NationStates Jolt Archive

We know that the slogan "Nuke the unborn gay baby whales for Jesus" includes most of the pointlessly bickered-over issues in American politics: military spending, abortion regulation, homosexuality, environmentalism, religious extremism. We might add Israel and comparing things and people to Nazis. Now, no one but the Americans care about these. Yet Americans seem to assume these are the only political debate there is. We have resolved these issues, or some of them at least.

But, we can't complain unless we give better options what to talk about. What are the unborn gay baby whales in the the politics of your country?

In Finland, some people want us to join NATO, and even if only 16% of people support it, the subject floats. It's a "floater". Another one is alcohol, the holy propaganda cow (cf. cash cow) of nanny-statists. I think there are more.

What's the deal with alcohol?

Well in Canada we have our own ridiculous brand of Separatism and nice juicy financial scandals that reach all the way to the Primeministers Office. The religious right is trying to hijack the Gay Marriage issue but keep getting told to shut up by the remaining 80% of the population who are mature enough not to concern themselves with how people get their jollies.

Umm, here it's probably the EU, integration and gender equality at the moment. Alcohol, but that's a given, as already stated. Prostitution as well.

In Germany everyone is always talking about hte bad economic situation and either about that all politicians are iditiots or about the lack of confidence in politicians.
(and about that fact that THERE WILL BE premature (right word?) elections here in autumn.)

What's the deal with alcohol?
Traditionally, alcohol is extremely controlled and overtaxed. Most of the population supports a more lentient policy, but for some reason, policymakers have been able to keep the moralist policy going for decades after it should've been dead. For example, a tax of about 50 €/l used to be the norm before the EU intervened. It is still legal for a city council to ban the sale of beer.

Sweden, Norway and Iceland are pretty much the only countries in the world which are more, not less insane than Finland w.r.t alcohol regulation.

Traditionally, alcohol is extremely controlled and overtaxed. Most of the population supports a more lentient policy, but for some reason, policymakers have been able to keep the moralist policy going for decades after it should've been dead. For example, a tax of about 50 €/l used to be the norm before the EU intervened. It is still legal for a city council to ban the sale of beer.

Sweden, Norway and Iceland are pretty much the only countries in the world which are more, not less insane than Finland w.r.t alcohol regulation.

Considering that the Scandinavians were the terror of Europe for centuries (Vikings!!!) maybe they're afraid that if they let you have a tipple, you'll go and knock the Danes around a bit... or go take the russians out.

Considering that the Scandinavians were the terror of Europe for centuries (Vikings!!!) maybe they're afraid that if they let you have a tipple, you'll go and knock the Danes around a bit... or go take the russians out.


They will never be able to, we were Viking once as well (Denmark) and we have have plenty of cheap (compared to the other scandinavian countries) alcohol, and the sale is not state controlled as in sweden. So we are used to the strong drink. In Denmark, if you are really plastered, you are drunk as a Swede (due to the fact, that Swedes coming to Denmark, habitually has to take advantage of the cheap liquor and they can't hold their drink) :p

But to the topic of the thread. In Denmark it is Xenophobia/Immigration (Denmark has the toughest immigration laws in Europe), a public ban on smoking (as of now, smoking is prohibited in some public institutions like hospitals and state and municipal offices) and foreign labour coming from the newest member states of the EU.

I hope they don't join NATO - I take Geroge Washington's advice of avoiding "entangling alliances" of any nature (NATO, WTO, UN, EU, etc) quite strongly.

I hope they don't join NATO - I take Geroge Washington's advice of avoiding "entangling alliances" of any nature (NATO, WTO, UN, EU, etc) quite strongly.
Uh, which? Norwegians and Icelanders are already in the NATO. Iceland doesn't even have an army, and it's the worst nanny-state in the world. Denmark is also in the NATO, but didn't we agree that's not a problem.

Sweden's not in NATO because they're officially neutral, but in practice, they could join NATO faster than you can say "North Atlantic Treaty Organisation".

Finland isn't in NATO and isn't joining, because that Bushists' club of warlords can mind its own business.

Well in Canada we have our own ridiculous brand of Separatism and nice juicy financial scandals that reach all the way to the Primeministers Office. The religious right is trying to hijack the Gay Marriage issue but keep getting told to shut up by the remaining 80% of the population who are mature enough not to concern themselves with how people get their jollies.
Yep. That quite sums it up, eh, hoser.

Uh, which?.
I was talking 'bout Finland....sry for the ambiguity

Umm, here it's probably the EU, integration and gender equality at the moment. Alcohol, but that's a given, as already stated. Prostitution as well.
By the way - who crafted that policy of accepting a lot of immigrants? Why is Sweden so pro-"multiculturalism", as you wouldn't immediately assume it was by any external factors. There's Norway right next to them, why aren't they doing the same?

Uh, which? Norwegians and Icelanders are already in the NATO. Iceland doesn't even have an army, and it's the worst nanny-state in the world. Denmark is also in the NATO, but didn't we agree that's not a problem.

Sweden's not in NATO because they're officially neutral, but in practice, they could join NATO faster than you can say "North Atlantic Treaty Organisation".

Finland isn't in NATO and isn't joining, because that Bushists' club of warlords can mind its own business.

Hey, now... Most American Conservatives have a pretty healthy respect for Finland as a nation, incluiding their strong Neutral stance. It'd be nice if you guys were playing on our team, but at least you're not playing for the other guy! :D

Besides, Sako, Tikka... you guys make some of the best rifles in the world.

Hey, now... Most American Conservatives have a pretty healthy respect for Finland as a nation, incluiding their strong Neutral stance. It'd be nice if you guys were playing on our team, but at least you're not playing for the other guy! :D

Besides, Sako, Tikka... you guys make some of the best rifles in the world.
The problem is, that USA does basically what it wants in Nato. Norway, for example, was never consulted in some "Nato operations". The story in the modern age is that some "war presidents" (like Bush, Berlusconi, Blair) gather and attack a country under the banner of Nato. We don't want to support that, because we don't care about their wars.

Also, Nato is so not going to help us if the Russians attacked. The Western powers have a history in this, for example, in WW2. USA is not going to invest troops to help one small nation, as we have seen: USA was reluctant to do anything even when the entire Europe was threatened. But, joining Nato would mean the increase of military spending, with nothing to expect in return but shipments of coffins.

Partnership in peace is fine, because there are no major disagreements, and some common goals, such as co-operation in EU eastern border defence. Finland isn't playing for the terrorists. But, co-operation doesn't mean merger.

By the way, if Finnish troops caught for example Bin Laden, they couldn't hand him over to the Americans. The constitution forbids extradition to countries where the subject would be killed or tortured. This is the sort of dispute no one wants.