebody reporting you for paedophilia.  Children of all ages talk to adults and I have yet to meet a teenager I am afraid of.  People let others with one item go before them at the checkout.  Those things will not feed you or pay your bills, but do put things in perspective a bit. 

* Except for a certain Mercedes Benz dealer for whom business is booming.

[Janet]

I agree with the turtle ... I think there are compensations to living here, but on the other hand the situation here economically is worse than most other places in Europe. It's important to have a perspective, but generally yes, I would agree that Spain's situation is every bit as bad as you think it is.

[Nova]

I find that I worry, not whether the situation is as bad as I think it is, but whether it may actually be worse than I think it is.  And I think it's pretty bad.  I have seen "paro day" drop from insanely busy to a little busier than usual because so many of the unemployed have now finished their paro and the ayuda that followed, and god only knows how they're surviving now.  I see customers with accounts overdrawn and their mortgages heavily in arrears coming in to check whether their ayuda payment has come in yet, and I dread what will happen to them when that ayuda ends.  I'm one of the lucky ones, all of us here are, and as much as I may be aware of the gravity of the present situation for those around us, I fear that I don't really have a clue just how bad things are for those around us.

[/doomandgloom]

[Myrtle Hogan-Lance]

Any idea how those of us who are not corrupt could directly help some people?  For reasons stated by all and sundry I would not like to throw money at the problem, but would happily contribute directly.  Where I come from these things are supposed to be direct, discrete and dignified (which is why the UK charity crap drives me up a wall).  I'm willing to try something.

[Guanche]

I know what you mean Myrtle but I think the problem is just to big. In our own little way we try and only buy locally sourced food and in general Spanish made items. But that's quite difficult and easier said than done.