What is Sarah Palin’s Higher Calling?

I’m dismayed . I hope you can help. Its about Sara Palin, the woman who just mysteriously abandoned her position as Governor of Alaska. “If I die [politically], I die” Sarah Palin told us today. What mystifies me is the word “if”.

I understand how she was catapulted into the national spotlight to start: A bull-headed politician with a history of rash decision-making throws all caution to the wind and chooses her as a running mate in a desperate attempt to spice-up his failed presidential bid. I get that.

A match made in ... haste

I can also understand why McCain’s plan backfired. Palin may have been the sexiest vice presidential candidate America had ever seen, but it was equally evident that she was also among the least qualified. Sarah Palin is, essentially, Dan Quayle with less experience and nicer legs.

Here is where it starts to get fuzzy for me. In interview after interview Palin has demonstrated her estrangement from the facts in every manner of domestic and foreign policy. The self-proclaimed “hockey mom” may have fielded questions with folksy charm, but her grasp of the issues was an insult to the mothers of young hockey players across America.

Then Obama is sworn in. McCain is quietly reabsorbed back into the Senate. And Palin becomes embroiled in legal battles over numerous violations of Alaska’s ethics code. (Ironically it was Governor Palin who fought to have the ethics bill signed into law. After it was disclosed that her own conduct was unethical, she marginalized the violations as “frivolous”. These violations were anything but frivolous when she championed them through her state’s legislature. It would seem the perspective gained while being hoisted with her own petard has changed the Governor’s view.)

Despite all this, Palin persists. Republican leaders, voters and pundits keep referring to her as the republican party’s shining star for the 2012 election. This is were I need your help.

Sarah Palin is, essentially, Dan Quayle with less experience and nicer legs.

Aside from celebrity and the MILF-factor, what does Sarah Palin have to offer that keep her in serious contention for the most intellectually and ethically demanding job in America?

Haven’t we seen enough over the past 10 months to ascertain that despite everything we may like about Sarah Palin, she’s just not up for that job?

And haven’t we seen enough in the eight preceding years to understand that it takes more than folksy homespun populist ineloquence to lead a nation?

Lastly, if we were not convinced a week ago, hasn’t her behavior over the past few days revoked her right to be taken seriously by anyone who cares about the preservation of our democracy?

First there is how she handled the announcement itself. Her decision to step down as governor was so rashly conceived that both politicians and friends were taken by surprise. Never a good idea in politics. In fact, the announcement of the press conference was handled in the same way one might announce a backyard keg party. “Palin hastily called a news conference Friday morning at her home in suburban Wasilla, giving such short notice that only a few reporters actually made it to the announcement.” (Rachael D’Oro, AP).

Second, there is the vague wording and cryptic reasoning she provided for her resignation. The people who voted her into office deserve a straight answer as to why she is abandoning their trust – sans the political double-talk and diversion tactics that plague “politics as usual”.

Third is the drama she is trying to stir up over her next move by dropping hints via Facebook and Twitter to a “higher calling”. Why not just tell people? If nothing else, she owes her constituents that much. This showboating is an insult to anyone who actually cares what she does. As for the higher calling, are we to assume she is about to enter the convent? (At least that way her legal fees would be subsidized by the Catholic Church.)

In any event, her 30-minute song and dance last Friday fell way short of the mark on every level. I interpret her inability to articulate why she is quitting the state’s highest office to mean:

• she doesn’t know
• she does know but it trying to conceal the truth
• she does know but is purposely using her position to create confusion and drama in the hope of furthering her career.

All of those alternatives are equally disturbing.

Palin the Rodeo Clown: Will the last laugh be on Sarah?

Given all this, can anyone seriously consider Sarah Palin as a candidate for President? Is celebrity and a certain MILF-factor the best credentials the republican party has to offer our political system? Or is that just the point? Perhaps the republican party is using Sarah Palin as some sort of political rodeo clown to keep us all distracted between elections so we don’t focus on the shambles that the party is in. Perhaps her job is to keep the party in the headlines until 2012 and keep the focus off people like Ensign and Sanford. Chances are she would self-destruct by the time the 2012 campaign started in earnest and then she could be sidelined so that people like Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee could take center stage.

