The Spanish flag has become a weapon thrown in political debates. Those who claim to defend it as a symbol of unity use it to mark boundaries between citizens, while pressing issues such as job insecurity or the price of housing are pushed into the background. This hypocrisy wears down coexistence.
Algorithms for social cohesion, not for division 🤖
Technology, such as recommendation systems or language models, can be applied to foster dialogue or polarization. A partisan use of national symbols is analogous to a poorly trained algorithm: it generates noise and reinforces biases. The technical and social solution involves depoliticizing these emblems and focusing resources on open data policies for housing and employment.
Flags on the sofa and bills on the table 💸
While some argue fervently about who waves the flag best, most people look at their bank account and sigh. It's curious: no one pays rent with national pride, nor does the supermarket fill up with a feeling of unity. Maybe we should change the anthem for a job advertisement jingle; at least it would sound more useful.