Comments on: We, the brainwashed rabble of this land http://icelandweatherreport.com/2009/02/we-the-brainwashed-rabble-of-this-land.html Thu, 17 May 2012 15:30:33 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Kókómjólk http://icelandweatherreport.com/2009/02/we-the-brainwashed-rabble-of-this-land.html/comment-page-1#comment-6790 Kókómjólk Sat, 28 Feb 2009 11:27:34 +0000 http://icelandweatherreport.com/?p=1725#comment-6790 Rozanne: I think I worked for the same guy... I'm thinking Doddson will be the new editor in chief for Morgublaðið. As for Oygard, I too think he is a good choice. As much as McKinsey might be a bit scary - the whole Enron link is obviously not so nice - economics is a numbers game and I want the smartest people playing on my team. And the nationality really doesn't matter to me, the people who got us into this huge pile of doodoo were Icelandic. Enough said. Rozanne: I think I worked for the same guy…
I’m thinking Doddson will be the new editor in chief for Morgublaðið.

As for Oygard, I too think he is a good choice. As much as McKinsey might be a bit scary – the whole Enron link is obviously not so nice – economics is a numbers game and I want the smartest people playing on my team.
And the nationality really doesn’t matter to me, the people who got us into this huge pile of doodoo were Icelandic. Enough said.

]]> By: Rozanne http://icelandweatherreport.com/2009/02/we-the-brainwashed-rabble-of-this-land.html/comment-page-1#comment-6788 Rozanne Sat, 28 Feb 2009 01:19:12 +0000 http://icelandweatherreport.com/?p=1725#comment-6788 "The man has an uncanny ability to persuade even the most stalwart nay-sayers - it’s like people lose all perspective when he starts talking, only to come to their senses later." I worked for a company once that was owned by a guy who had that same ability. It is really uncanny. He hoodwinked many a client and employee. Thank goodness Doddson is finally gone! It will be interesting to see where and in what guise he tries to resurface. I'm sure he will try. “The man has an uncanny ability to persuade even the most stalwart nay-sayers – it’s like people lose all perspective when he starts talking, only to come to their senses later.”

I worked for a company once that was owned by a guy who had that same ability. It is really uncanny. He hoodwinked many a client and employee.

Thank goodness Doddson is finally gone! It will be interesting to see where and in what guise he tries to resurface. I’m sure he will try.

]]> By: Flygill http://icelandweatherreport.com/2009/02/we-the-brainwashed-rabble-of-this-land.html/comment-page-1#comment-6783 Flygill Fri, 27 Feb 2009 21:26:42 +0000 http://icelandweatherreport.com/?p=1725#comment-6783 Oygard is a great choice. He's got lots of practical experience in the Norwegian Central Bank, including dealing with the bank crisis there in the 90's and a resume a mile long. And he's neutral and apparently honest and foreigners will trust him. He didn't look for the job, nor did any other Norwegian. Finance Minister Kristin Halvorsen did a job-search after Steingrimur J. asked her to find someone. What more could Iceland possibly want? But nooooo - some Icelanders, including Oddson's pal, law professor Sigurdur Lindal, object to a foreigner doing the job. McKinsey is not ideological or corrupt (like eg KPMG or Morgan Stanley). Mostly it's for MBA-types who like to do analysis and write reports rather than get involved in corporate politics. Johanna & Co. are doing a good job. And then there's this discouraging piece of news from ruv: "16,300 persons are unemployed ... nobody seeks advertised jobs that are simple, difficult or pay poorly. Also jobs that have bad work-hours or are in out-of-the-way places. In some cases the wages are lower than the unemployment benefits." Oygard is a great choice. He’s got lots of practical experience in the Norwegian Central Bank, including dealing with the bank crisis there in the 90′s and a resume a mile long. And he’s neutral and apparently honest and foreigners will trust him. He didn’t look for the job, nor did any other Norwegian. Finance Minister Kristin Halvorsen did a job-search after Steingrimur J. asked her to find someone.
What more could Iceland possibly want?
But nooooo – some Icelanders, including Oddson’s pal, law professor Sigurdur Lindal, object to a foreigner doing the job.
McKinsey is not ideological or corrupt (like eg KPMG or Morgan Stanley). Mostly it’s for MBA-types who like to do analysis and write reports rather than get involved in corporate politics.
Johanna & Co. are doing a good job.