My biggest concern is that Americans, and in particular republicans, will continue to take this woman seriously, no matter what. That hurts, because I want to believe that the days when being a plucky dolt with a homespun take on the world and marginal grip on the facts qualified you for president were over. I had hoped that was simply a phase we were going through in the 90‘s and that we, as a nation, had grown out of it with the retirement of George W. But the popularity of this plucky Alaskan dolt would seems to indicate that we never learn and that a significant percentage of our populous will always gravitate towards the dim and inarticulate for leadership.

Perhaps the real question with Palin is simply: How far can good looks and pluck take you in life? I’m hoping the answer to that question is Governor of Alaska, and no further.

The resignation speech of Sarah Palin: a deconstruction

In what can best be described as mildly coherent rambling, Sarah Palin, the Governor of Alaska, announced her resignation on July 3. During her speech, she alluded to a combination of factors that lead to her decision. Reading through the full text of her speech, I was able to extract 11 reasons that were buried deep amidst her wandering prose and tangled logic. They are paraphrased below (along with the relevant text from her speech in italics):

Gov. Sarah Palin (Photo: AP)

1. Defending myself against claims of ethics violations by political operatives is distracting me from doing my job as governor. Therefore, I resign.
“Political operatives descended on Alaska last August, digging for dirt. The ethics law I championed became their weapon of choice. Over the past nine months I’ve been accused of all sorts of frivolous ethics violations … Every one – all 15 of the ethics complaints have been dismissed. We’ve won! But it hasn’t been cheap – the State has wasted THOUSANDS of hours of YOUR time and shelled out some two million of YOUR dollars to respond to “opposition research” – that’s money NOT going to fund teachers or troopers – or safer roads.

2. Life is short. Time is too precious to waste. I am wasting my time as governor. Therefore, I resign to make better use of my time.
“Life is too short to compromise time and resources… Productive, fulfilled people determine where to put their efforts, choosing to wisely utilize precious time… to BUILD UP.”

3. I am expected to serve out the term I was elected for. But that would make me a quitter. Therefore, I am quitting because I don’t want to be a quitter.
“… it may be tempting and more comfortable to just keep your head down, plod along, and appease those who demand: “Sit down and shut up”, but that’s the worthless, easy path; that’s a quitter’s way out. And a problem in our country today is apathy. It would be apathetic to just hunker down and “go with the flow. Nah, only dead fish “go with the flow”.”

4. I want to help people. I now realize that I don’t need the title of Governor to do that. Therefore I will do away with my superfluous title of Governor.
“I’ve never believed that I, nor anyone else, needs a title to do this – to make a difference… to HELP people. So I choose, for my State and my family, more “freedom” to progress, all the way around… so that Alaska may progress… I will not seek re-election as Governor.”

5. I have decided not to seek reelection. Lame duck governors milk the system by traveling around and neglecting their state’s politics. That is wrong. The best option once one decides not to run for reelection is to desert one’s post. Therefore, I quit.
“And so as I thought about this announcement that I wouldn’t run for re-election and what it means for Alaska, I thought about how much fun some governors have as lame ducks… travel around the state, to the Lower 48 (maybe), overseas on international trade – as so many politicians do. And then I thought – that’s what’s wrong – many just accept that lame duck status, hit the road, draw the paycheck, and “milk it”. I’m not putting Alaska through that – I promised efficiencies and effectiveness! ? That’s not how I am wired. I am not wired to operate under the same old “politics as usual.” I promised that four years ago – and I meant it. It’s not what is best for Alaska.”

6. The political environment in Alaska has turned on me. I want to take a stand. Therefore, I am resigning to take a stand against those who wish me out of office.
“My choice is to take a stand and effect change – not hit our heads against the wall and watch valuable state time and money, millions of your dollars, go down the drain in this new environment.“

7. I want to pursue my priorities for Alaska and America on a bigger scale. Being Governor is holding me back. Therefore I will quit so that I might better serve as a citizen.
” Rather, we know we can effect positive change outside government at this moment in time, on another scale, and actually make a difference for our priorities – and so we will, for Alaskans and for Americans.”

