An Investment In Hope

I just 'brunched' myself through a philosophical session with a friend. About the paradox of hope. Everyone in the Southern part of Europe would rely on it, was his statement. They all gamble, tip, and play games - all in the trust in hope. Not that money couldn't be invested better and safer. But you never know. Or what he framed as an investment in hope. A paradoxical concept. A contradiction in terms. The paradox of hope.

April 1st

This year, the tax reform comes in the form of 'Spring Package 2.0'. This year, early warning messages of the prime minister's special announcements fly very early - a bit like a wild goose. And this year, April 1st falls on 25th February. This is how today's open asking time in the Danish parliament can be summed up.

Prime minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen (V) wasn't one second late for the session. Well-dressed and prepared he merely repeated about the tax reform, presented yesterday, what was already known:

• Negociations depend on a solid tax stop
• Please abstain from too much creativity with the government proposal
• The Social Democrats (S) and The Socialist People's Party (F) have already resigned from negociations

The opposition, represented by Margrethe Vestager from the Social Liberals (B) for one, repeated their critique of the very locked proposal and negociation frame set at few days. But they were just that - repetitions.

Well, it wasn't like no warnings were given ahead: a practically void Parliament with few journalists around. And the prime minister has jested with the joint press before - in particular when it comes to 'special announcements'. One point for creativity to him. Looking for the paradox? Look no further: apparently he is allowed room for creativity.

Tax Reform Proposal

Yesterday five members of the current government presented their tax reform proposal to members of the press. Apparently they disregarded from several elements of the tax commission recommendations, under-financing the budget in 2010 with 12 billion DKK, relying on dynamic effects to kick start the economy. On the other hand, they came to the rescue of house owners with high mortgages - at least for the first couple of years - but gradually limiting the interest deductions from 33 to 25 percent over a transitional period towards 2019. And only for families with over 100.000 DKK, and 50.000 DKK for single persons, in interest rates. Politically edible. Economically paradoxical.

Respect For Journalists

Yesterday I had the chance to take the time of Søren Espersen from The Danish People's Party (O) for my interview project about journalism. With a background of being a journalist himself - and later chief public relations officer for the party - he had the greatest respect for journalists. 'I never said that' as a response from a source to quotations in papers, he didn't believe. The paradox, in his opinion, is rather when a quotation is brought into a setting that is far-fetched, with a manipulated illustration photo - or a conclusion that is stretched.

Political Chain Reaction

These days everybody is talking about our prime minister, Anders Fogh Rasmussen from The Liberal Party of Denmark (V). Is he on the job hunt for a position as the Nato Secretary General? Or is he just networking abroad? Meanwhile the crown prince of his party, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, is said to have bought ten new suits, and the speculations run wild whether there will be an election soon. At least the opposition parties of The Danish Social Liberal Party (B), The Socialist People's Party (F), and headed by Helle Thorning-Schmidt from The Social Democrats (A), is back on its feet to promote suggestions of packages to kickstart the economy. Paradoxically rumours - more than anything - will bring about a political chain reaction.

For a more elaborate overview of the political scene in Denmark, please see:
http://paradoxicalnews.blogspot.com/2008/10/cliff-notes-to-danish-politics

Against The Current

Yesterday I had the chance to take the time of Marianne Jelved from the Social Liberals (B) as part of my interview project. In her opinion, what is lacking in journalism today is the one journalist who goes against the current of one-dimensional reporting. Paradoxically, she liked interview situations where she could unfold her political ideas with all nuances - but still called for a far more critical journalism to question the people of power to a greater extent. Responsibility accounting in exchange for scandal. Substance in stead of conflict.

Speed Talking

On Monday I interviewed speedtalking author, and a prize winning laureate, Knud Romer in his home - as part of my interview project. I can only say that the interview was not only a very interesting insight - with Knud Romer turning a piece of bread into a mountain of fine grains as he spoke - but also a fastpaced journey with lots of associations along the way. I tried my best to steer. But I was in control of neither speeder nor breaks...

Happy Valentine's Day!

Paradoxical News wishes everybody in the readership a very happy Valentine's Day! Today's paradox is all about love. Spread it around. No matter what.

Mr. Interview

Illustration photos of Kurt Strand in the Deadline studio
Last night I was lucky to take the busy time of Mr. Interview, Kurt Strand, a host on the DR2 late night news magazine of Deadline. This is part of the current interview project about interviews and journalists - in collaboration with a photographer. The interview was good and relaxed, and Kurt Strand very open and forthcoming. Apart from the situation where I missed a point made by the Deadline host - and I got what can only be described as 'the Kurt Strand glance' when repeating a question. Paradox: I asked for it. Don't mess with the master.

Meta-Comment No. 6

How do you stop what you didn't set in motion? All I ever wanted was simple and true. I just want the real deal. But sometimes reality beats the hell out of fiction. Since I was unable to stop the joke I created Paradoxical News. I'm happy to entertain. The joke is mutual.

Political Journalism

Get educated! Now even the politicians themselves throw this piece of advice back at journalists. This past week I was busy making interviews for a project at the Danish parliament. The quest is to find out how political sources view journalists and the interview situation. Among others I interviewed former leader of The Social Democrats (A), Mogens Lykketoft, and Anne Baastrup from The Socialist People's Party (F). Both were longing for more educated and better prepared journalists - so they wouldn't have to explain every political issue beginning with Adam and Eve. And more general knowledge in the political science department.

And apart from the tax commission's press conference, I attended an open consultation with the current Minister of Finance, Lars Løkke Rasmussen and Karen Jespersen, Minister of Welfare (of course we have such a minister), both from The Liberals (V), and requested by opposition members from The Social Democrats (A) and The Red-Green Alliance (Ø). About economy and cutbacks in the municipalities. With the ministers overruling every punch line, referring to local rule in the municipalities. This song was much the same as heard many times before over the past years. And no less true.

It must be a great job to be Minister of Finance. Just set the economic frame, with all 98 municipalities to fight over the fixed amount of means, because they are liable in solidarity not to excede the overall budget. Much like department managers in any modern private company fight each other for budgets. With, say, the research department criticizing the marketing department for being a redundant cost centre - and vice versa. Paradoxically the 'open' consultation was more like a dead end consultation.

For a more elaborate overview of the political scene in Denmark, please see:
http://paradoxicalnews.blogspot.com/2008/10/cliff-notes-to-danish-politics

Taxes - And How to Get Around Them

Trickle-Trickle. According to popular right-wing policy dynamic effects through tax reliefs are the solution to any economic problem. To kick-start the economy. To maintain economic sustainability. And what the heck - to make wealthy people happy. The song goes something like this: if you relieve the well-off of taxes they will work more and create jobs for everybody else. Thus creating a trickling effect - or dynamic effect - downwards in society and on the economy as a whole.

Every party in the opposition has bothered the current government about either the tax stop or reversely to look at tax reform. Nobody dares to say it, but everybody knows that the tax system cannot be touched before after the current plan towards 2010 runs out. So it's mostly to gain political momentum along the lines of 'I told you so' in the long wait till then. In other words, it's a polical dance around the scene until the budget negociations for 2010 starting this summer.

