I was in Portugal in fall 1975 supporting the overthrow of fascism and the hopes for a better world. We met with soldiers, students, workers - factory and agricultural - and was swept up in the wave of revolutionary hope. In the US one doesn't learn in the social studies curriculum or in the intro global histories about portgual, fascism, Salazar. Watching your talk brought tears to my eyes. I am a CUNY professor. Go CUNY!!!
I lived through both. I was born in Lisbon and moved to Spain in 1975, where I lived until 2014. The Spanish “transition” was kind of a farce, sadly. From the outside, it looked like democracy, but there were of secret pacts between political parties and the King. A lot of BS from which Spain has still to recover. There still are many Franco heirs in power…
A key reason we moved to Portugal last year was the newness and high potential of respect and value for the county’s democracy. I have been following your posts - Wonderful statements and beautiful sentiment in your address of Portugal’s celebration of democracy!
Portugal (like Spain) has this "citizenship for displaced original residents" (not sure about the terminology, but meaning descendants of Jews that were forced to emigrate). My wife should qualify because her maternal grandmother was 100% Sephardic Jew. Somehow we couldn't document this (connection between grandma and my wife) clearly and missed that chance to obtain citizenship in a country that has struggled even longer that Turkey to become a democracy, but one that maintained it (unlike ours sliding into autocracy). While I still enjoy living in Turkey, if things get worse, Portugal would be a great place to escape for freedom.
Paul Krugman came here, I believe, in 1976 for what must have been one of his first jobs, working with the late Silva Lopes. He has been a great friend of Portugal ever since.
I live here, so I celebrated the 51st year after the overthrow of dictatorship, singing Portuguese, songs of liberation (Grândola Vila Morena) and shouting “fascismo nunca mais!”
Pretty weird, coming from a country that is so stupid that it is sliding in the same fascism that Portugal escaped.
Portugal is another country where an American can experience a freedom of being that was once a part of our society -- and it can be again, but only if you all learn to see through the lies of the neo-fascists, and then vote for against them without fear.
It's a great reminder of the imperative that we continue to Rise! Resist! ✊✊✊
The next nationwide rally is June 14, yes >that< June 14, be there or be square!
Let's ruin Chump's B'day. We need 3.5% or the population, or around 12,000,000 people to be present. So bring all your friends and families, bring your pets. Spread the word as far and wide as possible.
My wife and I live in Lisbon now. Dr. Krugman, you are welcome to join us. We have been here 4 years and have experienced in that time a remarkable transformation. Wages are still low compared to most wealthy European countries which is producing a brain drain. And yet, many young people return with skills and entrepreneurial drive to open new businesses or improve existing ones. Portugal is an exciting place to be at the moment. I wager that it will continue to thrive.
Democratization and a better-educated workforce are good for a country’s economy. But the U.S. is going in reverse on both. Many GOP-dominated state legislatures tend to fund public education as if the money were coming out of their own pockets.
You have justified and defended the efforts of many to spread freedom and democracy throughout the world. It's a noble imperative to fight fascism with wits, not weapons. It pays to be free and democratic.
It's a great reminder of the imperative that we continue to Rise! Resist! ✊✊✊
The next nationwide rally is June 14, yes >that< June 14, be there or be square!
Let's ruin Chump's B'day. We need 3.5% or the population, or around 12,000,000 people to be present. So bring all your friends and families, bring your pets. Spread the word as far and wide as possible.
“The effect of April 25th on education…”. The education, upskilling point is very salient and now the US has begun the arduous task of demonstrating the same phenomenon in reverse.
That's what I've been seeing also. The idea in the Southeast seems to have been to keep the public schools poor enough that people who are forced to attend them are so poorly educated that they cannot move elsewhere for better jobs. My mother, who lived in East Tennessee, told me that people who could afford to do so, were sending their kids to private schools because those schools didn't allow black students.
I was in Portugal in fall 1975 supporting the overthrow of fascism and the hopes for a better world. We met with soldiers, students, workers - factory and agricultural - and was swept up in the wave of revolutionary hope. In the US one doesn't learn in the social studies curriculum or in the intro global histories about portgual, fascism, Salazar. Watching your talk brought tears to my eyes. I am a CUNY professor. Go CUNY!!!
I taught at CUNY (BMCC) for two semesters—best employer I’ve ever had!
