Polls suggest Iceland's Pirate party may form next government

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Guardian

Polls suggest Iceland's Pirate party may form next government

Most analysts are confident that the radical democrats – in favour of legalising drugs and offering asylum to Edward Snowden – will win 18-20 MPs in October

Jon Henley European affairs correspondent

@jonhenley
Friday 12 August 2016 14.31 EDT

One of Europe’s most radical political parties is expected to gain its first taste of power after Iceland’s ruling coalition and opposition agreed to hold early elections caused by the Panama Papers scandal in October.

The Pirate party, whose platform includes direct democracy, greater government transparency, a new national constitution and asylum for US whistleblower Edward Snowden, will field candidates in every constituency and has been at or near the top of every opinion poll for over a year.

As befits a movement dedicated to reinventing democracy through new technology, it also aims to boost the youth vote by persuading the company developing Pokémon Go in Iceland to turn polling stations into Pokéstops.

“It’s gradually dawning on us, what’s happening,” Birgitta Jónsdóttir, leader of the Pirates’ parliamentary group, told the Guardian. “It’s strange and very exciting. But we are well prepared now. This is about change driven not by fear but by courage and hope. We are popular, not populist.”

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/aug/12/polls-suggests-icelands-pirate-party-form-next-government

[Bohemianwriter]

1. Iceland...

The little volcanic island where they imprison their criminal bankers instead of giving them secret speeches for $ 225 000 per gig after holding public, unelected office. The country who honors truth tellers rather than persecute them (to cover up crimes done by a former administration).

I am NOT ashamed of being related to them by blood and history.

BANKERS! BE WARE! THE VIKINGS ARE COMING TO GET YOU!

[Kablooie]

4. That's good except this is a banker's prison cell.

More:
http://www.visir.is/fancy-facilities--icelandic-banker-heads-to-prison/article/2015150229353

[Judi Lynn]

9. Oh, god. That should bring out the best in the taxpayers! What are they thinking?

Because these criminals are SUCCESSFUL criminals they should get special treatment?

[center][/center]
Jesus H. Christ.

I'm going to feel rancorous about this for a while!

[FrodosPet]

13. Hardwood floors WITHOUT area rugs?

And I bet the TV doesn't have premium channels!

They are living in positively barbaric conditions. Sure, they needed to be punished (like at least 10s of thousands of others around the world), but THIS?

[RonniePudding]

16. Nice

I love it when dumb arguments (the first post in this thread) are torpedoed by actual facts.

[Wednesdays]

2. Pirate Party? Then I guess

their campaign slogan is "Fifteen men on a dead man's chest," and their party leader is Long John Silver (Arrrrrr-Reykjavík)?

[jpak]

3. Much business at the Althing - R

yup

[StrictlyRockers]

5. I'm all for it.

I'm a pirate. Yarrrr!

[Spitfire of ATJ]

6. I remember when the Guardian wouldn't have used the word "radical".

[Wolf Frankula]

7. Shouldn't they be Vikings in Iceland?

Wolf

[Matthew28]

8. Hopefully, they will reduce the copyright laws

to only a few years...It is insane that these things can last so long.

Maybe invest more into education!

[Feeling the Bern]

10. Iceland looks like the place to live. Smart voters, geothermal power

No wonder the Vikings wanted to keep it hidden by calling it Iceland.

[Sienna86]

11. Fabulous.

Sounds like good values to me.

[FrodosPet]

12. Footage from the Pirate Party national convention

[FigTree]

14. Operating sentence here:

"citizens to be involved in the political decisions that affect them, with ordinary voters able to propose new legislation and decide on it in national referendums".
This would have to be clarified some, in particular with regards to the actual political structure (e.g. granularity and locality of said "political decisions&quot but this is the best way. It also has real chances of success due to the small size. I think the world's future cannot logically be bred otherwise.
Fictional example : https://www.amazon.com/Unforeseen-Nicolas-Prat-ebook/dp/B00LS6MOZY

[NotHardly]

15. I would totally move to Iceland just to be a member of a Pirate party... seriously

More so because of their platform regarding democracy, governmental transparency, etc. (Snowden would cause me pause...however). Seriously wonderful party. Those Icelandic folks know shat when they see it and respond appropriately, US, well we've got Trump. I'm thinking the air and water are better for one in Iceland than here in some parts of the US as the cause and effect of Trumpism vs Icelandic sense.