# 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:** 6
**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, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/icelandic-politics-revisited-and-this-weeks-wow-moment/482626/101 "2009-01-28T15:57:23Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > After I posted that, I realized I was confusing inflation rate and interest rate. Bother. I could have been rich, I tell you. _Rich!_ This is actually what led to part of the problem in the first place; higher interest rates in Iceland. Since the ISK was pretty stable for a few years companies started borrowing moneys abroad (at a low interest rate) and then invested in high yielding Icelandic CD.s and Treasury Bonds. But once the ISK started falling, they had to pay more for their foreign debt which they finally couldn’t handle. Which brings us to the bank crash of October. ---
**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, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/icelandic-politics-revisited-and-this-weeks-wow-moment/482626/102 "2009-01-28T16:00:22Z")
I’ve stored all my wealth in a [round tower](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_round_tower)in case you Vikings get any funny ideas about how to dig yourselves out of that financial hole. 😉 ---
**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, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/icelandic-politics-revisited-and-this-weeks-wow-moment/482626/103 "2009-01-28T16:03:44Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#): > > I’ve stored all my wealth in a [round tower](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_round_tower)in case you Vikings get any funny ideas about how to dig yourselves out of that financial hole. 😉 Hmm… there is that Longship down in the harbor… and I do have an axe… hmm… _::gets weird ideas::_ ---
**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, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/icelandic-politics-revisited-and-this-weeks-wow-moment/482626/104 "2009-01-28T16:13:02Z")
> [@WormTheRed](#): > > Someone will write a great book about it in a few years. Why don’'t you? I know someone who can help edit it too… ---
**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, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/icelandic-politics-revisited-and-this-weeks-wow-moment/482626/105 "2009-01-28T16:17:12Z")
I’m thinking about it. But it needs to be done in a few years when tempers have mellowed and the smoke has cleared. And some people need to retire as well. ---
**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 28, 2009, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/icelandic-politics-revisited-and-this-weeks-wow-moment/482626/106 "2009-01-28T16:22:18Z")
Sounds like quite a few people will be, and many not voluntarily. ---
**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, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/icelandic-politics-revisited-and-this-weeks-wow-moment/482626/107 "2009-01-28T16:33:53Z")
> [@WormTheRed](#): > > I’m thinking about it. But it needs to be done in a few years when tempers have mellowed and the smoke has cleared. > > And some people need to retire as well. You should perhaps keep a diary if you don’t already. Your perspective will have changed in a few years but it could work as a good source later on for a book. ---
**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, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/icelandic-politics-revisited-and-this-weeks-wow-moment/482626/108 "2009-01-28T17:06:00Z")
There was a letter in today’s [Globe and Mail](http://www.theglobeandmail.com/) proposing that Iceland join Canada. Sounds good to me; we already did that with Newfoundland back in '49 and we could slot you in next to the Turks and Caicos islands. Then we’d have Greenland surrounded and not have to take any nonsense over Hans Island. ---
**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, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/icelandic-politics-revisited-and-this-weeks-wow-moment/482626/109 "2009-01-28T17:10:15Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#): > > You should perhaps keep a diary if you don’t already. Your perspective will have changed in a few years but it could work as a good source later on for a book. Already on it 🙂 Even though it’s mostly saving links and articles. > [@Sunspace](#): > > There was a letter in today’s [Globe and Mail](http://www.theglobeandmail.com/) proposing that Iceland join Canada. Sounds good to me; we already did that with Newfoundland back in '49 and we could slot you in next to the Turks and Caicos islands. Then we’d have Greenland surrounded and not have to take any nonsense over Hans Island. Not a half bad idea. That would save me a lot of hassle with the work permit 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a9a28c/32.png) [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oslo_Ostragoth)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/icelandic-politics-revisited-and-this-weeks-wow-moment/482626/110 "2009-01-29T07:07:49Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > Sounds like some of the last minute asshole tricks Bush pulled on the way out. Gotta cite for that assertion? ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/icelandic-politics-revisited-and-this-weeks-wow-moment/482626/111 "2009-01-29T07:58:42Z")
What does the general public think about what Bjork is doing with [The Bjork Fund](http://www.icelandreview.com/icelandreview/search/news/Default.asp?ew_0_a_id=317204) and [Wellness Iceland](http://www.icelandreview.com/icelandreview/search/news/Default.asp?ew_0_a_id=314562)? Do people roll their eyes at the cheek of a pop star or is she seen as an Icelandic icon who truly wants to help and might make some measure of difference? ---
