I recently returned from my first visit to Spain and realized there is so much we as Americans can learn from the Spanish. They have done a lot of things right, and we should copy them! Humanity has been copying Spain for centuries. Why stop now?
For example: architecture. The Moors, way back almost two thousand years ago, built buildings supported by great arches and domes, the strongest forms in buildings. Their mosques and palaces have stood the test of time, including horrendous earthquakes and storms. Maybe we should design most homes that way.
Another thing: teeny cars with teeny gas tanks or electric cars with many charging stations. This we are working on, but we are way behind. Ditto with solar and wind. We are getting there, but they are advanced.
Siesta. Nice concept. Most businesses don’t begin their days until 10am and then there is siesta time (except for tourist places) around noon. Spaniards eat lunch about 2:30pm and dinner at 8:30 or 9pm. Everyone! And the world goes on. Tourists, who are everywhere, can keep to an American schedule, but may miss out on the best restaurants that don’t even open until 8pm. That will never happen here, but many people would love it if it did!
No guns. No one has guns except the (very good looking) policia. Imagine the worst crime being pickpocketing. Imagine going anywhere: a mall, a grocery, a school, and not even thinking about a mass shooting or a nut with a gun. It is heaven. Some of us may remember when our country was like that.
Fantastic clean public transportation and trains. Cheap taxis. Things we all want here.
Very limited homelessness. I saw two homeless men in the entire country. They have many centers for troubled people to go to for mental health and housing.
Free health care for all. It is for everyone, included with being alive. How about that?
Sure, Spain is smaller than the USA and only got rid of their dictator Franco in 1975, but it seems like it has a lot going for it now. They have their political disagreements, but their leaders don’t have to have security details for their families like our leaders do.
I was in Catalonia on their holiday which was used for protests. 800,000 people gathered in the Plaza de Espanoloutside my hotel. There were loud speeches and enthusiastic singing. There was no violence. None. When it was officially over, the street cleaning machines got the plaza back to normal within minutes.
Spain has mountains, orchards of grapes, almond and olive trees, and the Mediterranean. It has a rich history and celebrates both the ancient and the modern. It has been and is home to some of the greatest artists and architects in the world. It seems to me that it is not only an amazing place to visit, but a wonderful place for American policy makers to emulate.
