one last effort

Spain is suffering worse than most with 25% unemployed. Every second young person you pass in the street has no job.

To heal the economy, the Madrid government has made savage changes in employment rights. Statutory severance pay has been cut by more than half. Young people will be on one-year contracts with no compensation.

It seems that to tackle unemployment workers must be made easier to sack. The Spanish government has asked its people for "one last effort". At the same time, some politicians have said it's the fault of those who lived beyond their means.

An open letter published in El Pais to the government from Francisco Pastor Guzman, a university lecturer from Castellon, has characterised the quiet indignation of the populace.

Mr Guzman points out he has always been prepared to make an effort. He studied hard at school to get to university. He concentrated his efforts to get a degree and a career. He took on extra work to supplement a modest salary. With his wife, he bought a house within their budget. He resisted the relentless offers of loans to buy a big, expensive car. He never took a luxurious holiday on a credit card. He made home improvements only when he had the money to do so. He was active in the parents' association of his children's school. He never took a prescription from the health service he didn't need. He never missed a mortgage payment. He never claimed unemployment benefit. But may have to now that he is to be made redundant as part of public spending cuts.

As Mr Guzman says, he didn't speculate in property. He didn't damage the economy with reckless personal spending. He didn't cause the banking crisis. He didn't sink the stock market. He didn't live beyond his means. But he knows who did. Those who indulged in profligate public spending. Who created the property bubble. Who encouraged people to get into debt.

They're still in charge of the government and the economy. Mr Guzman says it's they who should make one last effort.