New Times: A post Thatcher/Sampedro World

4/10/2013

As the world debates the legacy of the Thatcher years, in Spain there has been an equally intense debate over the passing of Jose Luis Sampedro - author, economist, libertarian and someone who increasingly became synonymous with the 15M and Indignados movements.

What makes an interesting comparison is to look at not only what each wanted to see in the world, but how they chose to leave this mortal coil.

Thatcher left behind a legacy that still thrives - or haunts - depending on your point of view, western concepts of democracy. She died and is to be given a state funeral.

Sampedro left a clear message: His words were to be taken up by other generations, and it is in this specific field that his legacy is so revolutionary. He believed that the answers to the current economic and political problems lie not with our current generation of tired politicians - those, stuck in the forest and incapable of seeing beyond the trees - rather it is the responsibility of a new Spanish youth to carry us towards a new society, as of yet undefined. Hence his support for the street campaigns around 15M.

Imagination is more important than knowledge

He firmly believed that this young generation had finally, cast off the subservience of the 'Transition generation' - a generation of politicians and funcionarios - that have held their breath for so long, that have bitten their lips and settled for compromise philosophy and t¡ethics that were inscribed in the late 1970's.

I wonder what each new generation will teach us

Unlike Thatcher, Sampedro dies in secret. His dying wish was that no-one would know of his death for several days. And instead of a pompous funeral, his body was cremated and his ashes strewn out at sea before the news of his death was released.