A Three-Flavoured Political Strategy

When people in Denmark buy the ice cream called 'Rainbow Ice', they don't just get ice cream in three different colours, they even get three flavours: Chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry. Neatly stacked together in a rectangular block, clearly defined and separated. Nobody will admit to buying the stuff, but paradoxically it sells in huge quantities.

This is very much the political strategy of the current government in Denmark, with The Liberals (V) and The Conservatives (C) basing their almost permanent majority in the parliament on The Danish People's Party (O). Three different colours. Three different flavours. In unison they offer the Danish electorate choices - within the same block. The blue block. In short, and speaking in political science terms, they have broken the Public Choice code of the bundle purchase nature with voters. You see, when voters 'buy' a political party, they're not only buying one political opinion - but a bundle of them, wrapped up inside a full political programme of that particular party - so it actually makes sense to stay ignorant of most issues. It is rational to be ignorant. Sorry, Public Choicers, for the next very crude ice cream simplification. Why don't you enjoy a couple of scoops as it folds out...

The current government makes it easy for the voters to choose and 'buy'. You see, if you cut the 'Rainbow Ice' block, you can do so from two different angles - and still get three different colours and flavours. The blue block offers three different choices in one block - seen from more than one perspective.

The first perspective is the low income - middle income - high income axis - very important from an identification point of view - where the voters identify themselves with:

• Low income - The Danish People's Party
• Middle/high income - The Liberals
• Middle/high income - The Conservatives

The second perspective is the change-stability-safety axis - also and ever important axis for political parties - where voters get:

• Change - The Liberals
• Stability - The Conservatives
• Safety/value - The Danish People's Party

Up until the 2001 election value-based topics like immigration were banned before an election - it was considered the place not to go. So the order of the day before that was merely a choice of two options: Change or Stability. Most government coalitions up until 2001 were based on two parties in minority coalitions - sometimes three. One for change, one for stability. The same today: with The Liberals (V) voters get economic dynamics and change, with The Conservatives (C) they get stability in public services. Stability and safety are huge, because 'you know what you have, but you don't know what you're gonna get'. And when they do go for change, they go for the same kind of change on economic and tax issues. These two parties balance each other. But since 9/11 it has somehow become OK also to speak on issues like immigration. So the value-based party of The Danish People's Party (O) has gained much support. With us or against us. Pro or con immigration. But still big on safety. Nobody will admit to buying this chunk - but it sells in huge quantities.

All in all an unbeatable bundle purchase package. A little something for everyone. Three clearly defined chunks of ice cream. If you choose one, the other chunks complement it. And the total package is still there for the taking. Perhaps this is why the blue block does so well? So how does the opposition alternative look? On the first axis of low income - middle income - high income:

• Low/middle income - The Social Democrats
• Low/middle income - The Socialist People's Party
• Middle/high income - The Social Liberals

And on the second axis of change-stability-safety:

• Change/value - The Socialist People's Party
• Change/value - The Social Liberals
• Stability/safety - The Social Democrats

The Socialist People's Party (F) goes for stability on social security issues, but are great reformers when it comes to green economy. And when the Social Liberals (B) talk about change, they actually go for the blue block kind of change, namely on economic and tax issues. So the picture is altogether a bit more blurry in the red block. The rainbow ice cream has melted. The voters aren't sure what they're getting when they cut the ice cream block. And perhaps there's just too much change in there? I mean when you 'buy' a political product - perhaps you would want more stability and safety? 'You know what you have, but you don't know what you're gonna get'. They all speak of stability and safety for the low income groups, and of a greener economy. Probably in order to seem like an opposition in unison. So there aren't really three clearly defined chunks in the block of ice cream. Could this be the reason for the much talked about 'cannibalism' between the opposition parties - where one party simply 'steals' votes from the other red block party? And could this melting ice cream be the reason for the lacking success of the opposition - and reversely the success of the current government coalition? Because the opposition hasn't figured out the three-flavoured political strategy? I don't know, it's just one blurry guess. I prefer to stay rationally ignorant.

A New Chapter in Danish Politics

Last night I joined an arrangement for Danish law and economy people, initiated by the ever energetic political science buff Clement Kjersgaard, DR2 host and initiator of the political magazine of RÆSON (roughly translates into 'reason' or 'sense'). The theme was A New Chapter in Danish Politics, focused on the shift in Danish politics from the election in 2001 and the success of the Right wing block - and then tried to give a post-Fogh Rasmussen perspective.

Did the arrangement make sense then? Well, first of all three political science and sociology researchers where brought in to lay down a basis for the debate - and to make sense. Among them Lars Bille, an election researcher, sociologist Rasmus Willig, and party researcher Rune Slothuus.