8. I am Alaska’s governor in title only. This is wasting taxpayer’s time and money. While some may endorse my charade, I oppose it. Therefore, I resign.
“Some Alaskans don’t mind wasting public dollars and state time. I do. I cannot stand here as your Governor and allow millions upon millions of our dollars go to waste just so I can hold the title of Governor.”

9. My children told me to resign, primarily because an adult said something nasty about their handicapped brother Trig. An emphatic cuss-word used by one of my kids convinced me that they were right.
“In fact, this decision comes after much consideration, and finally polling the most important people in my life – my children (where the count was unanimous… well, in response to asking: “Want me to make a positive difference and fight for ALL our children’s future from OUTSIDE the Governor’s office?” It was four “yes’s” and one “hell yeah!” The “hell yeah” sealed it – and someday I’ll talk about the details of that… I think much of it had to do with the kids seeing their baby brother Trig mocked by some pretty mean-spirited adults recently.)”

10. Even though I am opposed to governors milking the state for unnecessary travel, a recent trip I took to visit wounded soldiers in Kosovo and Landstuhl showed me that their work is of national importance and real while my work as Governor is local and superficial. Therefore I will quit because I want to do something national and real.
“My decision was also fortified during this most recent trip to Kosovo and Landstuhl, to visit our wounded soldiers overseas, those who sacrifice themselves in war for OUR freedom and security… we can ALL learn from our selfless Troops… they’re bold, they don’t give up, they take a stand and know that LIFE is short so they choose to NOT waste time. They choose to be productive and to serve something greater than SELF… and to build up their families, their states, our country. These Troops and their important missions – those are truly the worthy causes in this world and should be the public priority with time and resources and NOT this local / superficial wasteful political bloodsport.”

11. I believe “no more politics as usual” is good. Deserting my post is highly unusual. Therefore deserting my post is good. So I quit.
“I have given my reasons… no more “politics as usual” and I am taking my fight for what’s right – for Alaska – in a new direction.”

There was a twelfth reason. It was not stated explicitly by Palin the politician, but stated clearly between the lines by Palin the hockey mom. That voice said:

“The pressure of publicity brought to bear on me and my family since last August are beyond my ability to cope, no less govern. Therefore, I resign.”

Saying this would have confirmed Governor Palin’s limitations as a politician but redeemed her integrity as a human being. Had Sarah Palin the courage to make that 27-word speech then she would have been living up to her credo of “no more politics as usual”. Lacking that courage she couched her resignation waste-deep in 2,571 words of empty political rhetoric, transparent positioning and populist prattle. Politics as usual. Her constituents deserved better from her.

Video here

Ed, Michael, Farrah: Ode to a fallen star

“I fill the night
with twinkling stars
to distract me from
the certainty
that lies beyond.

When one falls
to earth
I miss its light
for in the void
I see my life.”

- Anonymous

Rest in Peace

Teen sues over star-studded face. Who’s to blame?

The antics of foolish 18-year olds are usually best forgotten. But foolish 18-year olds who blame others for their own short-sighted stupidity should be made an example of. Case in point: Kimberley Vlaminck of Courtrai, Belgium.

Starlet Kimberley Vlaminck. Photo: The Daily News © 2009 Associated Newspapers Ltd

Kim is more foolish than most and more responsible for decent peace-loving people like me pining for the days when foolish 18-year olds who tried to ruin the lives and reputations of others were not coddled by a mother-like legal system but given a swift boot in the ass by their real parents to induce some truth-telling.

According to The Mail, it all started when Kim walked into Rouslan Toumaniantz tattoo parlor. She asked for 56 stars to be tattooed on her face. There was a witness present who heard her. Rouslan obliged. Kim paid for the 56 stars and left. Then Kim got home. Her dad blew his top. Her boyfriend dumped her. After that, it dawned on Kim that perhaps she was wrong: Perhaps 56 stars etched in black on your face don’t make up for your lack of personality and self-confidence. Perhaps, just maybe, 56 stars etched in black on your face makes you look odd in a Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Baily kind of way.

Kim's too sexy for her face. Photo: The Daily Mail, © 2009 Associated Newspapers Ltd

At this point the foolish 18-year old had a choice to make. Take responsibility for her actions like an adult or blame someone else like a child. Kim opted for the latter. And the courts will indulge her at the taxpayers expense.

