[voodoo]

Bill had a hot dog with my brother and Hillary and McCain have been meeting with the Icelandic govt. to affirm their decision to keep some kind of military presence in Iceland. McCain had a swim in the Blue Lagoon and had a silly photo taken of him









Icelanders go nuts

[Logic]

Both McCain and Clinton has said that there is much the US can learn from Icelanders.


Sorry, just had to share that with you.......

[Logic]

Oh, and a question for the lawyers here on macnn. Do you really learn about Iceland and the Althing when studying? Clinton said he had learned about it when he studied law in the US.

[Spliffdaddy]

Originally posted by Logic:
Both McCain and Clinton has said that there is much the US can learn from Icelanders.


Sorry, just had to share that with you.......

blasphemer.

[macvillage.net]

Originally posted by voodoo:

If he ever tries to run for president again... this one will be used against him.

McCain having an afair overseas.



Hot pix on page 6.

[MacGorilla]

Hilary in Iceland? isn't the country cold enough already?

[zigzag]

We need to reduce our dependence on foreign ice.

[lil'babykitten]

I bet that's the most people Iceland has ever had there.

[macvillage.net]

Hilary's hair is starting to look more and more like Jimmy Carter.

[voodoo]

All the presidents that matter have visited Iceland. Nixon for instance


May, 1973

---------


And Reagan + Gorbachev in Reykjavík 1986

Good times.

[spacefreak]

Originally posted by Logic:
Both McCain and Clinton has said that there is much the US can learn from Icelanders.

Do you have a link? I'm wondering in what context they meant by that.

From what I've read about Iceland, you guys have some pretty cool systems there. The problem with bringing elements of it to the states is that we are so damn big.

My county has a larger population than your entire nation (633,000 vs. 294,000) . While certain Icelandic-influenced programs and initiatives could conceivably be implemented in my county , trying to project those amongst my entire state (or the entire nation) would be a practical nightmare in numerous ways.

Good for Iceland that your population is so small. It enables your nation to do more things (social programs) and experiment more easily.

[Logic]

Originally posted by spacefreak:
Do you have a link? I'm wondering in what context they meant by that.

From what I've read about Iceland, you guys have some pretty cool systems there. The problem with bringing elements of it to the states is that we are so damn big.

My county has a larger population than your entire nation (633,000 vs. 294,000) . While certain Icelandic-influenced programs and initiatives could conceivably be implemented in my county , trying to project those amongst my entire state (or the entire nation) would be a practical nightmare in numerous ways.

Good for Iceland that your population is so small. It enables your nation to do more things (social programs) and experiment more easily.

No link, heard it on the radio. It was about the way we use renewable energy. We are starting to use hydrogen buses(first country in the world) and then we also use geothermal energy a lot. We are the most energy hungry nation in the world IIRC and therefore we've had to build up a first rate system for creating and developing energy. But even if we are small we are only 2.5pers/km2 which means we have also had to develop a good system to deliver all the energy to all our villages and towns.

Then of course it is how we use the energy that is also off interest. I would write something more but I'm a bit irritated at the moment because of something at work. If there is anything more you want to know and any specifics feel free to ask.

[dreilly1]

Is that Bjork?

[Dr.HermanG.]

Looks like Tammy Faye Bakker.

[Dr.HermanG.]

Look! Monica shows up for the book signing!

[soul searching]

Originally posted by Dr.HermanG.:
http://mbl.is/frimg/1/77/177375A.jpg

Look! Monica shows up for the book signing!

So, it's true that she's lost a lot of weight

[macvillage.net]

Originally posted by spacefreak:
From what I've read about Iceland, you guys have some pretty cool systems there. The problem with bringing elements of it to the states is that we are so damn big.

That's not totally true.

It's not the size, it's the beurocracy. It takes years to get the ball rolling on anything because of parties bickering. If 1 is for it, regardless 1 has to be against it. If nothing else than because the other is for it.

The US can do quite a few things quickly. during the great depression the US revolutionized the idea of social services very quickly (in scale). And that was before technology could do paperwork quickly.

If the US really wanted to, we might not be as fast as the much smaller Iceland, but we could be pretty damn quick if needed.

It just seems the bickering slows us down more and more often.

Your right though, Iceland is a great case study.

Way back when Geneva used to be the case study for society. A prime example when everyone else was very primitive. Guess where many social services our government does originated? Geneva. It was an oasis in europe at the time... and eventually everyone caught on. If you were alive in the 14-16th century, that's where you would have wanted to be.

Another modern example I'd say is Tokyo. With the world's rising populations Tokyo is the most prepared to handle this future epidemic. From sewage handling, to building (even with the environmental conditions they face), a prime example...

and we do learn from them. Lots of civil engineers go there to study what they did. Problem is lots of their designs are quite radical and different (mostly because of quakes, and design changes to help), thus not easily accepted. But we still take a lot from them. You see it more and more in building design.

[spacefreak]

Originally posted by Dr.HermanG.:


Look! Monica shows up for the book signing!

[spacefreak]

Originally posted by macvillage.net:
It's not the size, it's the beurocracy.

These are directly related. There will always be more beauracracy (in a democratic society) in a land of 300,000,000 versus a land of 230,000.

[Logic]

Originally posted by spacefreak:
These are directly related. There will always be more beauracracy (in a democratic society) in a land of 300,000,000 versus a land of 230,000.

Hey! We are 290k!




Actually the fact that we are so few drives up all development cost since everything we do is spread over much fever tax payers compared to the larger nations.

[CRASH HARDDRIVE]

Originally posted by spacefreak:
*Clinton book-signing*

[macvillage.net]

Originally posted by spacefreak:
These are directly related. There will always be more beauracracy (in a democratic society) in a land of 300,000,000 versus a land of 230,000.