Today the tax commission published its report with suggestions to the government to our future economic problems. And the wise chairman, Carsten Koch, assured everybody at the press conference that the commission suggestions were not based on dynamic effects. But were all fully financed through tax reform, removing the middle tax entirely, and adding supplementary green taxes. And then. In the future there will be more (non-working) elderly people - to be financed by graduately reduced numbers of people in the work force. Only half of the future problem with lacking work force will be solved through this tax suggestion, about seven billion DKK. The rest - it turned out - would be assured by convincing people to work more, through tax reliefs. Overlooking the fact that several surveys show that people are not likely to use tax reliefs to work more. Three out of four would rather spend more time with their families. Still, isn't that what some people call dynamic effects? I'm sorry, I'm just paradoxed here.

The students were to have their student grants reduced from the fully financed six years (one year more than candidate level) to just four years. Whether they are to work at McDonalds or become poorer students, there is no sure way of saying. The winners seem to be the really poor and the really wealthy. Whereas the middle income house owners will gain less, and pay more over time. Perhaps a reprimande for the past couple of years of overspending on house loans and blown up house prices?

There is something for everybody in this reform: Greener economy, relieving the poor, creating dynamic effects, making the wealthy happier. This should satisfy political parties from The Socialists (F), The Social Democrats (S), The Social-Liberals (B), to The Liberals (V), The Concervatives (C), and The Danish People's Party (O). Each with little bits and pieces to match their political agendas. The only losers seem to be middle income people, students, house owners, and private companies. But hey, aren't those the ones to make the economic wheels run, now and in the future? Let's see how this tax reform plays out in the political negociations to follow.

For further information, see:
http://www.skattekommissionen.dk/
http://paradoxicalnews.blogspot.com/2008/12/dynamic-debate-or-comic-relief.html
http://paradoxicalnews.blogspot.com/2008/10/cliff-notes-to-danish-politics

Protreptic Paradox

'Excuse me, would you like some Protreptic?' Thursday I came accross a philosophical concept I hadn't heard of before: Protreptic. That's right. Even if it does sound like medication for a sore throat. I interviewed management philosopher, professor Dr.phil., Ole Fogh Kirkeby about various hindrances and obstacles we experience as human beings - and as managers. He opened his sweater and revealed a T-shirt with the word Protreptic written in capital letters accross his chest. Obviously a fan.

The purpose of this management coaching style, derived from the Sophistic direction of philosophy, is to 'turn people to their basic values and to force them to look at their entitlement to power and their criteria for the good life'. The purpose is to reduce potential misuse of power to the benefit of the employees and the company as such. Talking about value-based management! To turn people of power against themselves. A truly paradoxical scene.

Read more:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protreptic
http://www.cbs.dk/forskning_viden/institutter_centre/institutter/ckl/hoejreboks/arrangementer/friday_november_28_2008_09_00_00_am_protreptik_at_goere_vaerdier_virkelige
http://protreptik.com/litteratur.html

There Are Friends...

There are friends, and then there are friends. Some people stick around mainly for the merry-go-round. Some people stick around and know exactly what to say and do in all circumstances. This is what I found to be true once again this week. Thank you - you know who you are.

Red Hot Chili Peppers

They are back! The little annoying red hot chili peppers that were finally removed from the public online job database. The significance of them is to mark a particularly 'hot' job suggestion. Funnily enough these chili peppers were removed from my site once I complained about the unlawful handling of my privacy rights - and after letting the union know how the system is harassing people, mainly highly educated people with life-long job experiences, with the oddest job suggestions like servant in a hot dog stand, paper boy, parking servant, etc. But paradoxically the removal of them only lasted less than a week - and they are now back with 'hot' job suggestions like the ones you would suggest to uneducated people with little or no job experience. In the name of Globalization: what on earth is the point of this kind of harassing treatment of knowledge people?

For further information, see:
http://paradoxicalnews.blogspot.com/2008/12/eliminate-middle-man

Character and Caliber

Sometimes you must go to persons and authorities of lesser importance to find real character and caliber. This is very much the case of the recently debated privacy problem with the demands of The National Labour Market Authority, read more here:

http://paradoxicalnews.blogspot.com/2009/01/trading-and-bartering-revival.html

This week I received an apology from the union for going against basic privacy rights under both Danish and European laws. There had been more complaints. I can only encourage the union and the media to pursue the issue - in order to bring it back on track. For the sake of everybody that are unknowingly pressured and threatened on their livelyhood - on unlawful grounds. Paradox: Odd thing, isn't it, that the national authorities know and respect these laws less than inferior authorities?

Trading And Bartering Revival

Imagine sitting in your comfy chair in the privacy of your own home. And then receiving a phone call from an employer from a small company looking for a new employee. Never having heard of the odd company he mentions - or him. Or imagine being disturbed by any number of small and odd companies on a similar hunt. Because he simply grabbed the white pages and began calling at random. This is very much the situation with the public online job database in Denmark. That is if The National Labour Market Authority in Denmark has its way with the latest directions to the (semi-private) unemployment funds, refunded by public means for their expenses.

The National Labour Marked Authority conducts an 'Or-Else policy' - that most unemployed people eat raw. That is, if they haven't checked their fundamental rights lately. You see, the authority administration demands that the unemployed register their private phone numbers in the online job database, so that employers can contact them directly. This database goes out not only to major, respected companies - but to thousands of small companies and traders. None of which you in your comfy chair would be able to detect the seriousness of. Or have any chance of checking. Without a system filter that is normal in any such databases. And where you can choose to inform your phone number - or not. But with the authority directions there is no if, but, or why about it. Not even an unlisted number or a rare and easily identifiable last name. There's only 'Or Else': if not, the authority demands via the unemployment funds that unemployment benefits be taken away again.

There is just one problem: the labour market authority is forgetting about both fundamental national laws, European laws, and conventions on data protection and privacy, that all protect the individual from being harassed by traders and barterers in the privacy of their own homes - be it on the physical address or by phone. Unless the individuals choose to inform their phone numbers or other person-identifiable informations themselves. And not under pressure or threats. This is actually illegal.

In other words: through the praxis of current government a revival of traders and barterers harassing people in the privacy of their own home has been re-introduced - through the job database back door. But that doesn't make it either legal or legitimate. This is the paradox of current government in Denmark. If only they respected the basic laws that are superior to the odd numbers they pull...

For further insight, please see:
http://paradoxicalnews.blogspot.com/2009/01/things-to-do-in-2009-get-educated.html
http://paradoxicalnews.blogspot.com/2008/12/eliminate-middle-man

Paradoxical News Is Back

Paradoxical News is back after a short hiatus - with more ironic events and paradoxical segments in the days to follow.

It Takes One to Tango

During my January break from Paradoxical News I partly exercised my rhetorical muscles and partly found that sometimes two in a tango is one too many...

From Writer To Journalist - And Back Again

Last night a friend and I attended the taping of a cultural tv-magazine, Autograf/Autograph on DR2. Just for the entertainment of it. And enlightenment. The guest of honour was Leif Davidsen, a former Soviet correspondent for Danish television - turned author on a permanent basis for the past ten years. The show was hosted by the ever energetic Clement Kjersgaard, shooting questions in all possible directions. When not handing over the microphone to members of the audience for questions.

