European politicans know that with the policies they want to implement, the expenses of governments and of the EU are bound to increase. On defence; on incentives to research and to technology-based industries about which Europe cannot afford to fall behind other continents; on protective measures to combat climate warming... The funds required are enormous. Meanwhile European economies face sluggish growth, while government social expenditures mostly on pensions, health and unemployment support are growing fast.

Euro rules mandate austerity when government budgets are carrying rising deficits, as is happening. Greater indebtedness to finance the needed funds will create more problems and trigger further expenditures. Reductions in social services would give rise to mass disquiet.

Raising taxes is the only remaining option. But it too is not finding acceptance... even if only the rich were to be targeted with higher taxes. It is difficult to understand why this is happening, basically because of opposition from centre, rightwing and extreme right parties. Over the years, it has been the richer strata of European societies which have done best, and still are. Why should they not pay higher taxes now given the prevailing situation.

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STIPENDS IN EDUCATION

The argument about whether educational stipends - especially at tertiary level - should be reassessed, recently mentioned by a Unversity professor is not trivial. One understands it created concern among politicians, young people and families. But this doesn't mean it should not be discussed; or that automatically the issue cannot be discussed calmly and dispassionately even if it can be politically toxic. True it is a discussion that will not happen. Both political sides would make sure that any move about it could only mean political damage for the other side.

But actually, there are many serious reasons why the discussion should begin. Among them: while this country is among the highest spenders per capita on education, the results it is obtaining are among the weakest; many if not the majority of tertiary students have a job on top of their stipends; after leaving University, many graduates are accepting jobs that need less academic qualifications than what they have acquired...

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WAR AND PEACE

The war momentum is maintained when all those involved insist only on their rights and reasons, and make sure to totally exclude from their discourse any possibility that the other side could have at least some justification for its stand. We're seeing this happen in the "unnecessary" but cruel war which has been going on now for almost almost three years between Russia and the Ukraine.

The dangers are great when this happens - that the war situation becomes "permanent" - that the aims of war get locked into the slogan "All or nothing" - that occasions will arise for the war to spread - that opportunities grow for occult forces to generate incidents that will continue to sustain and spread the fighting - that national economies end up fully converted into war economies...