Kim claims that she asked for three stars then fell asleep and awoke to 56 stars. Evidently in Flemish, the words 3 and 56 are practically indistinguishable. What a crock. I have a tattoo. There is no way you fall asleep while someone is repeatedly jabbing an inked needed into your face. This isn’t a day at the spa, its a tattoo parlor. Having three stars etched into the flesh on your face would smart enough to keep a drunk sailor awake. Fifty-six? There is no way she “dozed off”. And, if she did, she must be one hell of a sound sleeper. Are we to assume that when Rouslan realized Kim was asleep he decided to spend 17 times the labor and materials and risk a law suit just for the heck of it? What would motivate him to do that? Nothing would. And that’s the point.

Rouslan Toumaniantz, Kim's tattoo artist. Photo: The Daily Mail. © Associated Newspapers Ltd.

The reason this is important is that every 18-year old screws up. That’s part of being 18. But if everyone one of them did like Kim and found an adult to blame for their stupidity, well, then none of us are safe and life as we know it will come to an end because we will all be in court defending ourselves against the fabrications of 18-year old fools.

Kimberley Vlaminck you made a mistake that you regret. I can see it written all over your face (pun intended). But pursuing this lawsuit is a worse mistake. You are about to make a choice with consequences far uglier and just as indelible as the 56 stars on your face. You are about to demonstrate to the world that you are irresponsible, have no scruples and can not be trusted. That’s a mark that surgery cannot remove. It’s not too late to change your mind, tell the truth, get on with your life and let Rouslan Toumaniantz get on with his. Do that and your tattoo will become a beauty mark.

If, on the other hand, you do pursue this then you will most likely lose your case. After that the two best outcomes I can see is that first Rouslan Toumaniantz becomes rich off the publicity you have created for his tattoo parlor as well as the lawsuit he files against you for defaming his character. And that second, after the dust settles in court, the ridiculous stars strewn across your face serve as fair waring to all other foolish 18-year olds who would follow in your regrettable footsteps.

Read more:

I’ll pay for half those star tattoos to be removed, says the man who engraved 56 on 18-year-old girl’s face

Teen falls asleep during face tattoo

Scene of the crime. Support sanity. Go here for your next tatt. Photo: The Daily Mail. © Associated Newspapers Ltd.

How to defeat a phonebot

Sick of dealing with automated phone systems? Paul English and Walt Tetschner were. That’s why they created their respective websites Gethuman.com and Get2Human.com. These are databases of secret codes that can be entered during an automated message to get to a real human. But they are more than databases, they represent a movement.

Don't let the evil phonebots stand between you and the customer service you deserve.

“The GetHuman™ movement was created from the voices of millions of consumers who want to be treated with dignity when they contact an enterprise for customer support. Our goal is to convince enterprises that providing high quality customer service and having satisfied customers costs much less than providing low quality customer service and having unsatisfied customers.” – Get2Human.com

Both sites allow you to search for the company you are interested in and have options that let you sort by country, industry or company name. Thanks to Paul and Walt.

Photo Credits: The phonebots pictured above are real. Find out how you can get your own at techchee.com.

Total Eclipse of the Heart – Literal

A.K.A. Mullet with headlights.

iDle musings with an iPod

Too much time on my hands today. I was trying to find something random to listen to on my iPod. I only have about 10% of my CDs in my iPod and nothing new so I tend to hear the same old mixes over and over. Today I wanted something different but couldn’t be bothered to load in any new music. So I searched for songs that begin with the word “she”. A dozen tunes came up.

SHE songs worship women

She’s the One – Robbie Williams

She’s My Herione – Skunk Anasie

She’s Got Her Ticket – Tracy Chapman

She’s Gone – The English Beat

She’s Come Undone – The Guess Who

She’s A Lady – Tom Jones

She’s a Carioca – Antonio Carlos Jobim

She Will Never Learn – Deew

She Nuh Ready Yet – Spragga Benz

She Drives Me Crazy – Fine Young Cannibals

She Believes in Me – Aaron Lordson

She – The Monkees

Most of them are sung in blind amorous worship of a woman. A couple are about women in crisis. I liked all of them – just what I was looking for. Mission accomplished. So I did the same thing for “he”. Eight songs came up.