Leif Davidsen had a lot to share, whether it be from his thriller novels or from his past experiences reporting from the Soviet Union or Cuba. One point was that more or less all journalists dream of writing The Great Thriller at some point. And that journalists had an advantage from their experiences with reporting and mediating. But that most of them fall into the trap of 'fact writing'. My paradoxical question was whether journalists reversely gain anything from having worked as authors. From a former correspondent's point of view he wasn't convinced. He didn't like the fashion of bringing descriptive elements of fiction writing into journalism, such as is the case with for instance New Journalism. Viewers will just have to wait to hear and see him tell about the more interesting parts on this show when it airs.

For further information, see:
http://www.dr.dk/dr2/autograf
http://paradoxicalnews.blogspot.com/2008/12/media-melt-down

The Middle East Win-Win Paradox

A standing joke when I worked at a chaotic work place some years back, was that a certain operations co-ordinator could handle anything. That absolutely nothing would be left unsolved on his shifts. Even peace in the Middle East.

Well, I think we have to call him back on the shift - to handle the realization of the two state solution in Israel. Why the massive killings in Gaza? And why mess up a peace process in the first place? Why not recognize the state of Israel? It's been there for more than sixty years. With conflicts for more than forty years. But within reasonable time there could even be two states - not having to bother each other. Why mess up a situation where all could be winners? A true Middle East win-win paradox.

Some Like It Flashy - Some Don't

'Why doesn't he just come forward and tell us when we have all figured it out?' a female friend asked me the other day. She was referring to one of our male acquaintances who - apparently - is gay. And she was obviously bewildered by the paradox of silence. I didn't really see the point of him coming forward. If he felt a need to do so, he would probably do it. Apparently he didn't.

I met him in company with a 'friend' at a concert some years back. Apparently they were in a relationship. It was all very subdued - understood. But whenever I have referred to this friend speaking with our acquaintance in common - I have had no trouble in just naming him 'your friend'.

Like I don't find a need to project a heterosexual status, he didn't find a need to flash a different sexual preference. Come to think about it: none of my heterosexual friends have ever 'declared' their sexual preferences to me. So why should the homosexual friends do so, unless they feel like it? Some like it flashy - some don't. Just another people paradox.

Things To Do in 2009: Get Educated!

Eat less, exercise more - stop smoking. Did you make your New Year's resolution - and plan to keep it this time around? Most resolutions seem to focus on personal fitness and health. But here's a lady who doesn't need much introduction to the Danish educated elites, but may need a little one to others: Ms. Marlene Wind is a Ph.d. and associate professor at the University of Copenhagen - leader of the Centre for European Politics. And she suggests a more ambitious set of resolutions. She has a bold plan.

So get over your hangover. In the Ideas section in the first edition of the (elitist) newspaper of Weekendavisen, she has a resolution for government officers and the elected ones: she wants them to get further educated in political science. And in constitutional and international laws. The reason for this is the much debated handling of court cases and passing of laws on a collision course with international laws and conventions. Paradox: didn't we elect these people because they were supposed to know their business of governing?

The trouble stems - in her opinion - from the majority form of democracy. If there's a majority - it must be good. Just like in the '30ies in Europe, she argues, referring to several dictators who came into power - elected by a majority of people. Instead she refers to constitutional democracy leaning more on national and international laws and conventions. As a safety valve. Well, there's one big thing to tick off on the 2009 To Do List. To get educated!

For further information, see:
http://paradoxicalnews.blogspot.com/2008/12/another-caucus-race.html
http://www.cep.polsci.ku.dk/english/people/dokument18/

Happy New Year!

Whether caught in a financial or climate crisis - Paradoxical News wishes everybody a Happy and Wonderful New Year!

Eliminate the Middle Man

We need more employees!, is an often repeated remark from politicians and economic experts. And several surveys in the renowned Danish weekly letter, Ugebrevet Mandag Morgen, for professionals, politicians, and the media - have pointed out that the need for employees is 'knowledge people' (i.e. people with higher education) - now and in the future. To meet the tough demands and the heavy international competition in the age of Globalization. Simply to create growth for our much loved Danish welfare society.

But there's a paradox in there. Between the conducted employment policy - and the actual need. When I attended so-called 'activation projects' for the unemployed (yes, we have those, even though we need them) some time last year, there was one thing that struck me. Hard. I was surrounded by people with higher forms of education - from engineers, IT-people, web-people, people with economic degrees, over communication people, to market people, journalists, and language people. You say Globalization? The really baffling paradox is that these are the people we need. And none of us could get a job in our current areas of expertise.

All of these people had the best of both worlds: higher educations (masters, Ph.d's and what have you) and had worked all their lives alongside. I tried very hard to spot the reasons for these people going unemployed at the same time as all the experts scream for their help in different jobs: were they in some way unwanted, annoying, unpleasant? Nope. Apart from being highly competent in different areas, they were really nice, humorous, positive, energetic - and truly wonderful people. Out of jobs, no matter what they did to get one. I heard lots of very inventive stories of what they had done to get jobs. Wouldn't it be relevant to take these people seriously?

You see, at the same time the registration system for the unemployed offers jobs to these knowledge people like: waiter in a hot dog stand, newspaper boy, parking servant, bakery servant. Practically no serious business or public office will rely on this system. Simply because employer and employee can't find each other in an outdated system. What further struck me was that the job centres outsource the actual employment service to little newcomer firms where the 'job consultants', 'project managers' etc. in many cases came from a full life of no education - and full lives on welfare. I do think that also people who have spent their lives on welfare should have a chance. But maybe in a more appropriate area?

First: how are they supposed to have the knowledge to help others to academic jobs? Second: would it be more relevant for the educated unemployed people to take these types of positions? Third: why not entirely eliminate this middle man from 'activation projects' that lead absolutely nowhere? And have them working some of the jobs, the employers are screaming for. Eliminate the middle man. Eliminate an ineffective bubble that takes workforce away from the productive areas. If the employers are willing to eliminate some of their unrealistic demands - outside the point with respect to the job positions, maybe it will all fall into place. My paradoxical question is: how come non-experienced people on welfare are brought back in attractive jobs - while all the higher educated people with lots of work experience fill the unemployment statistics? Or are pushed to take jobs outside of their fully updated areas of expertise - or working a newspaper route? In this age of Globalization and global competition for knowledge. Just bewildered by the paradox.

Missing Andersen

I'm sorry to interrupt you to bring a short missing person announcement in the midst of the holidays: It's Mr. Andersen, aka Pontifex Maximus, a six feet tall male in his prime age. His occupation is travel guiding, bridge building, and tongue-in-cheek speaking - when not speaking his first language of Turbo-Chaotic. Special marks: razor-edged shirt sleeves. He was last seen too long ago. If you have any information leading to him, please contact the editor of Paradoxical News as soon as possible.

Happy Holidays!

Whether occupied by making holiday preparations, drinking glögg, burning cookies, buying presents you wouldn't even care to receive - or decide to keep for yourself, hugging your family, or ignoring the holidays entirely - take a moment to receive my best holiday wishes for you and your loved ones! No paradox. Just merriment.