Doesn't need to be more beuracracy.

Beuracracy is created by inefficiency (which it essentially) and politics. Not democracy.

It's doesn't scale to population, it scales with politics.

There's a reason why congressional productivity goes in cycles... it's relative to elections. Get stuff done to get in the media. Hold stuff up so you have something to sign during the media blitz. Every politician does it.

That's just one tiny example.

When Bush is campaigning... is he doing his presidential duties? How about when writing his speaches? Meeting with campaign advisors? How about Kerry and his Senate Duties?

Just another tiny example.

Problem with America is that we let this stuff happen.


America could definately streamline it's act... but it would take a constitutional ammendment to create a document essentially outlining the rules of politics.

From preventing holdups in passing bills, to campaign rules for individuals holding office, to performance requirements.

Problem in the US is we really don't look for performance. We look for sensational headlines, and politicians making promises.

Look where America is focusing this election: religion, military service.

Now why is that? Could it be because there are two procrastinating individuals running for president?

Even the election is just beurocracy. Look how they are taking stabs at the issues! They aren't. They are fudging around wasting time attacking each other until right before elections, when kerry goes to the senate to sign off on lots of things, and propose something... while BUsh goes back to the whitehouse to sign some papers and shake some hands.

Then off to the polls we go. Keeping the tradition alive.


It's not democracy's fault. It's beurocracy. What's needed is reform, performance requirements, and consequences. Right now we have none.

First thing we should learn from Iceland is efficiency.

You know how much the US would save if it operated quicker and more efficiently?

[Dr.HermanG.]

How big is Iceland again? How many individual states does Iceland have? How many ethnic groups? Did Iceland fight a civil war that caused mistrust between large areas of the country?

[voodoo]

Originally posted by Dr.HermanG.:
How big is Iceland again? How many individual states does Iceland have? How many ethnic groups? Did Iceland fight a civil war that caused mistrust between large areas of the country?

1. About 100000 sq km
2. None, it is a country not a union.
3. One ethnic group consists of 99.9% of the population.
4. Yes, 800 years ago.

[macvillage.net]

Originally posted by Dr.HermanG.:
How big is Iceland again? How many individual states does Iceland have? How many ethnic groups? Did Iceland fight a civil war that caused mistrust between large areas of the country?

That's really not relevent in these type of improvements.

You don't see the nation balking at many previous social improvements, such as the deployment of social security, or the various plans created during the great depression. All the above said problems were in place then. The south was still segregated. But the nation joined together to adopt them.

Same with the widespread polio vacinations. You didn't see the southern asian seniors (how many more can we fit into 1 group) protesting the erratication of smallpox either.

Problem is the US stopped all this when the cold war became the focus.

Meanwhile, the rest of the world was looking at things like welfare, social security, federal healthcare, and improving on the concepts. They had a good 30-40 years to refine and try these things. With quite a bit of success.

The disadvantage is the US missed out on a lot (a whole generation lost out)... But the advantage is we can look at what happened and adopt the better things.

In Europe and Asia healthcare is improving. In the US, it's becoming harder to get. Were shown statistics of more people qualifying for healthcare... but they don't make it very prominant how many no longer qualify for any. That ultimately hurts us all. Something other parts of the world realized years ago. It's very costly for us as a nation to have uninsured people walking the streets. Everything from lawsuits to disease transmission is effected.

But that's just 1 issue. There are really dozens, actually hundreds. From small projects/services, to largescale things.

Some countries used to require military training for all young men (if you served or not, you trained). Some did women too. When some countries stopped this, they realized something: for years lots of people had training to deal with emergency's, from CPR, to trama. They were able to provide aid until rescue personnel arrived. When this training stopped... less and less people knew these techniques.

America partially adopted the solution (health class), although America's fix wasn't fully implemented. It barely touches anything. It's a very general overview into all the topics it tries to touch. It's had some success in curbing the teenage pregency rate. It's had some success in training teens for emergencies. But it could be much better if it was started much younger. Some communities do this (I had CPR training in daycamp when I was about 9 or 10... by the time I was 15 and became I lifeguard, I didn't need to crack open the book. Scored 100 on the guard exam, 94 on the cpr exam). But it's not a widespread thing.


There are dozens of programs like this.

One that the US does lead in is preventing tobacco from advertising in public places (and a small drop [some debate] in teens adopting smoking)... starting to catch on in Europe now, where companies like Samson can't advertise at concerts anymore.

But that's one small program. We can do much better. No question about it.

[voodoo]

Clinton waves good-bye to Iceland

[Dr.HermanG.]

Originally posted by macvillage.net:
You don't see the nation balking at many previous social improvements, such as the deployment of social security, or the various plans created during the great depression. All the above said problems were in place then. The south was still segregated. But the nation joined together to adopt them.

No because we are balking at them now seeing how we are being ripped off to support the able and lazy.

Same with the widespread polio vacinations. You didn't see the southern asian seniors (how many more can we fit into 1 group) protesting the erratication of smallpox either.

Problem is the US stopped all this when the cold war became the focus.

Heaven forbid we pour resources into something that benefits everyone.

Meanwhile, the rest of the world was looking at things like welfare, social security, federal healthcare, and improving on the concepts.

Because they didn't have to foot the bill for their own defense.

[Logic]

One of few articles in English that I've stumbled upon.

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansas...9486824.htm?1c

[Logic]

Originally posted by Dr.HermanG.:
Because they didn't have to foot the bill for their own defense.

Like Sweden? It is completely possible to do all the things McV mentioned as well as "foot the bill" for a nations own defences.