HE songs worship the Lord

He Will Carry Me – Mark Schultz

He Went to Paris (new recording) – Jimmy Buffett

He Went to Paris – Jimmy Buffett

He Walks with Me – The Statler Brothers

He Touched Me – Tennessee Ernie Ford

He Carves the Roast Beast – James Horner

He Ain’t Done Me Nothin But Good – The Isaacs

He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother – - The Hollies

Not the same outcome. In fact if it weren’t for Jimmy Buffet I’d have called it a complete wash-out. Half the songs are Christian music. That’s because in Christian music nomenclature it seems the English masculine indefinite pronoun is
synonymous with God. Interesting concept. I didn’t even know I had any Christian music. While the lyrics are rather predictable, I have to admit “He Ain’t Done Me Nothin But Good” is rather catchy in a down-home kinda way.

So what does all this mean? Absolutely nothing. Like I said I have too much time on my hands today. But I can definitely recommend the “She” play list.

BTW – Not understanding the lyrics hasn’t stopped me from signing She Nuh Ready Yet for the past 8 years. Today I finally looked up the lyrics and thought I’d share.

These lyrics may not help much, actually

She Nuh Ready Yet

Written by: C. Grant, H. Brown

Sung by: Spragga Benz

Well number 1
Yuh nuh have time fi waste
So nuh care bout how a
gal a push up inna yuh face

Hey Hey hey hey hey hey
From ah from ah gal ah gal ah come ah come ah

CHORUS:
Hype up pon yuh an she nuh ready yet
Tell a gal hop off a yuh because yuh delicate
Yuh a nuh di type mek nobadi duh whey Shelly get
Reach fi di sky yaah yuh single but yuh celibate

Dat mean no man naah guh tek yuh fi no ten-o-let
An yuh a nuh passenger plane a gal a Value-jet
Whey she come a try bout she a guh nullify yuh rep
Popular than ever caah yuh have whey nobadi nuh get
Bout inna yuh face she a guh out out a cigarette
Yea yea whatever caah yuh nuh frighten fi silly threat
Higher inna life yuh a profile a duh yuh best
How dem fi pull yuh dung when a yuh a Jah Jah bless

CHORUS

Well good looks dat a di lest
Caah yuh batty an yuh breast
An nuh dat yuh a guh use fi mek yuh rich
No yuh naah guh profit offa sex
No dat a nuh yuh flex
Nobadi naah guh tek yuh fi nuh bitch
Criss like Crissy D weh inna Main Street a Moet yuh a sip
An yuh know a gal history so yuh have har ticket
Only time yuh memba dem a when yuh inna toilet
All yuh duh press di button an she sink like the sh..

CHORUS

Well is a comedy to yuh fi listen when a gal a talk
Everbody see di light suh hoh a gal still so dark
It obvious to yuh say dem a live inna di past
Bout if a man a beat har dat mean him love har off
Whey day mi see one a dem buss up har head
Ah love har up wid piece a iron pipe she nearly dead
Yuh nuh have no time fi dat caah yuh fragile like egg
Next month yuh a guh pon yuh scholarship a Winnipeg

“Dozens of patients left to repeat surgery after botched work by Swedish doctors”

I read that headline in UK’s Daily Telegraph yesterday. It reminded me of a friend of mine, let’s call her Inga.

In 1995 Inga, a 24 year-old woman in perfect health, twisted her knee during an aerobic class. She had no history of knee problems. She went through the Swedish system and wound up having what was meant to be routine surgery. After surgery she was crippled and told she would never walk again without crutches. When she confronted the surgeon he shrugged his shoulders and said “So I made a mistake, no one is perfect.” Her complaints to the hospital fell on deaf ears. The doctor was not reprimanded.

If any Swedish surgeons are reading this, please note: this is a knee. You may want to study it for a while.

Inga went to a specialist in Germany who examined her records and her knee. The specialist said that in 25 years of practicing medicine he’d never seen anything like it. First, it was his opinion that surgery was not required in the first place. Second, he said that aside from damaging her cartilage, virtually every ligament in her knee had been severed by the surgeon. Inga has now been on crutches for 14 years. Despite several procedures she has paid for herself in Germany, she will most likely never regain use of her knee.