Goblin Giggles

Paradoxical times: They tell me that goblins only roam around at holiday time. It's not true. When I was in India this summer, they were in the faces of the street children. In the joyful Indian music. They seem to be an all year round phenomenon - and they have provided many giggles. They are in the faces you meet on the street everyday. And on my thank you list. I wish you all the happiest 2009!

Open Invitation

You're welcome! Isn't that the nicest thing a person can hear?

Apparently our prime minister has no time to visit the 'Tim Sebastian' of Danish broadcasting, Kurt Strand, from the news and debate programme of Deadline on DR2. Last night he left an open invitation to join the debates from the last couple of days. Among other issues about the status of being a state based on rule of law and respect of basic Human Rights between three former secretaries of state/ministers of foreign affairs - with a reference to the so-called Tunesian Law for people on sufferance. And between the three leaders of the largest opposition parties about the level of 'green' of our current prime minister and the sitting government. The invitation has been sent out and repeated, but as yet no response from the prime minister. Here it comes, the paradox: How can you even decline an invitation by Kurt Strand? All he does is to ask questions - and occasionally nod.

For further background, read:
http://paradoxicalnews.blogspot.com/2008/11/yo-yo-legislation-and-blind-justice.html
http://paradoxicalnews.blogspot.com/2008/12/another-caucus-race.html
http://paradoxicalnews.blogspot.com/2008/11/stealing-bases.html

http://paradoxicalnews.blogspot.com/2008/11/environ-mental-paradox.html

Media Melt Down

The media are in a process of winding up businesses. In particular the print media. And it's a slow and painful process. A bit like pulling a tooth. This story has been told over and over again. But here comes a guy with the solution! Or rather, four of them in one go: Clement Kjersgaard shoots from the hip and delivers in a feature article in the newspaper of Politiken. Four major problems - four major solutions. How about that? Who is this guy, anyway? He's a political science buff with political web and print magazines and several Danish Broadcasting Corporation/DR2 tv talk shows to his credit. So let's hear him out.

The four debated events in the feature article are the fall of major American quality newspapers, the not fully integrated co-operation between the Danish newspapers of Jyllands-Posten and Politiken, the dropping of costly (quality) drama series on major tv stations, and the hysteria of the media in hunting down financial gamblers - and other fast paced scandal stories. One of Mr. Kjersgaard's many argued points is that the newspapers lose out to television, television loses to the internet, and the internet has lost to itself. Because the users of either won't pay with anything other than a short time - within the concentration span of about one minute.

So what are the recommendations of this bold critic?

• True Innovation. Not just re-packaging. To rethink form, contents, distribution, and financing.
• Think Money. Contents and money hand in hand. Avoid media designed by advertising experts.
• Forget About Segments. It's so nineties. Advertising markets fail. And it hinders true innovation.
• Get smarter. The media already know about communicating. The problem area is knowledge.

I'm so happy to read three of the above four solutions. In particular the very last one. A real sigh of relief. But I won't disappoint my readership. I do have a paradox for you: Isn't it the very 'Think Money' aspect of running the media businesses that has taken us to this point where there is no room for knowledge? Users/readers/viewers have no time. Knowledge takes time. Time is money. On top of that we have also conditioned users/readers/viewers to free of charge information - a point Mr. Kjersgaard makes himself. Like Pavlovian dogs. The paradoxical question is how we condition them right back to wanting to be smarter?

For further information, see:
http://politiken.dk/debat/kroniker/article615341.ece

Meta-Comment No. 5

People in my readership are very sharp. They keep me in tune. So the real paradox today is this: When did Paradoxical News lose its sense of humour? Nothing is funnier than serious matters. Whether it be politics - or financial and climate crises. Or even other types of crises. Thank you.

Another Caucus-Race

Political paradox: In the 60th jubilee year of the UN Human Rights Convention the Minister of Refugee, Immigration and Integration Affairs, Birthe Rønn-Hornbech from The Liberals (V) finds herself in a confused situation. Much like the girl Alice in Wonderland. And the procedings have the likings to A Caucus-Race (or chaotic race) - with no common rules, procedures, and goals of the race arranged by the Dodo. Only a common purpose: To get dry together.

After a Supreme Court ruling of detainment on unfounded grounds of a Tunese man accused under the anti-terror act, she finds it necessary to elaborate a new set of rules for the people who cannot be administratively expulsed from Denmark, but have to stay here on sufferance. Because of the Human Rights getting in the way. See:
http://paradoxicalnews.blogspot.com/2008/11/yo-yo-legislation-and-blind-justice

Although attacked by members within her own party, Ms. Rønn-Hornbech (V) respects the independence and the authority of the judicial system - another power of state. The same argument is posed by Morten Østergaard from the Social Liberals (B). In other words, they measure by fundamental judicial principles, and by the protection of the individual. They run in a soft curve - in a slow tempered style - around the race track.

Peter Skaarup from The Danish People's Party (O) doesn't agree. He wants these - so far not convicted - strangers expeditely expulsed, and refers to the protection of the person they allegedly wanted to kill. So he measures by the sense of justice. Also the Social Democrat Karen Hækkerup (S) has confidence in the non-disclosed material collected by the intelligence service of PET. She wants the strangers out of the country, or safely guarded, out of consideration for ordinary people's sense of safety. In other words they both measure by feelings. Whether they run in a straight line - or with little jumps in the same spot along the race track.

The parliamentary tradition leaves the politicians to be free to legislate within the judicial principles. And within the integrity and authority from the other powers of state. But several court rulings within the EU and now The Supreme Court in Denmark have shown that highly politized cases in the areas of integration and anti-terror have lead to the passing of laws that now have to be revised. Because of judicial integrity of national and supra-national authorities. Several cases have been on a collision course with the Human Rights Convention.

Among others article 3 about the right to personal freedom and safety; article 6 about everywhere having the right to a legal status; article 7 about being equal under the law; article 8 about the right to amends at national courts for actions that offend fundamental rights; article 10 about a just trial in an independent and unpartial court; article 11 about being innocent until proven guilty; article 13 about the right to move freely within the bounds of the national borders. And so forth. Just to mention a few of the 30 articles with relevance to the current political debates about these cases.

When single cases are lifted up and strongly politized - and ultimately turned into laws - it would be the same, as if the Dodo in Alice in Wonderland would form special rules for each participant. And new rules after each race.

Normally there has been room for a wide variety of political interests in the process of passing laws. There has been no doubt about the purpose of the political debate in a democracy: To obtain unity in the differencies. And to ensure that everyone could be winners. Or at least live with the result. With 179 members of the parliament only 90 of them can be sure to become winners. But now they are running to win individually. Because they cannot agree on the very purpose of the caucus-race: To get dry together.

For an Alice in Wonderland Caucus-Race update, see:
http://paradoxicalnews.blogspot.com/2008/12/caucus-race.html

A Caucus-Race

Time for storytelling! It springs from the tale of Alice in Wonderland.

At a point in the beginning of the story, the girl from Alice in Wonderland finds herself in an confused situation. She begins to cry, and her tears form a lake. She begins to swim to get out of the lake of tears. On the way she meets a mouse, a cat, an eagle, and a Dodo. When they are all safe back on the shores of the tear lake, they have to figure out a solution to get dry again. The Dodo suggests that they run themselves dry. It suggests that they have a race. The Dodo loosely marks out an area as race track, but doesn't define starting point, goal, rules of procedure, frame, or time period for running.