And then there’s this discouraging piece of news from ruv:
“16,300 persons are unemployed … nobody seeks advertised jobs that are simple, difficult or pay poorly. Also jobs that have bad work-hours or are in out-of-the-way places. In some cases the wages are lower than the unemployment benefits.”

]]> By: colin buchanan http://icelandweatherreport.com/2009/02/we-the-brainwashed-rabble-of-this-land.html/comment-page-1#comment-6779 colin buchanan Fri, 27 Feb 2009 18:22:50 +0000 http://icelandweatherreport.com/?p=1725#comment-6779 I did a quick google looking for possible Svein Harald Oeygard connections to anglo-american finance. He is a partner at McKinsey or "The Firm" as it is known in the trade. As Forbes put it: "The successful McKinsey consultant must strive to be very much a part of the elite corporate world inhabited by his client" wkikpedia: "Client confidentiality is maintained even among former employees, and as a result, journalists and writers have had difficulty developing fully informed accounts of mistakes McKinsey consultants may have made, such as with Enron, which was headed by McKinsey alumni and was one of the firm's biggest clients before its collapse." "Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair faced criticism in the Financial Times for hiring McKinsey to consult on the restructuring of the Cabinet Office." Enron, Tony Blair-that should be enough to set alarm bells ringing. Worth a check to see who the Icelandic partners in "The Firm" are. I did a quick google looking for possible Svein Harald Oeygard connections to anglo-american finance.
He is a partner at McKinsey or “The Firm” as it is known in the trade. As Forbes put it:
“The successful McKinsey consultant must strive to be very much a part of the elite corporate world inhabited by his client”
wkikpedia:
“Client confidentiality is maintained even among former employees, and as a result, journalists and writers have had difficulty developing fully informed accounts of mistakes McKinsey consultants may have made, such as with Enron, which was headed by McKinsey alumni and was one of the firm’s biggest clients before its collapse.”

“Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair faced criticism in the Financial Times for hiring McKinsey to consult on the restructuring of the Cabinet Office.”

Enron, Tony Blair-that should be enough to set alarm bells ringing.

Worth a check to see who the Icelandic partners in “The Firm” are.

]]> By: alda http://icelandweatherreport.com/2009/02/we-the-brainwashed-rabble-of-this-land.html/comment-page-1#comment-6773 alda Fri, 27 Feb 2009 11:36:24 +0000 http://icelandweatherreport.com/?p=1725#comment-6773 Andrew - yes, really and truly. Colin - you are not alone in your reservations. There has been some talk today as to whether the appointment of the new guy (who is Norwegian) is unconstitutional. Andrew – yes, really and truly.

Colin – you are not alone in your reservations. There has been some talk today as to whether the appointment of the new guy (who is Norwegian) is unconstitutional.

]]> By: Andrew http://icelandweatherreport.com/2009/02/we-the-brainwashed-rabble-of-this-land.html/comment-page-1#comment-6763 Andrew Fri, 27 Feb 2009 05:07:27 +0000 http://icelandweatherreport.com/?p=1725#comment-6763 So he has really, finally gone!? http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/banking_and_finance/article5811719.ece So he has really, finally gone!?

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/banking_and_finance/article5811719.ece

]]> By: Flygill http://icelandweatherreport.com/2009/02/we-the-brainwashed-rabble-of-this-land.html/comment-page-1#comment-6757 Flygill Thu, 26 Feb 2009 22:45:45 +0000 http://icelandweatherreport.com/?p=1725#comment-6757 I thought they should have replaced DO with a person chosen at random from the Icelandic telephone book. Just to prove a point. I thought they should have replaced DO with a person chosen at random from the Icelandic telephone book. Just to prove a point.

]]> By: colin buchanan http://icelandweatherreport.com/2009/02/we-the-brainwashed-rabble-of-this-land.html/comment-page-1#comment-6751 colin buchanan Thu, 26 Feb 2009 21:14:20 +0000 http://icelandweatherreport.com/?p=1725#comment-6751 Bryan, it's a political role not a technocratic one. You appoint the man who is going to resolve things from the point of view of the Icelandic people, from the point of view of certain principles of democracy and sovereignty. He then selects advisors to help him with the detail, with the technical aspect- he has to learn on the job but you have the confidence that he shares your goals, that he is accountable to you. Your gut is right! Bryan, it’s a political role not a technocratic one. You appoint the man who is going to resolve things from the point of view of the Icelandic people, from the point of view of certain principles of democracy and sovereignty. He then selects advisors to help him with the detail, with the technical aspect- he has to learn on the job but you have the confidence that he shares your goals, that he is accountable to you. Your gut is right!

