Posted on 09/14/2009 9:52:48 AM PDT by marthemaria
Norway’s left-leaning prime minister, Jens Stoltenberg, wants his nation to renew its commitment to one of the world’s most advanced social welfare models, which has weathered the global financial crisis with nary a wobble because of the country’s carefully managed oil riches.
But as Norwegians voted in parliamentary elections on Monday, Mr. Stoltenberg, 50, appeared to be on the defensive. Many voters had already told pollsters that they were weary of the high taxes and open-door asylum policies they have associated with Mr. Stoltenberg’s so-called red-green government of laborites, socialists and agrarians. The polling booths opened Sunday and close Monday evening.
“The government is under very strong pressure, and most surveys say it could lose its majority in Parliament,” said Arne Strand, political editor of the newspaper Dagsavisen. A right-leaning majority in Parliament, however, would not necessarily end the reign of Mr. Stoltenberg, whose Labor Party has set the agenda for Norwegian politics over the past six decades and whose current government has been in power since 2005. That is because the political right, with four main parties, is in chaos.
The leading group, the Progress Party, has emerged as Norway’s second-largest political force by channeling resentment over immigration, taxes and other contentious issues. The party’s standard-bearer, Siv Jensen, wants both to cut taxes and to raise spending on hospitals and roads by tapping into the country’s oil proceeds, now largely reserved for the pensions of Norway’s graying population. Ms. Jensen has also supported calls within her party to open Norwegian internment centers in Africa, where asylum seekers who come to Norway would be flown. Such ideas have so appalled Ms. Jensen’s proposed center-right governing partners that two of the three have suggested they will have nothing to do with her after the election, even. ..
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Which party wants Muslim “asylum spongers” to destroy Norge?
“...most advanced social welfare models...”
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Oxymoron.
Lots of oil and a small population isn’t exactly a model that can be ‘emulated’.
“Lots of oil and a small population isn’t exactly a model that can be ‘emulated’.”
Correct.
Try it in a country with 300 million ;-)
Not to mention the law-abiding, non-reproducing, Christian work-ethic (without the nuisance of God, of course), no-need-for-large-defense budget thing.
The immigration issue has become bigger and bigger in Europe. The people want to protect their patrimony, including their language and culture. It is going to change the politics of the continent.
“Try it in a country with 300 million ;-)”
Well - it sure would be nice to at least try. Lots of oil off the coasts of California and Florida. Oil and natural gas in ANWAR. And don’t get me started on all the coal that is locked out now in “Scenic Monuments”. (The U.S. has the largest coal reserves in the world). Oh - and nuclear.
What about in a country with 300 million and with Lots and LOTS of oil, tied up in regulatory shackles, do-not-drill mantras, leaves off-shore drilling to enemies, and won't build any new refineries?
save for later
“What about in a country with 300 million and with Lots and LOTS of oil, tied up in regulatory shackles, do-not-drill mantras, leaves off-shore drilling to enemies, and won’t build any new refineries? “
Yep. We might as well not have any oil.
In other news, “Sven Goes to Jihad Camp” is a blockbuster!
I have friends from Norway who moved to US for more opportunity. Although they love Norway, they have come to the conclusion that so much oil wealth for such a small population has essentially destroyed the country. The social services have destroyed the work ethic. One of my Norwegian friends has told me that if the oil were to dry up Norway could turn into a third world country. He says the discovery of oil was the worst thing to ever happen to the country.
Most parts of Europe have very safe streets and low crime. I recall the cops in Germany in the late 1970s and early 1980s had very little to do. A big town had very few cop cars.
England had low crime and now violent street crime is off the charts thanks to open borders. I walked around London 15 years ago and was not concerned. I would not do it today.
Unlike us [and perhaps the UK], Europe will not allow their culture and language to be taken over by the third world. They will do whatever is necessary to stop it, some of it may not be palatable to Americans. There is a reason why there are so many countries in Europe that have survived for centuries despite wars and occupation.
I am very pessimistic about the ability of this country to survive and retain the vision and values of our founders.
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