In short, the change from 2001 was noticeable. The red-blue blocks had been enforced, yet at the same time there is a blurring of the traditional red-blue perspective - in the classical sense of the two opposing policies when it comes to distribution of wealth - since the value-based parties roam on both sides of the traditional axes, and are becoming just as important as the traditional red-blue parties. And when it comes to the value-based policies, they have truely made their mark since 2001. In particular with the government's supporting party of The Danish People's Party (O) - but also the The Socialist People's Party (F) has gained much support, basically in opposing the first.

One point made was that the traditional liberal ideas of freedom of speech, the right to form public debate assemblies, etc. had given way to the purely economic liberalism, placing responsibility entirely on individuals - all the way down to the public employees in kindergardens raising their index fingers, teaching the two-year-olds to be responsible for themselves. No responsibility could be placed on the state, the government, the municipalities, or the private employers - since everything lies in your own hands. In short, liberalism had gone from 'You have the right to be free - to you must be free'.

Then a panel of political editors: Ask Rostrup from the public Danish Broadcasting Company/DR, Arne Hardis from the elitist newspaper of Weekendavisen, and Bjarne Steensbeck from the Right wing newspaper of Berlingske Tidende debated the Fogh Rasmussen legacy. Stressing his importance as a political leader - yet not withholding his less successful legacy of a stressed immigration policy and an activist foreign policy.

Ending with a debate with three present and former politicians, Mogens Lykketoft (S), Marianne Jelved (B), and Hans Engell (formerly Conservatives, presently political commentator). Making much the same points as the researchers and the political editors - yet with more practical details.

So did it all make sense? Yes, the arrangement did. No, the political legacy didn't.

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

Sponsor Journalism

A debate has been running in the Danish media and in the media magazine of Journalisten lately. In particular, there is no more room for investigative journalism - because it costs. Editor-in-chief of Politiken, Tøger Seidenfaden, launched a new wave. He suggested that with (his) empty pockets why couldn't the newspapers aim at sponsored investigative journalism, i.e. get readers/users to participate and supply tips, and get people with their pockets full to pay for investigative projects around the editorial rooms. With lots of debates in the wake about the seriousness and integrity of the journalistic products to come out of such sponsoring.

And today, Berlingske Media, Politiken, TV2, and other Danish media form a pressure group to get their hands on the ad market through the Norwegian software service of Open AdExchange, based on individual search words. In order to diminish the search engine dominans of Google - and get their hands on the lucrative ad market. Ladies and gentlemen, my first paradoxical reaction is this: When will news papers focus on news at least half as much as they focus on money, ads, and sponsoring?

Pssst: Paradoxical News is looking for a sponsor

A Sigh From The Gender Agenda

'We have obtained full gender equality the day it becomes as natural to choose just as many mediocre women for managerial positions - as has been the case for years with the choice of mediocre men'. These are the words quoted from - a man. Namely former Danish PM Poul Schlüter.

And here's the paradox: Just as everybody is talking about the weather, but nobody's doing anything about it, we appear to be stuck on the gender agenda. Except for the Danish K2 Network for women in the media industry. They actually walk the talk. Their bold goal is to dismantle themselves. Yep, that is - once there are at least 40 percent females in managerial posititions and in the board rooms. The network arranges conferences, appoints women, hands out prizes (the good, the bad, and really ugly). This network works.

For more information (in Danish), see:
http://www.k2-net.dk/
http://paradoxicalnews.blogspot.com/2008/10/surrounded-by-women.html

Pssst: If you're not in the media industry - or not in Denmark - why don't you start your own? And link.

Paradoxical News Expands Its Activities

Paradoxical News is expanding its activities to other projects - that just might fly. Hence the less fluent flow of paradoxical news. The editor of the publication would like to express gratitude towards its patient and loyal niche readership.

Meta-Comment No. 8

Sometimes navigation is best left to the navigators. My navigator just might be brilliant...

Opposition - Part Four

Margrethe Vestager from the Social Liberals (B), accepted the invitation to broad co-operation from Lars Løkke Rasmussen (V) - but called for visual proof. As examples, she mentioned the need for a more ambitious overall growth plan, and also saw a need for action behind the words in negociations about the municipality plans, when it comes to showing more trust and confidence in the employees.

Opposition - Part Three

Anders Samuelsen (Y), gone very-very Liberal, was in the strange position of being a government supporter - and in opposition at the same time. With regard to the lacking trust and confidence in the ability of the employees in the municipalities to handle their jobs, the steps from the government just weren't good enough.

