Reykjavík Grapevine - 04.05.2007, Side 8

08_REYKJAVÍK_GRAPEVINE_ISSUE 05_007_POLITICS/ELECTIONS
Why Should I Vote For Your Party?
Magnús Þór Hafsteinsson
The Liberal Party
The Liberal Party representa-
tive chose not to comment
on this question.
The Iceland Green Move-
ment – Islandshreyfingin
– is the only realistic politi-
cal alternative to the Socialist
Green Party VG. Provided,
that is, you fancy the unlikely
duet of Mother Nature and
Your Wallet.
We are not ashamed to
embrace market economy
solutions when it comes
to funding our welfare sys-
tem. We suggest lowering
our corporate tax to 12%
in three steps, which would make us the most competitive
in Europe by 2011, ½% below Ireland’s legendary but fully
legitimate tax environment, which has attracted a lot of foreign
companies and investment. Our plan is not only to benefit
Icelandic companies but to attract at least 6 new companies
of a medium global size before 2011.
To systematically ruin the valuable image of Green Iceland
seems highly unwise. To sink valuable untouched highlands on
the altar of Soviet-style heavy industry, puts a bold question
mark over the business acumen of our current government.
Not only is the price of the electricity in question so low that
it has to be kept a tight secret, but no price tag whatsoever
has been put on the land that was sacrificed in the process.
How about putting at least a temporary stop to the frantic
empowerment of aluminium smelters and perhaps, ad interim,
empowering green houses and the green values instead? It
seems to make a whole lot more sense for our country, our
people, our economy, our image, our current & future genera-
tions. Hence we confidently claim that green business is good
business. If you agree with us, vote X – I on 12 May 2007!
Jakob Frímann Magnússon
The Iceland Green Movement
Ármann Kr. Ólafsson
The Independence Party
The Independence Party
representative chose not to
comment on this question.
For the 2007 parliamentary elections, The Reykjavík Grapevine has been asking representitives from each of the political parties to answer questions regarding the most pressing issues.
The Progressive Party is a
social liberal party, which
fights for progress in soci-
ety on the basis of restrained
reform. The Progressive
Party will continue to ad-
vocate the development of
a strong economy with im-
proved working conditions
and competitiveness. That
policy has generated more
capital goods, job opportu-
nities and improved living
conditions than has ever
been known in the country. At the same time we’ve seen the
state treasury undergo considerable change, the state’s debts
are insignificant and the economy is stronger then ever before
in the republic’s history.
The Progressive Party also fights for equality and equal
opportunities. We fight for human rights and respect for the
individual and the family. We reject discrimination based on
race, gender, sexuality, residency or political opinions. We will
always respect freedom of speech, expression and religion.
Inequality is a human rights’ violation which wastes human
resources.
Sæunn Stefánsdóttir
The Progressive Party
Guðmundur Steingrímsson
The Social Democratic Alliance
The Social Democratic Al-
liance is the only political
party in Iceland with a pol-
icy that is on the one hand
aimed at freedom in trading
and modern trade practices
and on the other hand of-
fers a clear policy regarding
welfare issues. That is no co-
incidence. This is the model
our associating parties in the
other Nordic countries have
always emphasised.
For example, Iceland is
faced with countless waiting lists in the public health care
system, growing inequality, a regressive education system and
poorly maintained welfare benefit system. These examples
bare witness to how necessary it is to let the Social Democratic
Alliance participate in the government. The Social Democratic
Alliance is a welfare and equality party. Our business with the
Icelandic nation is therefore obvious. What we can learn from
the ruling coalition between the Independence Party and the
Progressive Party for the past 12 years is this: The parties who
pretend to be welfare and equality parties are not when it
comes to practicing what they preach.
It is important that voters figure out this deception. And
it is also important that voters don’t let established and partly
understandable sarcasm mixed with hopelessness control their
vote. The government’s wrongdoings and betrayed promises
might let one think that nothing matters in politics and there-
fore it’s alright to vote for whomever. But that couldn’t be
more wrong. The Social Democratic Alliance has never been
in government. Our task will be this: To show the country’s
inhabitants that we are a different kind of a party. We mean
what we say.
Katrín Jakobsdóttir
The Left-Green Movement
The Left-Greens will empha-
sise three issues in this elec-
tion. First, the environment.
It has never been more im-
portant to vote on environ-
mental issues than now.
The current government has
placed great importance on
building aluminium smelt-
ers and giant hydro-power
plants, resulting in damage
to the environment. Iceland
will soon match the US in
CO2 emissions per capita
if current proposals for continued aluminium smelting come
through, that is, 20 tons per person each year. Let’s change
the direction. Let’s develop an environmental protection plan
based on ideas for energy efficiency and create varied employ-
ment opportunities around the country.
Secondly, welfare and equality. The current government
has greatly increased collection in the welfare system. At the
same time, inequality has grown and the gap between rich
and poor has increased. The state’s tax income should main-
tain the welfare system and with the current status of the
treasury this should be easy. Priorities need to be changed.
Let’s strengthen the welfare system; it is the foundation of a
strong equal society.
Thirdly, gender equality. There is a 16% unexplained wage
difference between the sexes, despite laws against discrimina-
tion based on gender. This is unacceptable in the 21st cen-
tury. Men and women should have equal opportunity and
sadly the current government has done nothing to change
this situation. Let’s abolish wage secrecy and let the laws be
implemented.
The Independence Party has been in power for 16 years and
there is a real danger of a right-wing government for 4 more
years. Now we need to change priorities in politics. A vote for
the Left-Greens is the clearest way to demand change.