Inga’s story has always bothered me. Not just the level of incompetence that is tolerated in the Swedish medical system, but the sheer arrogance of its practitioners and administrators. That’s why this news story is no surprise.

A group of Scandinavian orthopedic surgeons called the “flying doctors” were brought in to help cut waiting lists in the UK. A recent audit of their work from 2004 to 2006 on over 200 patients showed that 37% of the procedures had unsatisfactory outcomes with 22% needing to have the procedure redone so far (with more expected). In the final analysis the number of operations botched by the Scandinavians was TEN TIMES the UK average. Lawyers are considering legal action against the doctor’s for their negligence.

Fear not! Sweden's "Flying Surgeons" to the rescue!

Most telling is that all the Swedish surgeons were considered top-notch by the standards of the Swedish health system. Are we to assume then that the best surgeon in Sweden is ten times worse than an average surgeon in the UK? It would not surprise me. In fact, if medical schools in this country are run like the rest of the educational system (stress-free zones pandering to the dimmest and least likely to achieve), then I’d say 10 times worse sounds about right.

So next time some one tells you that healthcare in Sweden is “free”, you might remind them that it seems you get what you pay for.

My advice to Swedes who are outraged at the recent layoffs.

WARNING: If you are pro-union, don’t bother reading this. It will just piss you off.

I love this headline in the paper today “High lay-off notices ‘a deliberate tactic“. The copy goes onto explain “Swedish companies are serving redundancy notices in artificially high numbers as part of a tactic to circumvent employment protection laws, claims a chief analyst at the national job agency.“

The irony makes me smile, the hypocrisy makes me howl. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black. The headline is accurate. Of course companies are exaggerating the effect of the recession to layoff all the deadbeat employees that the unions and labor laws would, under any other circumstances, prevent them from tossing into the street. Companies would be foolish not to. The shame of it is that in the rush to take advantage of this rare window of opportunity, some good people will undoubtedly be tossed out with the bad. Who knows, I may be a casualty next week.

Swedish workers accuse companies of abusing labor laws.

Despite that, I suspect my company will take this opportunity to trim its ranks, and I’m glad for it. I work hard. I make my company considerably more money than they pay me in salary. And I’m OK with that. The only thing that irks me is showing up at work every morning and seeing several lazy colleagues who contribute nothing and collect the same pay simply because it would cost more in law suits and union headaches to fire them — and they know it.

The way the labor laws are set up in Sweden, performing your job is completely optional and at the discretion of the employee. One of my coworkers decided she wanted some time off (in addition to her 5 weeks vacation). First she took her five weeks. Then she came back to work for a few weeks and went to a doctor and said she was stressed. No symptoms, no exam, just her word. She was given a doctors pass for 1 year paid leave. This woman was not stressed. She barely put in 20 hours of work a week despite her full-time position. But she knew how to work the system, as do most people living here. The employer (who was obliged to give the woman back her job whenever she decided to return) emailed the woman to ask exactly what was it about the job that stressed her so much that she could be so incapacitated. The employer’s reasoning was if they didn’t know the cause then they couldn’t fix it and then it would happen all over again when she returned. A valid request. That email prompted the threat of legal action by her union. The assumption was that we all know that there is nothing wrong with her, so don’t go making waves

Spring in Sweden means May Day when crimson-clad Swedes take to the streets to protest their struggle against a work-for-pay system. Despite the annual theatrics, the only struggle these Swedes face is finding new ways to bilk the system. (Photo: Wikipedia)

The days when employers exploited workers ended in Sweden over a century ago. Since then the tide has turned. Unions have taken the place of the gang bosses, mill owners and sweatshop operators. The unions, fronted by the workers, are considerably more empowered than the employers. A victory for the unions and a crushing defeat for Sweden and what companies it has left.

On any given day I would say 30% of our office is out. Top 5 excuses: 1) I’m sick 2) my kid is sick 3) my partner is sick so I must care for the child, 4) the school called and I must collect my child, 5) I’m stressed. Try justifying that with Sweden’s claim that their population is the healthiest and least stressed on Earth. You can’t, because in most cases (except #4) it had nothing to do with any of the reasons given above. The real reason was “I don’t feel like working today.”

