Comments on: Great National Assembly, flawlessly organized

By: Alexander E.

Alexander E. — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 18:52:56 +0000

Don’t want to be cynical. Just a reminder of the comments a year ago. In no particular order…

a group of ordinary citizens have been organizing citizens’ meetings …. they provide an opportunity for people to come together and express their views,

The speeches were impassioned and blazing, each one inspired and brilliant.

the fire and enthusiasm of those in attendance was infectuous.

There is so much fire in people, so much brilliance, skill, knowledge, articulation, clarity, sense of fairness and justice, desire for something new and wholesome and better … it has to come to pass. It just has to.

What is particularly reassuring about this change in government is that FINALLY we get a sense that things are moving and people are doing something rational [like consulting real live economists], and moreover it is TRANSPARENT – we, the public, are kept posted on the discussions taking place and when they are expected to finish and who is involved, and suchlike.

PS. James. If you need to organize “such event” you don’t have to wait for new book – just look at phone book, section “team building experts”

By: James

James — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 17:53:11 +0000

I wish there could be an event like this in London. Hopefully, the organisers of this event will publish a summary of “lessons learnt” quickly, ie identifying the criticisms raised about the process etc and presenting some suggestions for improvement for similar events in future.

By: sylvia hikins

sylvia hikins — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 17:35:38 +0000

Was there any discussion around how to protect your natural resources? You owe big amounts of money thanks to the feuding chieftains who owned your banks and bled you dry, and now the global energy/ manufacturing companies are hovering over you like vultures from both east and west, hoping they can snatch up cheap a slice of your resources. Protect them at all costs- they are your future life blood. Keep talking-but make sure your refeshing new government stands firm in a world full of business sharks.
sylvia from viking wirral

By: tom joseph aka tj3

tom joseph aka tj3 — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 11:54:12 +0000

Hear, hear! Wow, this could be a great start for something new!

Congratulations to folks there for doing anything direct and positive with each other. Make it stick, go forward.

By: chris

chris — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 06:18:28 +0000

Kudos to the Icelandic Nation!
Is this a latterday Thingfellir? The people who had the gumption to make their fisheries sustainable, whose island is self-sufficient in renewable energy, are now poised to revitalise “democracy”. A thin ray of hope for all of Europe, where so many are dangerously disillusioned.

By: Comprehensive English language links and information for Iceland’s National Assembly (Þjóðfundur) meeting » Iceland News - English language news and views from Iceland

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 03:14:17 +0000

[...] Great National Assembly, flawlessly organized http://icelandweatherreport.com/2009/11/great-national-assembly-flawlessly-organized.html – This video is in Icelandic. Can anyone help [...]

By: Flygill

Flygill — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 02:04:27 +0000

I’ve read the conclusions — I’m sorry to say that the recommendations are nothing but hopeful platitudes. There are almost no concrete proposals (except limiting aluminum plants and NOT joining the EU).
Yes, it is quite true that nothing good is going to happen in Iceland unless a significant portion (or at least those in charge of the country or those with money) change their attitudes, and change them A LOT. You can’t have a country where nobody takes responsibility for anything and most people are trying to screw one another and the government all the time, and the government and banks political parties in turn try to screw the general population. At some point the factionalism has to stop.
But you have to start with basic enforceable rules and practical solutions to the many big problems facing Iceland. Such as, no nepotism in appointments, firing all the nepotist recipients and make them re-apply for the job, direct-representative voting, salary limits for jobs like the Reykjavik City Council, tax energy at fair market value, stop user and value-added taxes, tax property of the very rich (as they do in France), work-programs for the poor and unemployed, work in exchange for rent, and so on.
Anybody with half a brain can tell you this. You don’t need any special assembly.
In fact, everybody could have saved a lot of time by photocopying the two-page newspaper interview with Joseph Stiglitz and mailing that around. Lots of very sensible – and practical – solutions.

By: Alexander E.

Alexander E. — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 01:41:47 +0000

Sorry, forgot to tell “Big thanks!” for the reporting

By: Alexander E.

Alexander E. — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 01:39:41 +0000

Read the results….
In short it sound for me like “The New Iceland is depicted as a society where there is no money, no want, no poverty, no crime, no disease or ignorance in human society; a corruption-free state apparatus that serves society’s best interests, and virtually everyone works for the advancement of all humanity as well as the rest of the Iceland”
The source (read “Related Concepts” section)

PS. “Great National Assembly, flawlessly organized”…hm.
I would argue with “national” term.
And “flawlessly” is what concerns me the most. I would have no problem if they fought or electricity was shut down but the great idea emerged afterwards. But flawlessly organized? Alda, you sounds very pessimistic … Llike you didn’t expect them to be able even to manage small conference of 1,500 participants. Any army major can do this

By: mary

mary — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 00:58:52 +0000

Just to say well done!