The article argues that independence is not the solution to the crisis of the Catalan rail network, suggesting instead a united approach to advocate for better infrastructure management.
The article emphasizes that embracing nostalgia regarding independence as a solution to the Catalan railway crisis is misguided and ineffective. It highlights the need for citizens to hold local administrations accountable to fix the failing rail infrastructure, rather than relying on abstract notions of independence. The author points out that ineffective mobilization of protests has led to a diluted message, showcasing that separate demonstrations, despite high participant claims, reveal a discrepancy in the real social and economic impact of the railway crisis on everyday people.
Specifically, two recent protests, which were organized separately, failed to capture the full extent of public outrage against the ongoing railway issues. While one protest gathered 8,000 participants in the morning and the other saw 3,000 in the afternoon, these numbers do not reflect the scope of the problem faced by commuters. This fragmentation weakens the overall impact of the demonstrations, suggesting that a more unified and strategic approach can harness greater public support and pressure authorities to act.
Moreover, the article critiques the reliance on historical symbols and slogans from the independence movement that do not resonate with the immediate concerns of those affected by the railway crisis. The sentiment is that the focus should shift from nostalgic arguments to practical solutions that directly improve the rail network, aligning the needs of everyday users with the efforts of advocacy groups to ensure a more significant impact on infrastructure management and repairs within the region.
