Politics that is missing – The Liberal
Last year was characterized by global crises, both for people’s finances and security. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine brought immediate war back to Europe, and high inflation tightened people’s finances.
It is quite natural that the political debates in the media revolve around the economy, aid and tax policy. In the years before, the debates also revolved around grants and tax policy, but then with the explanation that businesses and private employees did not at all as a result of the corona pandemic and write-downs. So what about the years before? Much the same theme, but with different reasons for why the economy and tax policy were at the top of the priority list. One would almost think that the most important theme in one of the world’s most purchasing power populations is increased wealth.
Put in isolation, it is of course fine that people are busy with their private finances, and not least it is good for the state budget when as many people as possible manage to be financially independent. Financial independence is in practice not a problem for most people, even if poverty is still mentioned as a priority effort based on the poverty line, which takes into account relative poverty.
The reality is that politics is more than just economics, and then we have to look up to check that our legislation is up-to-date in areas that deal with personal freedom. I am talking about value politics, which can for example be legal provisions for lifestyle, sexuality, drug use, sex trafficking, gambling, freedom of speech, behavior in public space, activity on holidays, etc. The assessment of what is modern and at the same time sustainable legal provisions should be seen in connection with current legislation in countries similar to Norway. Countries similar to Norway are not only limited to other Nordic countries, but e.g. also all countries with German culture such as the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland and Austria. All of these are characterized by being resourceful, stable democracies, and the transfer of experience to Norway will be worth its weight in gold for a mapping risk resulting from one specific change in law.
It is not quite it is true that value policy is not discussed in the major media, but the debate is preferably limited to dealing with sexuality and immigration. Freedom of choice in the use of services is also discussed, but is so linked to market economics that I consider it a type of economics debate. Some examples of debates that are outside the Norwegian framework, but which are at the same time well-proven policy in countries similar to Norway, are private casino operations, brothels, wine sales in shops, shops open on public holidays or at night and pubs. Thinking that it should be high speed (130 km/h) on Norwegian motorways built according to European standards has also been completely remote for Ola Nordmann inn Liberalistisk Ungdom ble competition for the Debate on NRK. In Denmark, this is the current top speed for the best motorways.
At a time when all information is readily available on the Internet and young people are exposed to new ideas and cultures through education and careers, there is good reason to believe that demand will increase for a continental, free-spirited value policy as long as it can be proven that it does not lead to the downfall of society. And this is information that can be easily gathered with today’s distances and cooperation across national borders.
So why is already provocative liberal thought material not covered in the major media’s debates, when there is so much reason to believe that many young people want a renewal? This can of course be due to political control of the debate, i.e. that the boundary-breaking free-spiritedness found in continental standards is filtered away because the big media houses consider the opinions harmful to society. Another possibility is that the media houses do not know the actual opinions and attitudes of the younger generations because they are very reserved compared to the generations before them. The undersigned knows of several young adults who live a double life in order to satisfy their own family, where the family believes that the child is much more diligent and polite than is actually the case.
In conclusion, it is important to point out that the younger part of democracy has a responsibility to be honest about its positions, and also not to use Germany as an example when the accusations of anarchist conditions come (because they come). No one can claim with integrity that Denmark is a country out of control because adult Danes are allowed to gamble and party until six in the morning. At the same time, Norwegian politicians MUST relate to Europe, and realize that in practice they are competing for good workers and employers with other liberal democracies. The recent flow of refugees to Switzerland among Norway’s richest confirms that it is a limit of tolerance, and there is reason to believe that this applies to value policy as well as economic policy.