# Icelandic politics revisited (and this weeks wow-moment) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 23, 2009, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/icelandic-politics-revisited-and-this-weeks-wow-moment/482626 "2009-01-23T13:05:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![WormTheRed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/bbe5ce/32.png) [@WormTheRed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WormTheRed)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/icelandic-politics-revisited-and-this-weeks-wow-moment/482626/81 "2009-01-27T13:18:02Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Who cares what he thinks? What does _Denmark_ say? > > BTW, did the British ever apologize for their uninvited occupation of Iceland during WWII? I understand their reasoning, given the Nazi threat and all, but I mean, really, how rude! Still any hard feelings by Icelandic folk towards Brits today because of that? Not at all. They did bring money (good for everyone), virile young men (good for the women) and the chance to declare independence from Denmark (also good for everyone). Hell, even my grandparents (who are very nationalistic) made a buck out of it by renting parts of their hoses to officers. ---
**Author:** ![WormTheRed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/bbe5ce/32.png) [@WormTheRed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WormTheRed)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/icelandic-politics-revisited-and-this-weeks-wow-moment/482626/82 "2009-01-27T16:22:11Z")
New government coming in, with 99,9% certainty. It’ll be a joint coalition of the left-greens (reformed communists) and Social Democrats (who sat in the last government). The new Prime Minister will be a high up in the Social Democrats who is not big on saving. She rather wants to raise taxes to pay for the things necessary :rolleyes: In additon, they most likely want to re-negotiate the settlement with the IMF. Or just discard it altogether… Yay :rolleyes: There are however two nifty things with this government. We’ll get our first female PM and the first ever (?) gay PM. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/icelandic-politics-revisited-and-this-weeks-wow-moment/482626/83 "2009-01-27T17:54:16Z")
Who is she? Wiki link? ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/icelandic-politics-revisited-and-this-weeks-wow-moment/482626/84 "2009-01-27T18:00:47Z")
Just checked Wikipedia… **WormTheRed** , did you guys hire the ‘PC’ guy from the Apple ads to be your outgoing PM? The small picture on Wikipedia’s front page has a startling resemblance. ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/icelandic-politics-revisited-and-this-weeks-wow-moment/482626/85 "2009-01-27T18:19:24Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > Shall we change that to ‘prospective spouses’? Works for me. Line 'em up! ---
**Author:** ![WormTheRed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/bbe5ce/32.png) [@WormTheRed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WormTheRed)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/icelandic-politics-revisited-and-this-weeks-wow-moment/482626/86 "2009-01-27T18:34:20Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Who is she? Wiki link? No wiki (yet), but an [article](http://newsfrettir.com/?p=2283)in english. > [@Sunspace](#): > > Just checked Wikipedia… **WormTheRed** , did you guys hire the ‘PC’ guy from the Apple ads to be your outgoing PM? The small picture on Wikipedia’s front page has a startling resemblance. I think he kinda looks like a frog 🙂 The discussions are not concluded, but the new government will most likely take office before the wekend, with the aforementioned being the new PM: ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/icelandic-politics-revisited-and-this-weeks-wow-moment/482626/87 "2009-01-27T18:41:15Z")
> [@WormTheRed](#): > > No wiki (yet), but an [article](http://newsfrettir.com/?p=2283)in english. That’s an interesting website. ---
**Author:** ![WormTheRed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/bbe5ce/32.png) [@WormTheRed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WormTheRed)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/icelandic-politics-revisited-and-this-weeks-wow-moment/482626/88 "2009-01-27T21:19:31Z")
> [@Morgyn](#): > > Works for me. Line 'em up! Let’s start the bidding with myself then 😃 A great example of Icelandic craftmanship, housebroken and I even have a sense of humor 🙂 > [@Sunspace](#): > > That’s an interesting website. Yup, interesting reads. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2009, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/icelandic-politics-revisited-and-this-weeks-wow-moment/482626/89 "2009-01-27T21:27:20Z")
> [@WormTheRed](#): > > Let’s start the bidding with myself then 😃 > > A great example of Icelandic craftmanship, housebroken and I even have a sense of humor 🙂 I’ll graciously step back and let **Morgyn** take this one… ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/icelandic-politics-revisited-and-this-weeks-wow-moment/482626/90 "2009-01-28T00:47:31Z")
> [@WormTheRed](#): > > Let’s start the bidding with myself then 😃 > > A great example of Icelandic craftmanship, housebroken and I even have a sense of humor 🙂 Define “housebroken”. Also, do you like cats? > [@Sunspace](#): > > I’ll graciously step back and let **Morgyn** take this one… What, you don’t want to put yourself forward? _snaps fingers_ 😉 ---
**Author:** ![WormTheRed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/bbe5ce/32.png) [@WormTheRed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WormTheRed)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 9:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/icelandic-politics-revisited-and-this-weeks-wow-moment/482626/91 "2009-01-28T09:05:52Z")
> [@Morgyn](#): > > Define “housebroken”. > > Also, do you like cats? I know how to clean my own mess 🙂 And I luurv de kittens 😃 ---