**Author:** ![WormTheRed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/bbe5ce/32.png) [@WormTheRed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WormTheRed)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 8:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/icelandic-politics-revisited-and-this-weeks-wow-moment/482626/112 "2009-01-29T08:55:57Z")
> [@Equipoise](#): > > What does the general public think about what Bjork is doing with [The Bjork Fund](http://www.icelandreview.com/icelandreview/search/news/Default.asp?ew_0_a_id=317204) and [Wellness Iceland](http://www.icelandreview.com/icelandreview/search/news/Default.asp?ew_0_a_id=314562)? Do people roll their eyes at the cheek of a pop star or is she seen as an Icelandic icon who truly wants to help and might make some measure of difference? My guess would be that most people think about it like I am: she’s doing what? I had no idea… and now I’m rolling my eyes :rolleyes: But some people probably think it’s a very valiant effort. ETA: I’ll give her some credit, but it’s just a PR-stunt. Would you support an investment fund more or less if i.e Tom Hanks gave his name to it? ---
**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 29, 2009, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/icelandic-politics-revisited-and-this-weeks-wow-moment/482626/113 "2009-01-29T13:33:01Z")
> [@Oslo\_Ostragoth](#): > > Gotta cite for that assertion? Sure, I will PM them to you to avoid a hijack. ---
**Author:** ![WormTheRed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/bbe5ce/32.png) [@WormTheRed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WormTheRed)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2009, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/icelandic-politics-revisited-and-this-weeks-wow-moment/482626/114 "2009-01-29T13:45:19Z")
Not much happening today. Just ongoing discussions on who will get what ministry and how they’ll sooth the third party which will support them (without being a part of the government). Once they take office, they’ll probably fire the heads of central bank and reorganize it and the FCC. Hopefully, the new heads will be hired based on their merits and not on their politics. That would be a first, and might even convince me to support them a bit more than I do now. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2009, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/icelandic-politics-revisited-and-this-weeks-wow-moment/482626/115 "2009-02-01T18:45:01Z")
Looks like you guys just got a new [Prime Minister](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7863923.stm). > [@](#): > > Iceland has announced a new government that will be headed by the modern world’s first openly gay leader. “I don’t think her sexual orientation matters. Our voters are pretty liberal, they don’t care about any of that,” Skuli Helgeson, Social Democratic Alliance’s general secretary, told the BBC. ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2009, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/icelandic-politics-revisited-and-this-weeks-wow-moment/482626/116 "2009-02-02T00:54:59Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#): > > I’ve stored all my wealth in a [round tower](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_round_tower)in case you Vikings get any funny ideas about how to dig yourselves out of that financial hole. 😉 Interesting link. Thanks. ---
**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:** [February 2, 2009, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/icelandic-politics-revisited-and-this-weeks-wow-moment/482626/117 "2009-02-02T01:57:17Z")
> [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](#): > > Looks like you guys just got a new [Prime Minister](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7863923.stm). :: mentally tries to imagine this new PM meeting the King of Saudi Arabia, where homosexuality is illegal :: ---
**Author:** ![Vox\_Imperatoris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Vox\_Imperatoris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vox_Imperatoris)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2009, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/icelandic-politics-revisited-and-this-weeks-wow-moment/482626/118 "2009-02-02T05:44:15Z")
I can’t read “ISK” without thinking “InterStellarKredit”, and I don’t even play EVE Online anymore. 😛 Valete, Vox Imperatoris ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2009, 8:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/icelandic-politics-revisited-and-this-weeks-wow-moment/482626/119 "2009-02-02T08:31:58Z")
I just read where Iceland has a new Gay Prime Minister. After reading these threads, my first thought on hearing the news was, “Typical…when the shit hits the fan, they bring in a queer - as lordknows, and as a Gay man I can attest, nobody knows how to squeeze a nickel better than a Gay man on a limited budget!” My guess is that everything will be faaabulous in a short period of time. ---
**Author:** ![WormTheRed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/bbe5ce/32.png) [@WormTheRed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WormTheRed)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2009, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/icelandic-politics-revisited-and-this-weeks-wow-moment/482626/120 "2009-02-02T13:39:01Z")
> [@DMark](#): > > I just read where Iceland has a new Gay Prime Minister. > > After reading these threads, my first thought on hearing the news was, “Typical…when the shit hits the fan, they bring in a queer - as lordknows, and as a Gay man I can attest, nobody knows how to squeeze a nickel better than a Gay man on a limited budget!” > > My guess is that everything will be faaabulous in a short period of time. Absolutely. They’ve replaced a cabinet where most members had a university education with one where most members don’t. But let me not get too bitter about this. And the Sunday Times had an [interview](http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article5626672.ece) with our quirky first lady. She’s kinda like our Marie Antoinette 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/icelandic-politics-revisited-and-this-weeks-wow-moment/482626.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/icelandic-politics-revisited-and-this-weeks-wow-moment/482626.md?page=7)