So begins A Caucus Race. The participants begin and stop whenever they please, and run the race according to their own rules. So you might imagine some running in circles, others in ovals, some may form figures of eight - others again may zigzag across the track. Some with breaks, some without. They simply stop when they don't care to run any more. As they gradually finish, they all crowd around Alice as appointed referee and ask: Who won the race? Sharp as she might be, Alice finds this a little hard to determine - since they had neither goals, frames, nor rules in common. She cannot measure it. So she declares everyone a winner. They only agreed on one thing - the purpose: To make a race in order to dry up together.

This is very much how political debate takes place. The logic is also derived from the Garbage Can model. And I will refer to this in my next segment.

A Garbage Can model for decision making:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garbage_Can_Model

Meta-Comment No. 4

Why Paradoxical News? Now and again readers of this blog have commented on the contents and looked at me in a baffled way. With all that I know and can? The answer is as simple as it is paradoxical. That is one of the very reasons. Apparently, and much debated, there is no room in the industry for the story behind the story. The real story to tell. If journalists were alert they could have such a story.

The media industry is often accused of housing bewildered chickens running around for the first and most inflammatory story. A scandal. A conflict. Someone to expose. They search the bad-rapping, the intrigue. Someone exposed on the internet, in online communities, or through e-mails. Not stopping to think again: is this really true? Could there be another story behind it, we're missing? You know - being a journalist. There may be some journalists like that, but also many very sharp ones. Unfortunately they are more and more left to do their journalistic investigations as solo projects - in books. Or in other media.

Another important reason for the concept of this blog is this: I simply reflect what I'm confronted with. When the media industry and journalists are more occupied with intrigue and game playing than reporting and analysis, how can my reflection be anything other than paradoxical? The so-called fourth power of the state. Does this label still suit the industry? I mirror the media industry in this blog. From the very real stories to the maybe not so real ones. Both types are in here. But I label the product accordingly: Paradoxical News.

Look no further than to these blog segments for answers:
http://paradoxicalnews.blogspot.com/2008/12/network-navigation.html
http://paradoxicalnews.blogspot.com/2008/12/meta-comment-no-3.html

11th Hour Revival

If you're looking for paradoxes, look no further than to tv programmes by Mikael Bertelsen and Mads Brügger from the Danish Broadcasting Corporation/DR2. They have initiated and hosted several very good tv talkshows - for the paradoxically minded people. Several of these have won Danish tv prizes. One of these talkshows was called The 11th Hour and ran for app. 18 months from last year to this summer. A very narrow, peculiar and always surprising talkshow featuring artists, politicians, writers, musicians - and simply paradoxical people. Tonight I attended a revival session at the Metropol cinematic theatre in Copenhagen that saluted the highlights and showed the bummers to a live audience of about 400 people. With guest writer on the stage, author and speed talker Knud Romer, talking about his odd writings (along with the successful ones). The 11th Hour obviously had a happy following and will be missed. Thanks for the aftershow. On this thank you note: This very blog was inspired by the talkshow.

For further information, see:
http://www.dr.dk/DR2/Den11time/

More Fun & Games in Nicaragua

There are elections. And then there are elections in Nicaragua. They are truly paradoxical. The November 9th municipal elections in Nicaragua have turned into a game with economic penalties. International diplomats said they were 'worried' about the democratic conditions in Nicaragua. Then spoke in another language. The United States recently froze international funds directed towards reaching the UN 2015 Millenium development goals. And the EU apparently follows suite. In MS Danish Association for International Co-operation's Central America leader Lisbeth Petersen's words today:

'The USA has recently frozen several funds to Nicaragua, aimed at reaching the Millenium Goals. It's a special account where the funds are usually channelled. And the budget support from the EU is currently frozen as well. About 35 million US-dollars, the remainder for 2008.'

The background for this economic penalty, is that the municipal elections stirred up the opposition parties in November. They accused the leading Ortega-party of Frente Sandinista de Liberación Nacional/FSLN of fraud, claiming that opposition leader Montealegre, from the alliance with PLC/Partido Liberal Constitucionalista, actually won the vote as mayor of Managua. The opposition referred to the lists from the actual voting booth counts. The parties always get a copy of these - just in case. And this was 'in case' for Montealegre. According to his count he won with the 46 percent, that FSLN claims to have won by. But the FSLN controlled supreme electorate council, Consejo Supremo Electoral/CSE, didn't see the need for international observers at the elections. At least the opposition is still around. Unlike in the 80'ies. For now, it looks far worse with the prospects for economic development in Nicaragua.

For further information, see:
http://paradoxicalnews.blogspot.com/2008/11/electoral-fun-and-games-in-nicaragua

Out of The Box Paradox

Communication comes in many paradoxical forms. According to popular saying, only 10 percent of what we say is verbal. 90 percent takes the form of body language, facial expressions, and sound - like gesticulation, mime, tone of voice, absence of sound. Danish artist Eva Roel is inspired by this aspect of communication and the variations it takes. Alongside her fascination with the theatrical world of mime and gestures. Set in the so-called artificial space. In her own words:

I first met Eva Roel at her vernissage at Gallery Jytte Arntzen in Copenhagen 5th September this year. I was inspired by a couple of paintings from two different series between 2006 and 2008. In particular one 120 by 120 centimetre painting of a pair of gesticulating hands in boxes, as seen in the video segment. A jack-in-the-box mime. An odd form of communication. Given the dark background and the shadow figures - with neither light nor shadow. Obscurity in more than one sense. So I met her again for an interview about it, as seen in the above clip - and below in a Danish version:

Why the very dark background?
'I was interested in the world of photography, with the light and the obscure. I also used an overhead projector to make shadow figures. I made mimes and faces, like theatrical mime. I am preoccupied with contrast and the lack of contrast. And I like the notion of creating artificial rooms,' Eva Roel explains.

At 22 years it was Eva Roel's first solo exhibition this September. She was accepted at the three major art academies in Copenhagen, Malmö, and Hamburg this summer. But chose Malmö Konsthögskola of the three, because she liked the ambiance of the school. She explains that her primary inspiration is the film director David Lynch. Perhaps not too surprising. Another artist preoccupied with depicting the obscurity and absurdity of ordinary things. And in the paradox of creating artificial rooms.

For further information see:
http://www.evaroel.dk/
http://www.jyttearntzen.com/udstilling.php?showID

Dynamic Debate - or Comic Relief?

What do Helle Thorning-Schmidt (S) and Lars Løkke Rasmussen (V) have in common? Waiting to become prime minister of Denmark. Although tonight they stressed that this was not an election event. The first is the opposition leader from The Social Democrats - the second the current minister of finance from The Liberal Party of Denmark. They met for a debate on the financial crisis, arranged by the newspaper of Politiken and hosted by political editor Peter Mogensen. With a turnout of about 300 people, mainly subscribers of the newspaper.

