Subsidies for Fools

Even though the new Lisbon airport will now be built in Alcochete, the "Otários" (fools) are still fighting their corner. Last week they came up with the idea that the Ota region must now be considered disadvantaged and thus requires government investment to make up for the airport not being built there! Logically, this investment should be added to the cost of building the airport in Alcochete. Will that still be a better solution in this case?

Not surprisingly, the Government agreed to consider this request. Don't forget who are the major landowners in Ota, who would be expected to show their gratitude for receipt of such investment. And the poor little property speculators, taxi license sharks and City Council employees who stand to lose from not having an airport on their doorstep.

So let's subsidise them all. It's clearly an important area, more so than the deserted regions of the interior, for example. Or maybe the Government could take another difficult budgetary decision, and not throw public funds to speculators and sycophants.