Swedish Unions have devolved into the very thing that they set out to abolish 150 years ago: wealthy, unethical, pricks who pervert the law and intimidate workers for their own gain.

I’ve worked in several countries but have never seen such bold and blatant abuse of a system as I have in Sweden. And its as if I was the first person to notice. Abusing your employer by any means available to you is so engrained in the Swedish psyche they treat is as a God-given right. Years of union-run media and socialist doctrine has shaped a national mindset the vilifies the whole concept of work as well as employers. I’m surprised anyone in Sweden even bothers to show up for work at all.

That is not to say all Swedes abuse their employers. But even those who do not partake seem to have limitless tolerance for those who do. And who is profiting amidst all this? Not the companies (because their margins suffer). Not the people (because they fund it with their taxes). The unions. Today the Swedish unions are the wealthiest entities in Sweden. They have become the very thing they were established to fight: corrupt profit mongering opportunists taking advantage of the poor masses and extorting anyone who gets in their way.

Union leader visits Swedish factory to root out violators of union edicts.

I do not make that claim lightly. In my previous job I spent 4 years negotiating with Swedish trade unions. I remember one company they decided to go after because the CEO had criticized them. Long story short: a union boss decided to punish the man by filing one baseless law suit after another against his company. It went on for years and got so ridiculous that one day the company’s lawyer approached the union’s lawyer in court and said “I don’t understand. The judge has just said you have no case, how do you expect to win?” The union lawyer replied “We don’t expect to win. But we will appeal and call each employee to the trial one by one for months. Then we’ll file more law suits and more appeals.” This wasn’t law. It was extortion carried out and sanctioned by the Swedish courts. They might as well have threatened to toss Molotov cocktails though the company’s windows if they didn’t pay protection money. Somehow that seems marginally more honest and ethical.

Given this, how can any Swede express indignation at the thought of a company using the recession as an excuse to fire deadbeats? It’s beyond me. Many Swedes make a career out of abusing their employer and are encouraged by their peers, politicians and unions to do so.

So here’s my advice to the indignant. Assuming your indignation is a by-product of what you see as your right to “use” the system, I suggest you do what you always do: accept your pink slip then simply sponge off the system as long as you can. When (and if) your unemployment benefits run dry, then (and only then) apply for job for which you are grossly under-qualified. After you are hired, work in a half-assed fashion until your trial period is over then revert back to business as usual – do nothing but pose and collect your paycheck until the next recession arrives.

For the rest of us Swedish workers, I suggest we work extra hard. How else will we be able to support all our fellow countrymen and women who choose to exercise their right to stay home and have us work for them?

Europe and its Muslims: A Gap of Trust

The following is a reply to a post made by Hollywood filmmaker, author of “Mother of the Believers” Kamran Pasha in the Huffington Post Titled: Europe and its Muslims: A gap of Trust.

Kamran, I admire your optimism. But your analogy to the ancient people of Abyssinia is absurd. And the fact that today Ethiopia has a 61% Christian majority is cold comfort to Europeans who are facing a Muslim majority in their own country within their lifetimes.

As a US expat living in Sweden I think advising Europeans to determine if their fears are based on prejudice or facts is a bit late. They are afraid and the facts support their apprehension. Chief among these is the fact is that unlike Abyssinia Sweden will have a Muslim majority in 2049. As the Gallup pole reveals most European Muslims have a greater affinity to their religious beliefs than to their adopted country. The religious beliefs of Islam are diametrically opposed to Sweden”s liberal world view, particularly as it regards gender equality, free speech, sexuality, and tolerance. Will a Muslim majority in Sweden separate church from state and leave the Swedish culture intact? Many here doubt that, and are prudent to do so.

So I feel tales of ancient Abyssinia have little relevance here. But I have a suggestion: Instead of using your last book as an example to calm the waters, write a new one. Show the Europeans what Europe as an Islamic nation would be like. Because that is the reality they are trying to deal with. I”ve already started such a project and would be happy to collaborate. I’m on WordPress named Nonrhotic ( http://nonrhotic.wordpress.com/ ).
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