Nevertheless we all feel that it is indeed very reasonable and important to ask ourselves how we should try to conduct our lives. The answer is, in my opinion: satisfaction of the desires and needs of all, as far as this can be achieved, and achievement of harmony and beauty in the human relationships. 
- Albert Einstein

The main character in Halldor Laxness’ book Independent People, Bjartur was intended to represent the psyche of a certain group of Icelanders. 

Bjartur’s priorities were to be independent at all cost. He was a sheep farmer who attributed his indepenence to his flock of sheep and his own piece of land. He mistrusted progress and with his attention firmly fixed on the sheep that made him independent, his family fell apart. 

Steingrimur J. Sigfusson, leader of the Left Greens and many within his party are prepared to stay so fixated on their sheep that they won’t care if their nation falls apart. Yesterday he blamed an “elitist one-minded media” for the EU becoming an issue as he entered talks with the Social Democrats about extending their co-operation. Atli Gislason, MP for the Left Greens said yesterday that he was absolutely against talks with the EU and said his party should form a government with other parties on the same line(i.e. the Independence Party).  

In today’s Frettabladid, columnist Gudmundur Andri Thorsson draws a clear picture if there ever was one. The EU is far from perfect but its main strenght is that it has avenues of discussion, means of co-operation and protection between nations.

Isolationism vs. conversation, where has the world been moving in the last millenia, one bloodbath after the other? 

Now the nation holds its breath. Are the Left Greens going to remain fixed on their own sheep or are they going to concern themselves with the satisfaction of the desires and needs of all. 

If they choose the former then the Iceland crisis will move from being mainly an economic one, into being a political one. 

But that is what I have predicted all along anyways.

Related posts:

1. Looking back on 2008 II: What is an Icelander?
2. The Independent Party made serious mistakes – but what about Samfylkingin?
3. Looking forward
4. Norwegian fetish
5. The price of being an Icelander