Palestine

Accusing me of being Francoist is quite misguided.

Catalonia is ranked 4th or lower in GDP, and GDP per capita, and contributes even less to national coffers. The "we are rich and being robbed" is a useful manipulation technique for politicians.

The Catalonian independentists have a very sophisticated public opinion manipulation machinery, a "Hasbara light" , if you will.

If you look at very neutral polls, 38% of Catalonians are pro independence, 52% against, and the rest undecided.

Also, independence based on 50%-ish referendum results at one particular point in time is not good.

You need a very qualified majority, say 60-70% and a ratification referendum a few years down the line. Deciding a generational change of that magnitude on 51% can cause major damage. Think Brexit.