The real issue about the crisis is probably not the current sacrifices that most people have to do (higher taxes, suppressed compensations, omnipresent cuts) but the feeling that the worse is yet to come. The feeling that every measure intended to satisfy the markets (that abstract entity that punishes us) will not be enough. What are the solutions, then, if today's sacrifices are not enough and tomorrow's will be an even heavier and pointless burden?
An increasingly growing amount of people in Portugal are opting for emigrating to Portuguese-speaking countries which are, in principle, in a better shape, such as Brasil and Angola. Perhaps unless you're a young professional, leaving your country seems like the most dishonorable solution of all; the most public demonstration that you are giving up. This is probably why a recent suggestion of the Portuguese prime minister appears so shocking. In reference to the high rates of teachers unemployment, the prime minister frankly suggested all unemployed teachers to leave the country, and to consider relocating in Portuguese-speaking countries. He was speaking about teachers, but we all got the kind suggestion. The suggestion seemingly caused a lot of controversy. A right-wing eurodiputate went further, and suggested the creation of a national agency for supporting emigration.
Many hard questions arise. What are your concrete alternatives (or hopes, of you want) if the prime minister of the country you live in suggests you to leave the country? Would the prime ministers of, say, France, Italy, or the UK suggest their unemployed citizens to leave the country? What can be inferred about the Portuguese character, based on the suggestions of the prime minister?
