I always questioned the motives behind the media laws that were proposed by David Oddson and the Independence Party in 2004. But then again, I have never understood those who claim that there is such a concept as a “free press”. Any media must in reality somehow reflect its owners, not just in how it [...]

When I was a student at a university in the US, the women’s soccer coach was fired from his job for pushing a player. This despite his record of leading the team to the final four in consecutive seasons. This was eight years ago and he still hasn’t been able to find another job as [...]

This week Arni Johnsen, MP for the Independence Party arose from his bought and paid for seat in Althingi and said that “The EU is a new Soviet”. Almost noone paid much attention and those few who did said, “Arni is an old criminal”. Bjarni Benediktsson was against EU membership, then for EU membership, then [...]

“The whaling industry, like any other industry, has to obey the market. If there is no profitability, there is no foundation for resuming with the killing of whales.” Einar K. Guðfinsson, former Minister of Fisheries, Iceland, 2007 Why is Iceland still pursuing whaling? Are Kristjan Loftsson’s interests bigger than the one of the Icelandic nation? [...]

Four days after a one-way interview in Morgunbladid where David Oddson tried to throw his own light on history with information that turned out to be false at further examination it is clear that the man himself is the single most destructive element ever to hit Iceland. The privatization of the banks was supposed to [...]

When the banks were privatized just after 2000, Landsbankinn was sold to the Samson group for 11 billion ISK. The official explanation was that the team of Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson, his son Bjorgolfur Thor and their business partner Magnus Thorsteinsson had the money and suficcient know-how. The real explanation was that after the Progressive Party had [...]

The worst thing to come out of the Icelandic economic miracle was the upper-class that all of a sudden existed out of nowhere. Private jets were a rarity in Iceland before 2000, in 2007 they were the preferred ride of bankers, businessmen and politicians. Only a few oddballs and gays had heard of Philip Starck [...]

The obvious fact about Gunnar Birgisson is that he is an Independent Party old timer. He is so corrupt that he is absolutely sure he isn’t. Earlier this week Deloitte delivered a report chastising the business directed towards Gunnar’s daugther during his time as Kopavogur’s mayor. The business she received from the Icelandic Student Loan [...]

The Independence Party celebrates its 80th birthday this year. I would say happy birthday but I really wouldn’t mean it so I won’t. I have voted for the party in one election to the parliament and one election for the city council. I will never vote for the party again. Why did I vote for [...]

Bankers, politicians, regulators, top officials of the government and the central bank, were all inter-connected, therefore grossly undermining independence and adequate regulation of the banking and financial system. People in positions of power were typically chosen based on their political background and “connections” rather than their economic or financial expertise. Most notable of course was [...]