]]> By: colin buchanan http://icelandweatherreport.com/2009/02/we-the-brainwashed-rabble-of-this-land.html/comment-page-1#comment-6750 colin buchanan Thu, 26 Feb 2009 21:08:10 +0000 http://icelandweatherreport.com/?p=1725#comment-6750 Well, Alda, it seems a most unusual move to me. After all, you wouldn't expect a foreign prime minister, would you? Running the central bank is a key role and I'd expect an Icelander to hold it. I understand your point about nepotism, but Icelandic nepotists are sustained through their links to international finance, that is what gives them their cohesion- any purely local cacique or mob could be dealt with by the majority against whose interests they acted. The icelandic mob derives its power from greater forces outside. Anyway, I don't think it 's a question of just any foreigner, but a particular foreigner that they have in mind, one who won't be a threat to certain financial interests, someone who can take over where Oddsson left off- someone who can be trusted to do the will of the IMF. More concretely, I suspect the hand of the city of London and their front man, Gordon Brown. He's the one who keeps talking about a New World Order run from the IMF. They feel threatened by what is happening in Iceland, and they want closure as soon as possible. As someone pointed out above, incredible things are happening here and the government has shown itself to be helpless in the face of City power. The financiers hold the power and have the initiative, That might make things seem a bit depressing to you in Iceland because how can a few thousand ordinary people take on such forces. Well, the fact remains you have taken them on, but you have to keep on doing so. Support will come- there were 110.000 marchers in Dublin last Saturday- but for the meantime you are the advanced guard. This is the real battle for democracy and all our futures and its going to be a long,long haul Well, Alda, it seems a most unusual move to me. After all, you wouldn’t expect a foreign prime minister, would you? Running the central bank is a key role and I’d expect an Icelander to hold it. I understand your point about nepotism, but Icelandic nepotists are sustained through their links to international finance, that is what gives them their cohesion- any purely local cacique or mob could be dealt with by the majority against whose interests they acted. The icelandic mob derives its power from greater forces outside.

Anyway, I don’t think it ‘s a question of just any foreigner, but a particular foreigner that they have in mind, one who won’t be a threat to certain financial interests, someone who can take over where Oddsson left off- someone who can be trusted to do the will of the IMF.

More concretely, I suspect the hand of the city of London and their front man, Gordon Brown. He’s the one who keeps talking about a New World Order run from the IMF. They feel threatened by what is happening in Iceland, and they want closure as soon as possible. As someone pointed out above, incredible things are happening here and the government has shown itself to be helpless in the face of City power. The financiers hold the power and have the initiative, That might make things seem a bit depressing to you in Iceland because how can a few thousand ordinary people take on such forces. Well, the fact remains you have taken them on, but you have to keep on doing so. Support will come- there were 110.000 marchers in Dublin last Saturday- but for the meantime you are the advanced guard. This is the real battle for democracy and all our futures and its going to be a long,long haul

]]> By: alda http://icelandweatherreport.com/2009/02/we-the-brainwashed-rabble-of-this-land.html/comment-page-1#comment-6749 alda Thu, 26 Feb 2009 20:41:17 +0000 http://icelandweatherreport.com/?p=1725#comment-6749 RK and everyone - it does seem strangely anticlimactic, perhaps because we knew it was going to happen very soon, it was totally on the agenda and came as no surprise. We've been drumming our fingernails on the counter since the government collapsed, basically. However, where the gov't went out with a bang, Doddsson just goes with a whimper. His own doing - his departure had the potential to be much more heroic. He just hung on too long. RK and everyone – it does seem strangely anticlimactic, perhaps because we knew it was going to happen very soon, it was totally on the agenda and came as no surprise. We’ve been drumming our fingernails on the counter since the government collapsed, basically.

However, where the gov’t went out with a bang, Doddsson just goes with a whimper. His own doing – his departure had the potential to be much more heroic. He just hung on too long.

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