for the time being, while tourism is still up, the hold on madeira will continue. but when the economy tanks, as it inevitably will next year, the local opinion will shift away from obedience to the distant lords of the socialist empire and towards the local man on the ground.

i'm here on the ground and i hear things that are whispered around everywhere and a lot of people have moved h ere because of anticipating war and repression on the continent, so much so that the local real estate market is tight as a drum.

for now, EU's grip is holding, but once the euro starts to fail the logic of the alternative is ready and waiting.

also, regarding the golden visa problem, you want to live here, get full residence. it is easy for EU citizens compared to americans and brits.

things are going to change rapidly over the next few years here, that's why i'm glad to be here and anchored to the ground already before the masses realise what they are gonna miss out on.

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well i'm a brit sooo... if I go to the expense required - why not the rural USA? Why not El Salvador?

Basically, whoever provides your energy - owns you.

Madeira receives artificially cheap hydrocarbons from the mainland, they are a well-meaning vassal, at best, until that changes. An SMR would take a decade to make real. Renewables are ersatz technology.

I have more questions than answers, that's all I'm saying. It's a beautiful place, and works as a practical compromise for many, espeically those with free movement from Eurpoe.

For what they want, assuming they are to be taken seriously at their word - less talk more action. A business hub is superb - it's not a free economy.

do you remember the Free State Project?

hacking the democracy is definitely part of the "why madeira" question.

the positioning right on some of the fattest undersea cables is another.

this change that will mean no more easy tax haven bank accounts for foreigners is a good thing for building local business too.

it's 5% corporate tax rate. if your business is international, there isn't really any competition for that.

no subsidies required to make that work, either.