Nationalization is great, should you have a government that isn't entirely corrupt. In Canada recently they have sold off some of the very profitable nationalized corporations, and what did the people get in return? That decision of course was made by the government.

It can go either way, but there needs to be something that keeps a nationalized organization in check while they are in operation.

Originally posted by boncho
Nationalization is great, should you have a government that isn't entirely corrupt. In Canada recently they have sold off some of the very profitable nationalized corporations, and what did the people get in return? That decision of course was made by the government.

It can go either way, but there needs to be something that keeps a nationalized organization in check while they are in operation.

I Agree my friend.
The Harper Regime is all about selling off the peoples assets to private organizations. A lot of people here in Nova Scotia are -pissed- at Nova Scotia Power (owned by Emera, funny). Take a look at some of their endevours in the area today. NSP used to be nationalized. (pissed because they have been increasing energy costs for the last 15 years, and proposed 6% more of the next two years (they got 10% increase last year), and then announce that their CEO, CFO, CIO, and some others are getting double digit raises and bonuses......so, imagine how mad people are getting)

Icelands banks were nationalized up until 2000 when the government started to deregulate and the banks were sucked up into the financial fiasco that caused the 2008 crash. They just went back to normal after 7 years of the banks racking up money. Iceland went from a modest amount of debt (something like 2 - 10 billion), to 120 billion in 7 years. And they got NONE of it. No wonder they were mad.

Wish more people knew what was going on there, take them as an example.

They were also mad at the government for deregulating and allowing corporate entities to buy THEIR land, and use their resources and pollute their air and ruin their countryside and mountains for refineries and such.

Im honestly really tired of billion dollar corporations going into a country that they are not sovereign to, and taking their resources and taking their land and buying out the governments. Like in african gold mines. Their countries are so far in debt (due to no fault of their own), and they must ship all the gold they mine to whichever company runs the mine. Well, they have no equipment, its all done by hand for the most part, and they make less than 50 euros a year. Yet they export MILLIONS of dollars in gold each year.. Makes sense doesn't it?

And now harper wants to privatize Canadas water (i think that includes rainwater). Must be nice to have millions of dollars to buy things away from the public.

Iceland is a fascinating country, but they have far less inhabitants than the city where I live. So it is no wonder, we hear only little from there.

This fact also lets me doubt, if they would have much influence on the rest of the world.

Originally posted by Siddharta
Iceland is a fascinating country, but they have far less inhabitants than the city where I live. So it is no wonder, we hear only little from there.

This fact also lets me doubt, if they would have much influence on the rest of the world.

Iceland was huge in banking sector, and fall of Icelandic banks caused economic collapse in Europe, after that banks started failing in Europe.

But other than that, Iceland is poor in natural resources, except abundant supply of geothermal energy, main income is fish market. This is why it was almost death blow to Iceland when banks started failing. Aluminium industry is on good rise there.

But now they have bright future

I feel like I have to moderate you guys here a bit. I was as amazed as you all at first, but then I thought, why not get the news straight from the horses mouth?

What you are suggesting here... is the truth WITH MODIFICATIONS... there's is not a revolution per say, but the changes are welcomed non the less.

Here's a google translate from an Icelandic friend of mine. I didn't suggest anything to him... I only showed him the link to the CNN article and then I sat back and waited for a response. Here's what he wrote:

Thanks for the challenge ...
This is a very strange article and I'm actually a little shocked. Either CNN / journalist not done his homework or some other agenda is controlling. Anyway, the article is both misleading and lacks info. I'll go through their article point by point.

Regards, Arnar

Resignation of the whole government
Truth with modifications. The government was forced to resign after large protests. One of the government parties (SF; Socialists) was still a member of the new government, and only two ministers from SF saw reasons to resign.

Nationalization of the banks.
Wrong. Un-Danish creditors took over two of the three cracked big banks. The third, Landsbankinn (architect behind Icesave) is under the supervision of the state.

Referendum so that the people can decide over the economic decisions.
Truth with modifications. The president chose to use its veto right, showing the highly controversial Icesave agreement to a referendum twice. The case is now being processed by the EFTA Court. Other controversial cases have unfortunately not received this treatment.

Incarcerating the responsible parties
Truth with modifications.
The political elite: A few weeks ago, the former primeminister was put in court ("Landsdom") who came together before the first time ever. All his ministerial colleagues escaped charges after political room deals. He was convicted of having broken the "good governance" and escaped with symbolic reprimand. A few members of parliament have felt, against their will, the need to quit or take time off for an indefinite period.

The financial elite: In the wake of the crash created parliament, an independent committee whose task was to examine both the political and financial structure and the ground before things went so wrong gruligt. Study Committee did a good piece work but unfortunately things have not moved much since. A new office was created, however, the thesis accuser who works with several large and medium-sized financial matters, but we still lack getting some real indictments and convictions. Some small fish have been convicted but most of the major villains have fled abroad and continue its business.

Rewriting of the constitution by its people
Truth with modifications. Following the independent Examination Committee made his report, it was clear that something was wrong with the foundation. The people wanted a new Constitution and to respond to pressure the new government was forced to act. On a "new" democratically, was team workshops and finally selected a constitutional council by referendum. Council, which worked well and efficiently delivered draft for a new constitution, which was supposed to have a referendum. We are still waiting ...

Hope that you've got a little clearer view on CNN Icelandic Utopia.

Regards, Arnar

Peaceful expulsion of the banksters is the greatest nightmare... no debt no control... well let us not show that this works... eh..?

Wish I could flag this but havent got the cred yet

Iceland are now a really fast growing economy I have heard. I think they could have sone more to the bankers though and the corrupt politicians.

We could all do with some of that viking spirit, trouble is most of our population has been drinking flouride for years.

Nothing should be nationalized, everything should be privatized. Centralization is corruption, and de-facto authoritarianism.

You want a totalitarian government, nationalize everything.

You want every business or medical transaction to feel like a trip to the department of motor vehicles, nationalize everything.

Any politician that is for nationalizing anything is an enemy of individual liberties and should be banished to another totalitarian country where they would be more comfortable with their control fetish and anger towards individual liberties.

they were too busy worrying about non news related stories to post real news....

i tried to tell people at my work about it, no one had heard anything on it, not even the one co worker who listens to coast to coast.

The Icelandic people will be calmed, just like most cattle is. Then they will be worked right back info a position of slavery. The phrase "why doesn't 'somebody' do something" always makes me laugh.

These bankers are worse than standing armies (someone famous said that once). Charging money on interest, then when people are unable to pay they take their property so they get the payments that the people made and their property. It is totally unfair. The banks should only get part of the property that was made unpayble not the whole thing. Things are getting worse and people are beginning to see the bankers for what they are.

For what it's worth, I'm pretty sure that Clif High and the webbots

suggest that in the near future, American and European economic

protesters will be chanting, "We are ALL Icelanders now!". Cool!

Originally posted by Dbriefed
You want every business or medical transaction to feel like a trip to the department of motor vehicles, nationalize everything.

Business is about getting something done. It should be dry and thorough like a lumber yard. The carnival is for recreation and not work.

Also, people are lured by festive packaging and slick sales pitches to spend more for less. Have you compared the ingredients of generic food to name brand?