**Author:** ![WormTheRed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/bbe5ce/32.png) [@WormTheRed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WormTheRed)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 10:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/icelandic-politics-revisited-and-this-weeks-wow-moment/482626/92 "2009-01-28T10:12:39Z")
Today’s updates: Inflation is 18,6%, which is the most we’ve had for 19 years. Also, the last thing the outgoing Fishing-minister did was to increase the quotas on Whaling. The Greens are anti whaling, but the question stands if they can reduce them again, since that’ll increase unemployment in the already suffering fishing industry. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/icelandic-politics-revisited-and-this-weeks-wow-moment/482626/93 "2009-01-28T15:28:45Z")
> [@WormTheRed](#): > > Today’s updates: > > Inflation is 18,6%, which is the most we’ve had for 19 years. > > Also, the last thing the outgoing Fishing-minister did was to increase the quotas on Whaling. The Greens are anti whaling, but the question stands if they can reduce them again, since that’ll increase unemployment in the already suffering fishing industry. That is depressing. Sounds like some of the last minute asshole tricks Bush pulled on the way out. Can you keep us updated on the whaling quota? I hope the Greens can reduce it. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/icelandic-politics-revisited-and-this-weeks-wow-moment/482626/94 "2009-01-28T15:41:50Z")
> [@WormTheRed](#): > > Inflation is 18,6%, which is the most we’ve had for 19 years. So if I invested my money in an Icelandic bank account, it would increase more quickly? Or is that what led to the problem in the first place? ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/icelandic-politics-revisited-and-this-weeks-wow-moment/482626/95 "2009-01-28T15:43:10Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > So if I invested my money in an Icelandic bank account, it would increase more quickly? Or is that what led to the problem in the first place? Inflation isn’t the same as interest rates is it? ---
**Author:** ![WormTheRed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/bbe5ce/32.png) [@WormTheRed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WormTheRed)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/icelandic-politics-revisited-and-this-weeks-wow-moment/482626/96 "2009-01-28T15:47:53Z")
Pretty much, yeah. But he had the backing of a report made by the “Icelandic Fishing Council” (I’m pulling the name out of my a…, but it’s something like that). The quotas are: 100 [Minke](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minke_Whale)whales (total population, approx 100k) 150 [Razorbacks](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fin_Whale)(total population, 40-60k) Set over a 5 year period. ---
**Author:** ![WormTheRed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/bbe5ce/32.png) [@WormTheRed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WormTheRed)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/icelandic-politics-revisited-and-this-weeks-wow-moment/482626/97 "2009-01-28T15:49:38Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > So if I invested my money in an Icelandic bank account, it would increase more quickly? Or is that what led to the problem in the first place? > [@An\_Gadai](#): > > Inflation isn’t the same as interest rates is it? I have 20% on my checking account, so inflation is usually quite tied to general interest rates (always a great WOHAA-moment when I mention this to foreign friends, but then I remind them of the inflation figures). However, this goes both ways so you’re paying about the same for your mortgage. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/icelandic-politics-revisited-and-this-weeks-wow-moment/482626/98 "2009-01-28T15:51:08Z")
**WormTheRed** - If I had a pad you could crash here but unfortunately I don’t and also our economy is only a few days behind Iceland. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/icelandic-politics-revisited-and-this-weeks-wow-moment/482626/99 "2009-01-28T15:51:55Z")
> [@WormTheRed](#): > > I have 20% on my checking account, so inflation is usually quite tied to general interest rates (always a great WOHAA-moment when I mention this to foreign friends, but then I remind them of the inflation figures). However, this goes both ways so you’re paying about the same for your mortgage. After I posted that, I realized I was confusing inflation rate and interest rate. Bother. I could have been rich, I tell you. _Rich!_ ---
**Author:** ![WormTheRed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/bbe5ce/32.png) [@WormTheRed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WormTheRed)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2009, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/icelandic-politics-revisited-and-this-weeks-wow-moment/482626/100 "2009-01-28T15:54:20Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#): > > **WormTheRed** - If I had a pad you could crash here but unfortunately I don’t and also our economy is only a few days behind Iceland. I’m pretty well set personally, but thanks for the offer! It’s actually kinda amusing to be in “the eye of the storm” and witness all this shit first hand. Though I am, as previously mentioned, working on getting the hell outta Dodge. Someone will write a great book about it in a few years. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/icelandic-politics-revisited-and-this-weeks-wow-moment/482626.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/icelandic-politics-revisited-and-this-weeks-wow-moment/482626.md?page=6)