Comments on: The Civic Movement falls from grace

By: Gwrhyr

Gwrhyr — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 07:12:46 +0000

Alda, I do apologize about my comment. I don’t want to insult Icelanders, and I didn’t mean to imply that Icelanders were stupid. I should have worded my comment differently. I just don’t think joining the EU to get the Euro will solve those issues you mentioned. Latvia’s adoption of the Euro has been delayed more than once, and may continue to be delayed due to IMF requirements. It and other EU nations have had to take out large IMF loans.
Also, LDE, I did not come to my conclusions from a gut feeling. It comes from paying attention to how the EU is run, how European countries are being run, and how perceptions of corruption can keep people from understanding how their own societies function. I don’t think that is concrete enough for you, so I think we will have to agree to disagree on that.
Please, no hard feelings anyone. Enjoy the Summer while it’s still here!

By: alda

alda — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 18:27:53 +0000

Grif – yes, all is well, thankfully. And if not, the insurance company pays (we won’t mention anything about its recent bankruptcy and the corruption that is currently surfacing).

By: alda

alda — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 18:26:52 +0000

Mark DE – oh please! Don’t tell me most of the EU nations applied for membership for purely altruistic reasons. Of course every country considers its own interests when making a decision like this. And it’s natural for Icelanders to fear losing their sovereignty after centuries of oppression.

And what’s this about Iceland giving the EU the finger? Just because it didn’t want to join? Are Norway and Switzerland, e.g. also giving the EU the finger, then?

By: Grif

Grif — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 17:07:34 +0000

About the lighter news…

Sorry to hear about the damage in the apartment above you. Did you suffer any damage from the Aldafoss?

By: pool

pool — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 16:52:18 +0000

The Russian loan scares the living daylights out of me. How and why did that come about so swiftly (ie back in October)? And how can the Russians afford it now that their economy is doing worse than projected?

By: Mark DE

Mark DE — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 16:20:15 +0000

tj3 – “From here in the USA the EU seems worthwhile but unfinished. Perhaps Iceland could influence its direction, if Icelanders choose to try and join up.”

Iceland gave the EU the one finger salute while they were rich, but wants to join now that they’re having hard times.
Even here the arguments here are solely centered around “sovereignty” and the “stability the Euro would bring”.

So to expect that Iceland will be another France or Netherlands, inspired by the idea of a unified Europe and willing to make sacrifices to “finish” this vision might be a little overoptimistic.
It is far more likely that Iceland will be another Britain or Poland — in for the perks, but torpedoing any further integration for the fear of losing “sovereignty”.

By: tom joseph aka tj3

tom joseph aka tj3 — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 19:16:20 +0000

I just have to say that icelandweatherreport .com is doing a great service by having a discussion about the Civic Movement and the proposal to consider joining the EU.

From here in the USA the EU seems worthwhile but unfinished. Perhaps Iceland could influence its direction, if Icelanders choose to try and join up. As for the Civic Party not sticking to a general position on the EU referendum this reminds me ever so much of American Democrats and their temporizing about everything once in power.

What power does to reform movements is beyond me. The EU had both modest and grand aims. I would hope that raw economic weight would not cause small nations to not have an equal voice on the merits of ideas. If it is just the press of so many dollars worth of cheese or natural gas then why bother? I do not know how I would vote if I were and Icelander probably yes but with doubts.

By: alda

alda — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 13:13:19 +0000

LDE – I totally agree. I even remarked to EPI that very same day that there had been minimal discussion about it. It happened just as the EU debate was at its height – I wonder if the timing was calculated.

By: Ljósmynd DE

Ljósmynd DE — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 11:58:10 +0000

Just one more statement , if I am allowed: If I were an Icelander, I would be far more afraid by having to accept a loan from Russia than by entering membership talks with the EU. Perhaps my own personal prejudice and the Russians don't really have anything up their sleeves but they have been very aggressive recently in putting forward their claims in the Arctic. Is there no discussion in Iceland about this?

By: alda

alda — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 11:38:12 +0000

Hear hear!!