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by Jason Moore

I agree that cuts need to be made in these hard times but the Spanish authorities appear to be cutting back on all the wrong things. Case in point is the carnival parade which usually takes place in the Playa de Palma. It is jointly funded by the city council and the hoteliers federation, but this year they have both withdrawn their grants for the event. Initially it appeared that the event would not be taking place at all but now the residents association have stepped in and it will be taking place this weekend but on a limited budget. Surely the council and hoteliers could find a few thousands euros to pay for this hugely popular event? But no. Spanish state television has recently been forced to cancel some of its top programmes because of budget cuts. Once again I am sure that the government could find a few euros to ensure that the general public are entertained in these hard times. Instead of cutting back on entertainment for the hard-pressed general public who have seen their tax bills rise, perhaps the government could dispense with some layers of local government. This would be an enormous saving for the Spanish treasury. In most cases the work is duplicated by each of the government and council departments. A carnival parade is a cheap form of entertainment which is enjoyed by all. A top television programme is a welcome distraction from the recession. So perhaps next time it decides on cuts the Spanish authorities should think harder.