An election of bribers

Having been away from Denmark for 14 years I was very interested to get a chance to vote here in the upcoming parlamentary elections in Denmark. But I have to say the election is a joke.

In the last year I have folllowed the elections in Panama and the big one in the US. Both of them were covered by big issues. I am not saying they were perfect, but at least people had some big choices to make.

Panama needed to get rid of the most corrupt president since Noriega, find a solution to reform their pension and health care as well as deal with the outrageous spending of the past government.

The US was about the war in Iraq, Social Security and Tax reform. All big issues.

Denmark the election is about … who can write the biggest check to the elderly and families with children. All the economists are saying that it is the perfect time to reform the welfare society right now. Denmark is in Iraq with the US, that could also have been an issue. Lowering of tax is a definite important issue for everyone who works in the private sector. But no, who can write the biggest check.

I’m disgusted. I’m embarrassed. It reminds me of third world dictators like Noriega who used to go into poor areas throwing money to the people to ensure their support. This is not about democracy but about kleptocracy.

Denmark has an excellent economy and low unemployment despite the welfare state, not because of it. I often hear quoted (but I don’t know the real source) that the majority of Danish voters receive the majority of their income from the government. This does not only mean the people on the various pallettes of free money, but also public sector workers. Now maybe this is why the governing liberal party is also going down this route? Maybe they have seen that the only way to keep governing is to keep bribing as the majority live off the bribes.