Opposition - Part Two

Johanne Schmidt-Nielsen, political spokes person from The Red-Green Alliance (Ø), had no mercy for Lars Løkke Rasmussen (V) and his speech. In particular she criticized the government's employment efforts and the tough policy initiatives regarding criminal youths.

Opposition - Part One

Opposition leader Helle Thorning-Schmidt (S) was frankly not impressed with Lars Løkke Rasmussen's (V) speech, presenting the government's plan on basic policy areas.

Same Procedure As Last Year

Same-same, but different! - they say in the East and in many parts of the world. Today, the de facto PM Lars Løkke Rasmussen (V) presented himself as the new man with a licence to speak. He opened today's speech in the Danish parliament saying much the same as his predecessor. Namely that the value-based politics, the tax stop, the integration policy, the justice policy, and the foreign policy would stay the same. As would the government's supporting parties of The Danish People's Party and Liberal Alliance. This was not only old wine in a new bottle - it even seemed to have lost its kick along the way.

Under the overall banner of Freedom and Community he stressed the necessity for the freedom of choice in public institutions - to go hand in hand with a strong safety net to help the ones who lose their jobs, fall ill, or who are in a tight spot for a period, for instance during education. The remedy for the financial crisis was reforms - particularly on taxes and the labour market. With ambitious plans to restructure the health care system, to build up know-how and exports based on green energy, to strengthen the development policy. All building on freedom of choice and private initiatives. All in all same procedure as last year.

Easter/Passover Greetings

Paradoxical News wishes everybody the best possible Easter/Passover holidays - and a return with renewed energy next week. Sorry about the delay, but yesterday was a very long day. Enjoy the rest.

Meta-Comment No. 7

Nobody can find their way around the world without proper guidance. I, too, have had to rely on guidance from time to time. Still, being the nicest person, I think my navigator just lost his bearings - as well as his marbles. Whether knocked out by the Easter bunny or simply passed out during Passover - I hope he gets back on track again.

A Change of Guards

The mounted police was brought in to fence off members of the Danish press from the gates at the royal residence of Amalienborg. The reason was a change of guards in the Danish Parliament. Again...

With the adroit cat of PM Anders Fogh Rasmussen (V) away on several international missions (too paradoxical for Paradoxical News to cover), four new members of the present government were presented as Cabinet Ministers by the de facto PM Lars Løkke Rasmussen, The Liberal Party of Denmark (V):

• Lars Hjort Frederiksen (V) as new Minister of Finance (formerly Minister of Employment)
• Inger Støjberg (V) as new Minister of Employment and Gender Equality (formerly political spokesperson for The Liberal Party of Denmark)
• Karen Ellemann (V) as new Minister of Social and Internal Affairs (elected to the Danish Parliament in 2007, and daughter of former Minister of Foreign Affairs Uffe Ellemann-Jensen)

Don't tell me that Danish politics is boring. So here's my paradox for you: when do they actually start working in this mix up of cabinets and political process?

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

Financial Crisis At The Turning Point

The Danish treasury outside the Ministry of Finance

The Danish treasury is in a pitiful state - judging from a view of its contents. So sorry is the state that visitors take pity and empty their pockets during visits.

All of this week the Danish Broadcasting channel of DR2 has run a theme on the financial crisis, hosted by Clement Kjersgaard and Jes Stein Pedersen. Their paradoxical edge on the situation is: Kiss the crisis! (love the circumstances).

It seems to me that the more you talk about the crisis, the further it spirals downwards. Self-increasingly. Much like the confused chicken on the stock market. Perplexed. And the more people get stuck. Perpetually.

My paradoxical take on the crisis is this: If the situation gets worse simply by stressing it - why not stop it altogether by ignoring it? So today's Paradoxical News headline story is: 'The financial crisis is at the turning point'. The economy is in a perfect state. Thanks to the generous visitors at the treasury!

Political Mutiny

Democracy is not just out there with the people in Denmark. Danish democracy is really out there. Period. Whether a Prime Minister on the job hunt for the position as the next NATO Secretary General, members of the Social Liberals (B) creating new parties, or latest - the current Danish Minister of Social Welfare, Karen Jespersen (V) first defecting her original party, then defecting her Ministry - Danish politics is in a turmoil. What are voters supposed to think? They make a choice by way of voting. But with the overall tendency of political mutiny, my paradoxical question is this: what is the electorate really left with - if not choice?