The carnation revolution; I remember it well. Soon after that the Franco regime was replaced. The Iberian peninsula was democratic again.
I lived through both. I was born in Lisbon and moved to Spain in 1975, where I lived until 2014. The Spanish “transition” was kind of a farce, sadly. From the outside, it looked like democracy, but there were of secret pacts between political parties and the King. A lot of BS from which Spain has still to recover. There still are many Franco heirs in power…
like who?
A key reason we moved to Portugal last year was the newness and high potential of respect and value for the county’s democracy. I have been following your posts - Wonderful statements and beautiful sentiment in your address of Portugal’s celebration of democracy!
I would love to hear how you managed the move and figured out where to live. And how you find it now.
Portugal (like Spain) has this "citizenship for displaced original residents" (not sure about the terminology, but meaning descendants of Jews that were forced to emigrate). My wife should qualify because her maternal grandmother was 100% Sephardic Jew. Somehow we couldn't document this (connection between grandma and my wife) clearly and missed that chance to obtain citizenship in a country that has struggled even longer that Turkey to become a democracy, but one that maintained it (unlike ours sliding into autocracy). While I still enjoy living in Turkey, if things get worse, Portugal would be a great place to escape for freedom.
Paul Krugman came here, I believe, in 1976 for what must have been one of his first jobs, working with the late Silva Lopes. He has been a great friend of Portugal ever since.
I live here, so I celebrated the 51st year after the overthrow of dictatorship, singing Portuguese, songs of liberation (Grândola Vila Morena) and shouting “fascismo nunca mais!”
Pretty weird, coming from a country that is so stupid that it is sliding in the same fascism that Portugal escaped.
Paul Krugman would never ever sell “investments,” so fuck off, asshole.
Portugal is another country where an American can experience a freedom of being that was once a part of our society -- and it can be again, but only if you all learn to see through the lies of the neo-fascists, and then vote for against them without fear.
It's a great reminder of the imperative that we continue to Rise! Resist! ✊✊✊
The next nationwide rally is June 14, yes >that< June 14, be there or be square!
Let's ruin Chump's B'day. We need 3.5% or the population, or around 12,000,000 people to be present. So bring all your friends and families, bring your pets. Spread the word as far and wide as possible.
https://www.nokings.org/
The leader of the Chega party attended Trump‘s inauguration. Ugh.
May we go the way of Portugal.
My wife and I live in Lisbon now. Dr. Krugman, you are welcome to join us. We have been here 4 years and have experienced in that time a remarkable transformation. Wages are still low compared to most wealthy European countries which is producing a brain drain. And yet, many young people return with skills and entrepreneurial drive to open new businesses or improve existing ones. Portugal is an exciting place to be at the moment. I wager that it will continue to thrive.
Please take care of yourself and be well soon. Having you here couldn't be more important at times like this in America 🤍💙
Democratization and a better-educated workforce are good for a country’s economy. But the U.S. is going in reverse on both. Many GOP-dominated state legislatures tend to fund public education as if the money were coming out of their own pockets.
Right! We care more about our lawns than our future.
You have justified and defended the efforts of many to spread freedom and democracy throughout the world. It's a noble imperative to fight fascism with wits, not weapons. It pays to be free and democratic.
It's a great reminder of the imperative that we continue to Rise! Resist! ✊✊✊
The next nationwide rally is June 14, yes >that< June 14, be there or be square!
Let's ruin Chump's B'day. We need 3.5% or the population, or around 12,000,000 people to be present. So bring all your friends and families, bring your pets. Spread the word as far and wide as possible.
https://www.nokings.org/
Get better, teach.
I watched from Lisbon where I am on holiday. 👍🏽
For readers of this Substack, I respectfully recommend a recent article by Naomi Klein in the Guradian. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2025/apr/13/end-times-fascism-far-right-trump-musk
Excellent article.
An expose of ultimate sleaze. They all need to be introduced to the guillotine.
“The effect of April 25th on education…”. The education, upskilling point is very salient and now the US has begun the arduous task of demonstrating the same phenomenon in reverse.
That's what I've been seeing also. The idea in the Southeast seems to have been to keep the public schools poor enough that people who are forced to attend them are so poorly educated that they cannot move elsewhere for better jobs. My mother, who lived in East Tennessee, told me that people who could afford to do so, were sending their kids to private schools because those schools didn't allow black students.
Thank you. Hope you feel better soon.