SUMMARY IN ENGLISH
CONTRA # 4 2010
Ex(?)-Communist unable to see the difference between democracy and dictatorship
For the first time ever the Swedish Social Democrats declare in advance
that they are asking for a vote in favour of a coalition government including
the Leftist Party, formerly the Swedish Communist Party, a party in 1917
originally created as a break-away group from the left wing of the Social
Democrats. The party was formed as a protest when the main faction of
the Social Democratic party refused to support the Bolshevik revolution
in Russia and refused to become a member of the Comintern. But today this
party of Communists is supposed to be a part of a government coalition!
And the communist Lars Ohly would be expected to be a member of the Cabinet,
if the left wins the election September 19.
Mona Sahlins scandals
The chairman of the Social Democratic Party Mona Sahlin campaigns for
the position as Prime Minister. If you want to govern your country, you
should be able to manage your own economy. Sahlin doesn’t. Years
of a mishandled household economy in spite of the fact that she is among
the top half per cent income earners. Contra explains details.
Opinion polls
Opinion polls are published before the election. The differences between
the institutes are significant. Contra explains why, and makes a comparison
with the ”last polls” before the election of 2006.
The work promotion line – is it adequately designed?
by Fredrik Runebert
In the election of 2006 the four parties in the present center-right coalition
agreed on promoting the ”work promotion line” – more
work opportunities and less welfare subsidies. The objective was to increase
employment and decrease the number of people kept outside the working
community. The parties concentrated not on the number of unemployed but
on the figure including unemployed, students looking for a work, people
on sickness benefits, early retirement benefits or welfare grants. Has
this policy been succesful? And what could be done better?
Warmer in Medieval times – when agriculture was flourishing
by C G Holm
In spite of increased average temperatures during the past century (but
an actual decrease during the very last decade) we have a long way to
go until we reach the high temperatures of Medieval times. It should be
noted that high temperatures during millenia have been linked to human
progress and starvation and catastrophes are linked to periods with low
temperatures.
The Supreme Administrative Court continue to decline public
access to important documents on the Cold War
by Tommy Hansson
November 9 the Berlin Wall was opened and later tore down (as President
Reagan had asked for in his memorable speech in Berlin). The fall of the
wall was the last nail in the coffin of East Germany. Relations between
East Germany and Sweden had been generally good. The East Germans saw
Sweden as an important country and some Swedes saw East Germany as a ”socialist
paradise”. Some so much that they collaborated with the secret police
of East Germany. Other countries have released information on who these
people were (according to East German archives, which were captured by
the CIA and later forwarded to relevant governments). The Swedish list
is said to include 50 people, but the Swedish Foreign Office has refused
to release the list. Professor Birgitta Almgren, who recently published
a book on Swedish-East German relations has been refused access to the
list. Now she has been given a limited access according to a decision
by the Swedish Supreme Adminstrative Court. She will be able to read the
list, but not to further reveal any of its contents. And others beside
Prof Almgren will still be kept in the dark.
The illusion of the benefits of the state (on Frédéric
Bastiat)
by Fredrik Runebert
The difference between what you see and not see is the most important
tool for French economist, legislator and writer Frédéric
Bastiat (1801-1850) when he reveals the limits of the welfare state. Trade
restrictions, welfare benefits and taxation give benefits to limited vested
interests. But more important are the negative effects they have on the
general economy.
The Engelbrecht Divsionen and the Midsummer Crisis
by David Stavenheim
In the summer 1941 Sweden was militarily exposed. Germany had broken the
Molotov-Ribbentrop pact and attacked the Soviet Union. The Germans asked
the Swedish government for the right to transfer a German division based
in nazi-occupied Norway to the Eastern front. The Germans asked for an
immediate response during the Midsummer holidays.
The Prime Minister’s great great grandfather in a knife fight on work promotion
The work promotion line has an old history in the Reinfeldt family (Fredrik
Reinfeldt is the present Prime Minister of Sweden). The PM’s great
great grandfather John Hood was attacked with a knife by a man who had
had a good time at the expense of Mr Hood. Mr Hood, a black man himself,
probably originating from the US, had shown the other man at a variety
theatre as a ”zulu”. When the market for showing negroes against
money declined Mr Hood fired the people in his show, but he was attacked
with a knife when the ”zulu” (he was probably not a zulu,
but he was black) asked for more money and Hood refused. ”Get back
to your own country and work for your living” Mr Hood had explained.
The 65th anniversary of the end of World War II
by Frank Gordons
Looking back you must realize that the great celebration of the 65th anniversary of the end of WW II in Moscow this spring was something fancied by the Kremlin, but all the expenses turned out to be a miscalculation by the organizers.