Art & Money

Love the circumstances! This was the piece of advice given by self-taught artist, poster designer, scenographer - and much more - Per Arnoldi, when I interviewed him as part of my interview project. He has held worldwide expositions, successfully mixing art and money. Whether in hardship og success the piece of advice paradoxically stays the same: Just love it (and live with it). Probably easier to say after a lifetime of lucrative production and positition. But hey, just love the circumstances. Anyway.

For further information about Per Arnoldi, current exhibitions, picture downloads, please see:
http://www.arnoldi.dk/
http://www.nivaagaard.dk/?Home%26nbsp%3B

http://www.nivaagaard.dk/?Presse:Arnoldi%2C_fotomateriale

Women In Power

Today Anne Vang, a young political science student and a citizen representative in the Copenhagen City Council for The Social Democrats (A), received the Nina Bang prize for her political influence. The Nina Bang prize was conceived by former Social Democrat and Minister of Cultural Affairs, Jytte Hilden. And several present and former Social Democrat women were present at the event. Among them Lord Mayor Ritt Bjerregaard, vice president of the parliamentary group of the party, Mette Frederiksen, and spokes person in the Danish parliament for education, Christine Antorini. The two latter former Nina Bang prize honoraries.

The prize was named after the first woman to be elected to public office in the Copenhagen city hall in 1913, and the world's first appointed minister in The Social Democrat government under Thorvald Stauning in 1924. The event took place at the KVINFO centre, a research centre about women's history, litterature, and gender equality. At least prizes will make these women visible. To men who find it difficult to see them for appointments.

For further information see:
http://paradoxicalnews.blogspot.com/2008/10/surrounded-by-women.

The Difference Is the Byline

Writing one-sidedly is not difficult, nor rejectable. People do that all the time. Even journalists - working in communication and information positions. That's all good and fine. But to camouflage information and advertising as articles is something quite different. The difference is the sender. The difference is the byline.

Niche Integrity

People don't want to pay for news. They just want to be roughly informed. Hence the market of free newspapers. Hence the internet news publications. As a journalist, I can get well-paid offers writing one-sidedly about different issues. Or not. This brings me to today's journalistic paradox: why do so many uncritical magazines and publications emerge that employ journalists - where they could simply do with information people? Why do journalists occupy information people's positions at all? And why do information people occupy journalistic positions? An upside-down media world. Riding on a wave of ignorance.

Only those who truly want to get educated and wiser after reading news are willing to pay for a niche publication. Such are the conditions. And today's radio show about people and the media - people in the media, Mennesker og Medier with DR journalist Lasse Jensen, debated this with editor in chief of the weekly letter of Ugebrevet Mandag Morgen, Erik Rasmussen. Much like its counterpart - the weekly letter of Ugebrevet A4, published by the union and labour market player of LO - the weekly letter focuses on societal, economical, and political issues with thorough analyses each week. And has a readership of politicians, decision makers, and media people. The publication is not free - it is actually quite costly, with special offers for students. But some people are willing to pay for knowledge. Still.

Political Mice

When the cat's out the mice play on the table. Yesterday Simon Emil Ammitzbøll manifested himself through a vacant point of view. Formerly a Social Liberal (B), now more of a centered, constitutional liberal outside of parties after a nasty break up with party leader Margrethe Vestager, he had a political win through a niche political project: his suggestion to allow homosexual couples to adopt children on an equal basis as the rest of us won a majority vote in the Danish parliament. Even as a majority vote outside of the sitting government of The Liberals (V) and The Conservatives (C) and its supporting Right wing party (O). Simply because the joint opposition of The Red-Green Alliance (Ø), The Socialist People's Party (F), The Social Democrats (A), and The Social Liberals (B) gained support from six wild mice playing on the table, mainly Liberals voting against the government parties. Good for them. Good for Simon Emil Ammitzbøll. Good for the homosexual couples.

For a more elaborate overview of the political scene in Denmark, please see:

http://paradoxicalnews.blogspot.com/2008/10/cliff-notes-to-danish-politics

Tongue-tied and Slippery

Calling Naser Khader! Thank you for finally bursting the news. You know I was in on the rumour of your conservative shift weeks ago - but I chose not to follow the story, because you kept it zipped. Tongue-tied and slippery. This is the paradox of assuring backing for your story: you end up losing the story. Maybe this is why we see so many 'rumour dogs' in the industry? Not that easy being a fair journalist...

A Cat and Dog Press Conference

Today at the weekly press conference at the Prime Minister's Department practically every journalist had come to confirm the rumours about Anders Fogh Rasmussen's, The Liberal Party of Denmark (V), candidature for the upcoming position as the NATO Secretary General - or the like. And again today he wouldn't respond to hypothetical questions. The same adroit cat versus lethargic dog game as always.

