Posted on 10/29/2016 12:09:52 PM PDT by oblomov
On the freezing, windswept streets of Iceland's capital, there is little evidence that a motley crew of computer hackers and anarchists could soon form its next government.
As elderly couples and swarms of tourists amble around Reykjavik, not a single outdoor canvasser or campaign poster is in sight.
But inside the headquarters of the Pirate party, which lurks by the harbour, dozens of volunteers are hammering on keyboards as they spread their anti-establishment message on social media - which they say is where the real election battle is being fought.
With an affluent, friendly population that is smaller than Bristol and a parliament dating back to 930 AD - the world's oldest - this volcanic island may seem an unlikely hatching ground for a revolution.
But the fringe group, once dismissed by mainstream parties as a joke, has taken by storm Iceland's political scene, where disillusioned voters are abandoning the country’s centre-right government en masse.
The latest polling figures suggest the Pirates - or Piratar in Icelandic - will win more than 22 per cent of the vote in Saturday's general election, enough to form a coalition with up to four other left-wing parties.
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
Brexit was mostly conservative or populist, this simply sound fascist/marxist
Iceland isn't a member of the EU. The issue is whether to join, not exit.
If they succeed, it will be an interesting experiment. The problem is direct democracy will truly become "two wolves and a sheep voting on what's for dinner".
Every issue will come down to which side can marshal the most votes, and without agreement on basic constitutional rights, the majority will be able to do whatever they want.
They have an anarchist flavor. E.g., they have proposed adding Bitcoin to Icelandic Kroner currency reserves. They are also strongly anti-globalist.
They’re all left wing.
Iceland is the ultimate homogenous Euro Socialist paradise.
Thanks for setting me straight...I like facts and truth.
This is EXACTLY how Fascism starts. Right under the nose of the people...making them think they’re taking power. Always young idealists, but with a few older people (probably some college professors in this case) controlling the puppet strings.
...and it always ends horribly.
I will be very simple if they win.
Everything will simply “stop” in about 5-6 months when the $ run out and business/banks flee.
Then panic, then a new, business-focused government.
I tried to understand their platform:
direct democracy
a new national constitution
public vetoes over new laws
greater scrutiny of the workings of government
strict safeguards for individuals’ online and offline privacy
public ownership of the country’s natural resources
As someone above said, is there a rule of law? Or can the majority vote to steal from the minority? Oh wait, we do that here anyway, don’t we....
Government ownership of natural resources: communism — and how do they define natural resources? Tourism is their big industry, and the natural beauty is a big tourist draw. So is all the land to be owned by the government?
Well, it will be interesting to see. There are only about 320,000 people there, and it is one of the most homogeneous of countries.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.