The two politicians often clash, latest at this year's budget negociations for 2009. The arguments were mostly the same on both sides. Dynamic effects versus tax reliefs. They go something like this: Ms. Thorning-Schmidt (S) lashed out at the sitting government for not initiating investments in public institutions, green energy, and public transportation to create growth - and for giving tax reliefs to the well-of, whenever growth has been made. On his part, Mr. Løkke Rasmussen (V) argued for growth created by lowering interest rates to fuel private enterprise, giving tax reliefs to the well-of, because they boost the economy and create more jobs - thus creating 'dynamic effects'. The constantly debated economic paradox.

'When the financial experts and the minister of finance calculate this, they don't take the financial and bank crises into account. This will reinforce the unemployment. So we are more pessimistic. What will the government do about this?,' the opposition leader argued and asked.

'The honest answer is, that this government has diminished the unemployment to an historically low level. The interest rate is one and three-quarters higher than in Europe. When this difference increases, it is necessary to conduct a policy to bring it down,' the minister of finance responded. Admitting to an expected rise in the unemployment level from 2009 to 2010, yet unwilling to give an estimate of that level - or what level would be an 'acceptable' effect.

Not satisfied with deviant responses, the opposition leader wished for another minister of finance.

'But I will rather wait to name another minister of finance until I can appoint one myself,' she wittingly responded, harvesting laughs. And asked that prime minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen would join negociations instead of Lars Løkke Rasmussen, whose style of negociation she often criticises.

The minister of finance then suggested that she should appoint other financial experts at the same time, if she wants backing for her policy. Inviting the inevitable clap trap and turning the debate into a show case.

As a silver lining, they did both agree on furthering investments in green energy and infrastructure. So hopefully they will meet again. With or without the prime minister. For a dynamic debate or comic relief.

For a more elaborate overview of the political scene in Denmark, please see:
http://paradoxicalnews.blogspot.com/2008/10/cliff-notes-to-danish-politics.html

Meta-Comment No. 3

It's not in the telling, it's in the showing. Show, don't tell. Several journalism teachers have taught me the truth in this. And in this quest to become a journalist, I have shown what I can in several ways, academically and in practice elsewhere. And I've shown my choice - it's all in here. My dream and my quest will stay the same. It may become even harder now, despite my navigation efforts. And my choice seems irrelevant. Even so my choice will remain the same.

PB:
Thank you for everything

Network Navigation

'You don't choose your network - the network chooses you', a friend once told me. Maybe you cannot even not choose it. I know the above to be true by now. Sometimes there can even be more networks at play. You still don't choose them yourself. And you don't offend a network. That makes navigation even harder. I've done my best in navigating towards what I really want. To follow my heart, my head, and my dreams. At times friends must have thought that I'd lost my wits in that effort. I haven't. And I still want it, whether it will be or not.

The Silent Whistleblower

Yesterday was a special day. In good company. It was also the day when I had nothing left to keep at my first love. I have stuck with it for years now. And still a friend told me to go on. Anyway.

Today's paradox takes the form of a quiz. The quiz imitates the form of nestled chinese boxes: I have two loves - one above the other. The first love has three pathways to be ultimately realized. The second love could have more, but most likely is one. The first love further leads to five fields of passion.

Guided by the advice, because I have found no other love, I will stick with my loves - but whoever in my network solves the quiz and finds a way to let me know will help to re-open the full potential. Anyway.

The Paradox of Wonders

Thank you, Jørn Utzon, for a life time of creating architectonic wonders. Isn't it a paradox that your most admired work of all time also stirred up the most debate, and caused the most pain. Thank you for believing in your dream.

The Growth of Media in China

Friday The Growth of Media in China conference was held at Copenhagen Business School/CBS, jointly arranged by CBS, UNESCO, and International Media Support/IMS. A panel debate with international media scholars and the vice-president from the national Chinese television channel of CCTV, according to the conference programme.

The conference was moderated by Martin Breum, known as a tv presenter for the news shows of Deadline and DR2 Udland at The Danish Broadcasting Company/DR. The audience primarily consisted of scholars, Asia students, journalists, and media people. About 125 people according to the list of participants. Questions from this audience were sent as text messages and answered by the panel.

Some of the points made were that investigative journalism is back, in particular on satellite channels in tabloid formats (Mr. Hugo de Burgh, Professor of journalism, London). And that investigative journalism is important, because it sells (Ms. Yuezhin Zhao Ph.d in Canada). A paradox: the authorities need it for their own purposes - on the other hand critical journalism may expose them (Ms. Tong Jingrong, lecturer in Journalism and Media, Liverpool). And again that journalists shouldn't play the role of legal judges, just report (Mr. Sun Yusheng, VP for CCTV). The Chinese media role had gone from propaganda, before 1978, to propaganda and business after 1978, to propaganda, and business, and public service, since 2003 (Mr. Hu Zhengrong, Professor in communication, Beijing).

I was encouraged to go by an acquaintance, with no prior knowledge, so for further information, see:
http://www.uvm.dk/Uddannelse/Tvaergaaende%20omraader/Internationalt/Internationalt/Int/2008/Nov/081102_Conference_on_growth_media_China.aspx

http://www.i-m-s.dk/

http://www.dr.dk/DR2/Nyheder+og+aktualitet/20060406104557.htm

Stirring Up the Debate

If Mr. Sun Yusheng from the Chinese television station of CCTV was moderate in his talk about censorship in Chinese media, Ms. Yuezhi Zhao had none of these qualms in her talk on today's conference on Chinese media in Copenhagen. But as a Ph.d in communications at the Simon Fraser University, she lives and workes in Canada.

According to Ms. Yuezhi Zhao the tendencies in Chinese media is - quote - 'a rise in the dictatorship of economics', and a 'neo-liberal ideology and Social Darwinism in street tabloids has become dominant' - unquote. In her analysis, this is caused by a huge growth in the middle class Chinese, who enjoy all the benefits of the Chinese economic wonder. That leaves the farmers and workers to be a problem for society. A fifty percent burden. The logic being, quote - 'either you die or I die' - unquote. The viewpoint in Chinese media is always the middle class. As an example she gave: in the coverage of China's WTO entry, out of 500 news stories not one story covered an interview with an ordinary farmer or worker.

Another tendency in Chinese media, according to Ms. Zhao, is a lot of 'happy talk' (e.g. Hunan satellite TV) and consumer angled stories - to the neglect of worker's conditions.

Altogether, in her view, the media market is based on a logic of 'one dollar, one vote' as opposed to 'one person, one vote'. The media is undergoing a social power re-structuring, where the middle class is empowered, and the commercialization of the media gives rise to new media suppliers and urban newspapers. For instance from the real estate industry, government officials, state enterprise managers, private business men, and journalists.

According to Ms. Zhao, the market driven media should pursue these goals:
* Stirring up debates
* Exposing government corruption
* Opening for sympathy with the lower classes

One question for Ms. Zhao from interviewer Mette Holm (former Beijing correspondent) was about the future for press freedom. And Ms. Zhao saw the market driven media as a vehicle for more press freedom. Eventually to create public service channels free of government censorship. Paradoxically, the market should lead the way to 'public service'.
'China's problem is no longer just China's problem - it's a global problem,' she stated in her finishing remarks.