What did happen - and what was reported by the Prime Minister was good news for the economically drained: as of June the public special retirement funds will be released for payment. And good news for the municipalities. Since the government plans to ease on the fixed ceiling for the initial expenditures for construction in the municipalities - i.e. for schools, nurseries, homes for the elderly. Good news from the viewpoint of particularly the opposition, first and foremost The Social Democrats (A), The Socialist People's Party (F), and The Red-Green Alliance (Ø). Although they would probably have preferred making this announcement themselves. But such is the paradox of being in opposition to an adroit cat.

Anders Fogh Rasmussen also commented at length about the gang violence in the streets of Copenhagen, with wild shootings of particularly immigrant youth gangs and Hell's Angels - fighting over the narcotics market. He condemned these shootings and violent attacks in strong terms, suggesting a government plan to stop these. Primarily through extended police presence in the streets, tougher punishment, extended possibility of expulsions, extended possibility of phone tapping, tougher parental injunctions - for instance liability to pay for damages - and extra preventive meassures to help immigrant youths out of the gangs. This will no doubt please the tough-on-crime government party of The Conservatives (C) and the supporting party of The Danish People's Party (O).

And as pointed out by a member of the press, there was even good news for Anders Fogh Rasmussen himself: He is soon to become a grandfather, and is looking forward to this new multitasking duty. All in all something for everybody. Except for the dogs.

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

An Off-Beat Film Producer

How do you become a successful film producer? You start by playing drums with limited talent. Today I interviewed the Zentropa film producer Peter Aalbæk Jensen. Believing in his own talent, he thought he would become a jazz drummer. After losing a fortune, he then got into the film industry by way of making video segments of Danish hit bands, just as the concept of music videos was new.

He found his talent, and more than twenty years later he found himself breathing through Cohibas and running the Zentropa film company, artistically headed by film director Lars von Trier - internationally known for Breaking the Waves, Dancer in the Dark, Europa among others. And for initiating the whole Dogma concept, where films were stripped from artificial effects down to an absolute essential minimum of natural light and sound.

Today, the off-beat producer Peter Aalbæk Jensen runs the company of Zentropa with a soft heart and hard head. He has introduced singing in the company in the morning, but is known for firing employees through text messages. He will play the drums on special occasions with friends - just for the love of it. Off-beat and with limited talent.

Compromise And Barter

I joined a group of journalists covering environmental and energy issues on a tour to the European Parliament and the European Commission this week. The talks were very informative - although everything seems to await the trialogue negotiations between the council, the parliament, and the commission end of March. And the pending white book on the issues this April. But what can you do as negotiator if you've bartered until the early hours of the morning - and then some East block representative wakes up and says Njet?

Environ-Mentally Speaking

Brussels looks the same as always: charming and ugly at one and the same time, with the wonderful narrow town houses, modern prestige buildings, and what seems to be permanent building sites all over the inner city. Such are the environmental conditions, and paradoxically no one is bothered by environment in the aesthetic sense of the word. Even European Parliament representatives joked about the ever redundant city plan.

A 20/20/20 Vision

Most people know what a 20/20 vision means - but environmentally speaking here comes the '20/20/20 by 2020 vision' from Brussels: it means that by 2020 there should be a 20 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (CO2), a 20 percent improvement in energy efficiency, and a 20 percent share for renewable energy sources in the EU energy mix.

An example of the scoring points through the CO2 quota system and the energy mix was given: if the Danish energy company of DONG were to construct a wind mill energy plant off the Bulgarian coast in the Black Sea - there could be scoring points along all three elements of the 20/20/20 vision. The company of DONG will score on the CO2 emission quota system. The Bulgarian state will score on the renewable energy goals. And the Belgium state could buy the renewable energy from the Bulgarian state through the inner open market in Europe - thus scoring on energy efficiency, because they could potentially buy the energy cheaper than would be the case if they were to build the energy plant themselves. And presto: the 20/20/20 vision is realized. Strengthening the whole European region in obtaining the overall UN goals from the Kyoto agreements.

Spring Package 2.0

So now the Spring Package 2.0 tax reform is realised - through the joint efforts of one side of the parliament, with The Danish People's Party (O) as the warrant for reliefs in the bottom taxes. The Socialist People's Party (F), The Socialdemocrats (A), The Danish Social Liberal Party (B), and Liberal Alliance (Y) gradually fell like flies over a period of only a couple of days. Paradox: Wonder why the sitting government didn't want to assure a broad compromise across the parliament, when it comes to long term tax reforms that will stretch beyond the current government period? Democracy is truly difficult.

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

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