For further information, see:
http://www.cmns.sfu.ca/people/faculty/zhao_y/

Promoting Chinese Culture - Not Politics

1.2 billion viewers, 294 TV stations, 1.283 channels, and 400 million TV sets. Danish media people can only dream of such market conditions. But we're in China with these figures, the situation is a conference jointly arranged by UNESCO, Copenhagen Business School/CBS, and International Media Support/IMS - and the guest of honour today is Mr. Sun Yusheng, Vice-President of China Central Television/CCTV, Beijing. He gave a talk about the reform of Chinese television and the rise of new media. He was asked by one of the interviewers, Mette Thunøe a pro-dean for Copenhagen University, about the use of these new media. And his answer might not be so jaw dropping: he focused on the possibility of downloading programmes from the website. But where was the promise of true interactivity, debates, blogs, etc?

Not surprisingly Mr. Sun Yusheng was also asked about censorship in Chinese television, in particular by interviewer Mette Holm, former correspondent in Beijing. And from text message questions from the audience, consisting primarily of scholars, Asia students, journalists, and media people. About 125 people according to the list of participants. He confirmed the censorship in Chinese media, and said:
'In the first line we have a responsibility as a gate keeper. We are consistently in search of objective and correct reporting to ensure fairness. The media should be the guardian for the society.'

If this guardian for the society also involves being a guardian for its people - or just for 'the society' was not quite clear. But he did stress that if any wrong doing was done by for instance local government, they would have to report it. And he did stress that there is a great difference in the Western and the Chinese perception of freedom of speech. His mission, however, was not to promote Chinese politics - only Chinese culture. Judging from the many text message questions, the paradox was that most people came to ask questions about the first.

89 percent of the chinese population followed the Olympics on CCTV, according to Mr. Sun Yusheng. He saw the future of growth for CCTV as being a part of an international news network, and as a vehicle to promote - Chinese culture.

For further information, see:
http://www.cctv.com/english/index.shtml
http://chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2004-08/28/content_369576.htm
http://www.uvm.dk/Uddannelse/Tvaergaaende%20omraader/Internationalt/Internationalt/Int/2008/Nov/081102_Conference_on_growth_media_China.aspx

Think Manager - Think Female!

'TMTM - Think Manager, Think Male' is the title of the report I'm holding in my hand. It's from the CORE faculty (Centre for Organizational Renewal and Evolution) at Aarhus University in Denmark. Hmmm, very evolutionary! You'd think it was from the beginning of the last century, but it is actually from December 2007. The title refers to the stereotypes of managers - and it sets out to test whether they still exist today. Alas, they do!

Last night I attended a meeting in the K2 network for female managers in the media industry. It was a lecture by the editor of the managerial magazine of ledelseidag.dk, Lene Bechsgaard, who is a journalist and teacher at one of the Danish schools of journalism. And she referred to the above report. Her lecture was mostly about making 'the narrative' of your own curriculum to boost your career. How to make your résumé come to life, as it were. Very inspiring story and two by two coaching, by the way.

But the real 'narrative' here lies not in the coaching sessions. The real narrative lies in this paradox: How can it be that the report - from 2007! - still claims that male managers are considered to be most successful? Haven't we moved past that? You see, as the report goes, values such as persistance, impact, determination, competence, energy, and ambition are considered by both male and female managers to be the mark of successful managers. According to the questionnaires 229 of them answered in a survey. Whereas values such as kindness, safety, indecision, and anxiousness are considered to be the mark of unsuccessful managers. And, hey, those last values are considered to be female by nature! You see where this is going...? Presto - successful managers are of course male! And reversely, unsuccessful managers are female.

What could be the explanation for this rigid perception of female managers, one wonders. The report tries to explain it this way: managers with values such as patience and consensus thinking are often female. And they are often used in companies in crisis. For that reason a crisis manager is often a woman, shows another survey from 2003 (A.H. Eagly & L.L. Carli, The Female Leadership Advantage) - therefore they will often be associated with 'unsuccessful' companies. Whether they are put there because of these force values or simply because they are there to take the heat, instead of men, if it all goes really bad, there is no sure way of saying. But the conclusion of the 2007 report remains the same: Think Manager, Think Male! Isn't that a paradox in the 21st century? How about changing that way of thinking: Think Manager - Think Female!

Whoops! I just read the small print in the beginning of the report: the survey is based on a respondent group of 83 percent male managers - and 17 percent female managers...

For more information about the K2 network, please see:

http://paradoxicalnews.blogspot.com/2008/10/surrounded-by-women.html
For more information about ledelseidag.dk, please see:

http://www.lederne.dk/ledelseidag/

For the Record

For journalistic and paradoxical reasons I did actually forward the below article Democratic Flicker - Part Three to The Danish People's Party (O) for a response to Villy Søvndal's (F) critique of the party. As yet I haven't received a response.

Democratic Flicker - Part Three

The baton has been passed. Today Villy Søvndal, chair person of The Socialist People's Party (F) responds to the remarks made by first Margrethe Vestager from The Danish Social Liberal Party (R), and later Naser Khader from Liberal Alliance (Y) on the issue of 'democratic flicker' in the Danish parliament. Referring to a worsened democratic and collaboratory climate. This time around, no fuzzy nature. Just statements. And only limited tongue-in-cheek. See the two blog segments below:

Part One: http://paradoxicalnews.blogspot.com/2008/10/democratic-flicker.html
According to Margrethe Vestager the democratic climate has worsened since 2001, since the current government came into office, blaming the coalition parties of The Liberals (V) and The Conservatives (C) for only co-operating with The Danish People's Party (O) on the ultimate Right.

Part Two: http://paradoxicalnews.blogspot.com/2008/11/democratic-flicker-part-two.html
Naser Khader agrees, but primarily blames The Danish People's Party for this 'democratic flicker'.

Villy Søvndal (F) agrees with both, and elaborates:
'After 2001 the majority has decided to conduct block policy to an extent we have never seen before. For instance in connection with the solutions to resolve the financial crisis. It was block policy to go to war in Iraq. And there is a block policy in connection with the passing of the financial bill every year. This is a new pattern that replaces the co-operative pattern in the parliament, that we had up until 2001. So there is a de facto majority of V, K, and O, and they make it a virtue to exclude other parties.'

Who in the government have you met obligence from?
'It is difficult to make a graduation. But if you had asked the reverse question, who hinders co-operation the most, I think it is The Danish People's Party.'

What are the worst examples of a co-operation not working with The Danish People's Party?
'The financial bill for one. We wanted to be part of a deal, but where not allowed by The Danish People's Party. And two years ago, we made an environmental deal in connection with the financial bill, where the deal had been negociated to pass, where The Danish People's Party made the statement of not wanting to include other parties.'

Are there any areas where you find it possible to keep in step with The Danish People's Party?
'No, not in important areas. Whenever The Danish People's Party must choose to either carry something of what they want through - or to be a supporting party to the government, they always choose the role of supporting party. For instance in connection with the conflict about the salaries of the public employees this spring. The Danish People's Party were in on a majority vote to assure higher salaries to nurses, teachers, pedagogues, and policemen. But when they were faced with the choice between that and the current government, they chose to support the government.'

But how do you consider the co-operation with other parties in the parliament to be?
'We have tremendous co-operation with The Social Democrats, with whom we make a row of joint plans, and at the moment we are working together on all the central policies. We have made joint policies on integration and on municipal economy. And also on traffic issues, but this is not quite coordinated yet. There will be more joint policies in the time ahead. We want the Social Liberals to join.'

But when does the co-operation work? Have you experienced areas where you have met an obliging reception, where you had success in negociations with the blue block?
'It has been details. We have made an energy agreement - not a good energy agreement, but this was what we could pull out of it.'

Prime minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen lately announced that he had gone green. In that connection you did make positive statements. Do you think that he encroaches on your party issues?
'Yes, definitely. It is very clear where he got his inspiration from, namely The Socialist People's Party. But he is welcome. The important thing is not what he says. The important thing is what he is willing to carry through. And we are excited to follow the precedings. We want to participate in further negociations for better solutions on climate and the environment. So we will have to see if are aloud in. If he has the courage.'

So overall, how do you judge the democratic climate?
'It is bad in the parliament. It is bad policy to govern a country the size of Denmark on 50,1 percent of the votes. It helps to create completely unnecessary confrontations and conflicts. And it goes against the parliamentary tradition in Denmark of working together if you disagree.'

So far at least three of the eight parties currently in the Danish parliament criticize the democratic climate. In this 50-50 governance, paradoxically the critique comes from both sides of the parliament. Wonder if the sitting government senses the 'democratic flicker' at all?

For a more elaborate overview of the political scene in Denmark, please see:
http://paradoxicalnews.blogspot.com/2008/10/cliff-notes-to-danish-politics.html
Photo provided by:

http://flickr.com/photos/sfpolitik/sets/72157601525022771/

Electoral Fun & Games in Nicaragua

'Let the games begin!' Nothing new since I last visited Nicaragua in 2006. In the aftermath of the 2008 municipal elections in Nicaragua on November 9th, the electoral process is no different from usual: the oposition demanding recounts and annulments, with Daniel Ortega and his party Frente Sandinista de Liberación Nacional/FSLN overruling every claim. FSLN controls the supreme electorate council, Consejo Supremo Electoral/CSE by three quarters of the members, so they are not really stopping anything.

One to make a claim for a recount is Eduardo Montealegre from Alianza Liberal Nicaragüense/ALN in union with Partido Liberal Constitucionalista/PLC, because polls held him a winner of the election. At the 2006 Presidential Election in Nicaragua Montealegre had started his own party of Alianza Liberal Nicaragüense/ALN, and gained 29 percent of the votes, compared to Daniel Ortega/FSLN's 38 percent. Even flying by the traditional Liberal party of PLC. Not bad for a newcomer. Especially not when at the same time there were widespread rumours everywhere in the streets of Nicaragua of FSLN party members bribing 14 year-olds to receive registration forms to vote (the electoral age in Nicaragua is 16). You see, 14 year-olds haven't experienced the 80'ies when Daniel Ortega and FSLN ruled the first time around, so they make a perfect electorate!

This time Eduardo Montealegre allied himself with PLC, but according to the published end result he was beaten in his quest to become mayor of Managua. By around five percent to Alexis Argüello/FSLN, with 46 to a little over 51 percent. Most Nicaraguan presidents started out as mayors in the capital of Managua, so it is not entirely unimportant who wins there. An angry debate is currently running in the once in the 80'ies censored newspaper La Prensa's blog about this 'Alexis' from FSLN. Montealegre was claiming a recount or an annulment through the electoral laws. But as of yesterday, Daniel Ortega wanted to legitimize the electorate result by Presidential decree. Now the debate goes on. Today's paradox is, that there are two conflicting statements at play here: on one hand Daniel Ortega claims that a law cannot annul an election, but on the other he also claims legitimization of it through a law - or decree.

At the presidential election in 2006 Daniel Ortega and FSLN was announced winners after they had stopped counting at 91-92 percent reviewed votes. I was there in the weeks after that election, and the local news - La Prensa for one - announced that fraud had been discovered. Nobody really did too much about it, but a few posts in the parliament were swapped. Through the effort of the internationally funded Ética y Transparencia (the Transparency International partner in Nicaragua) - but no big fuss was made about it internationally. In Nicaragua - the logic seems to be - things are good if the election happens at all, without too much difficulty. And with an electoral turn out close to 70 percent, everybody is happy.

This time around Etica y Transparencia is more quiet. I just talked to Roberto A. Courtney, Executive Director of Etica Y Transparencia, and he explained:
'According to our count, Montealegre won by five percent in Managua. It's the least transparent election anywhere in fifty years. There have been frauds in 30-50 of the municipalities.'

There are 153 municipalities in Nicaragua. But according to Courtney a recount would be impossible or pointless, since CSE is controlled by FSLN. He even claims to have been threatened by government officials himself. Hmmm. It doesn't seem to be that difficult to run a democracy - just make a decree!

For further information, see:

http://www.laprensa.com.ni/archivo/2008/noviembre/22/noticias/politica/296399.shtml

http://www.laprensa.com.ni/archivo/2008/noviembre/13/elecciones/portada/

http://www.eyt.org.ni/
http://images.google.dk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.aporrea.org/imagenes/2006/11/daniel_ortega2.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.aporrea.org/internacionales/n86574.html&usg=__zjN3SdnKLwYvI7peZ2cJQxLlnxE=&h=265&w=300&sz=14&hl=da&start=2&um=1&tbnid=EHdr_bK4l1ZfZM:&tbnh=102&tbnw=116&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dsite:www.aporrea.org%2Bdaniel%2Bortega%26um%3D1%26hl%3Dda%26sa%3DN

Democratic Balancing Pole

We have a democratic and political waste basket in the Danish parliamentary system. It is called 'paragraph 20 questions' to the cabinet ministers. It is an open Q&A session in the parliament that goes on record, in accordance with a paragraph in the Standing Orders of The Folketing (parliament). And a democratic safety valve in case the sitting government misuses power - or simply makes what can be considered to be political mistakes.

These §20 questions have grown since the introduction: from 3.811 questions in 2001–02 to 7.125 in 2005–06 at their peak (in particular on issues like the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the Danish cartoon crisis). From 2007-08 the questions have again reduced to the 2001 level. In particular the opposition parties of The Red-Green Alliance (Ø), The Social Democrats (S) and The Socialist People's Party (F) are heavy §20 question users - with The Red-Green Alliance as the top scorer. This party’s watch dog members will contest any sitting government, on any issue, any time. And probably the most important party to listen to for the sitting prime minister and the sitting government. To take the questions from. If they realize this or not is uncertain. The party is in effect the democratic balancing pole in Denmark. Not because the party itself is balanced (far from it), but because it ensures balance.

Time and again the current prime minister and the sitting government have complained about the growth of these questions, because it takes important time from the ministers and the ministries to answer them all. This creates an undesirable administrative bureaucray is the protest. Here comes the paradoxical question (if not a §20 one): Isn't there just one way to ensure a reduction of these questions?

For further information about the system of §20 questions:
http://da.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C2%A7_20-sp%C3%B8rgsm%C3%A5l
For further information about the Danish parliamentary system:
http://www.ft.dk/pdf/parliamentary_system.pdf
For a more elaborate overview of the political scene in Denmark, please see:
http://paradoxicalnews.blogspot.com/2008/10/cliff-notes-to-danish-politics.html