The revolution, which the media are silent Bashny.Net

Have you heard about what happened on October 23 in Iceland? Probably not. Do you know why you have not heard? Because October 23, there was a revolution in Iceland - absolutely peaceful but no less "revolutionary" than others. Which at the same time it showed how "dangerous" when "democratic procedures", which are so fond of saying the Liberals are controlled by the majority, not the minority, as usual. That is why a case in Iceland, silenced by the world media, literally disappears - because the last thing those in power all over the world would like - it's an example of Iceland to become really an example for other countries. But - all in order.

October 23 this year in Iceland held a referendum in which the new Constitution was adopted. This referendum - the final chord in the struggle waged by the people of Iceland since 2008, when Icelanders suddenly found out that the financial crisis of the country - a member of the European Union, among other things - literally bankrupt.

Continued under the cut ...





Suddenly, it was because of what happened after 5 years of prosperity, provided the "most effective" neo-liberal economy. Built on the fact that in 2003, all the country's banks were privatized, and in order to attract foreign investors they practiced online banking, which at minimum cost and a relatively high yield.
Indeed, the Icelandic banks have attracted many small British and Dutch investors, and everything went better than ever, and the economy (neo-liberal point of view) grew, bloomed and smelled. But there was, as usual, a caveat: the more to attract investment - and the faster growing foreign debt of banks. In 2003, Iceland's debt stood at 200% of GDP, and in 2007 was already 900%. The global financial crisis of 2008 was for the "thriving" economy of Iceland fatal blow. The three main Icelandic banks: Landbanki, Kapthing and -lopnuli and Glitnir was nationalized, and the krone has lost 85% of its value against the euro. And at the end of the year Iceland declared bankruptcy.

And then it is time to recall that Iceland - a democratic country. But first Icelanders decided to rely on "normal" representative democracy. A few months after the collapse of the Icelandic banks took to the streets to protest against the bankers that caused the crisis, and ignorant politicians who have allowed its development. Protests and riots finally forced the government to resign.

The elections were held in April 2009, on the results brought to power a left coalition, which on the one hand, immediately condemned the neo-liberal economic system, but on the other hand, immediately surrendered to the World Bank and the European Union to pay off debts of Icelandic banks in general the complexity of three and a half billion euros. This meant that each resident of Iceland for fifteen years would have to pay monthly
€ 100 - to pay off the debts of some individuals (bank owners) over other individuals.

This was too much even for peaceful Icelanders. And it led to quite extraordinary course of events. The idea that citizens have to pay for the mistakes of private financiers that the whole country should be packed tribute to repay private debt, was so unacceptable that spawned a new wave of mass protests. Who literally forced the leaders of Iceland to the side of the majority. As a result, President Olafur Ragnar Grimsson has refused to ratify the law passed by parliament that would make citizens of Iceland are responsible for the debts of Icelandic bankers, and agreed
to hold a referendum.

There was very characteristic of the "free world" reaction "international community" - in Iceland came under unprecedented pressure. Britain and Holland threatened - in the case of non-payment of debts of Icelandic banks to their citizens - the harsh economic sanctions, up to the total isolation of Iceland. IMF threatened to deprive any country of its assistance. The British government threatened to freeze savings and current accounts Icelanders. But Icelanders did not succumb to pressure, and the President Grimmson spoke as follows: "We were told that if we do not accept the terms of the international community, it will become the North Cuba. But if we agree, that would
Northern Haiti ».

The referendum was held in March 2010. It Icelanders decided not to return the money to foreign creditors - the UK and the Netherlands - 93% of the participants voted against the payment of bank debt. The IMF immediately froze lending. But Icelanders have been unstoppable. With the support of the citizens the government initiated civil and criminal investigations against those responsible for the financial crisis. Interpol issued an international warrant for the arrest of the former president of the bank Kaupthing Sigurdur Einarsson, bankers and others are also involved in the crash fled the country.

But that was not all. The Icelanders did not stop there - it was decided to adopt a new constitution that would free the country from the power of international finance and virtual money. At the same time the Icelanders wanted to write a new constitution for yourself together. And it worked! The draft Basic Law wrote 950 ordinary citizens selected at random (by lottery system) members of the National Assembly in 2010

To finalize the new constitution, the people of Iceland elected (already in the elections), the Constitutional Council, which included
25 citizens. Ordinary people - fishermen, farmers, doctors, housewives - were elected from among 522 adults who do not belong to any political parties, each of which recommended that at least 30 people.
And, according to the Russian "democratic" journalist Pavel Gingerbread in the article with the characteristic title "Every cook can write a constitution": "Especially emphasize that no one in Iceland indignant that it is impossible to read the 522 biographies of person and their political program, as well as to understand ballot, which listed the names of such a huge number of people ».

Then began finalizing the text of the Constitution and constitutional laws. To quote the same P.Pryanikova: "Well, then I advise you to use a system of crowdsourcing - the access of all people to their work. Proposals citizens going through "Facebook", "Twitter" and even "YouTube." Total of ordinary Icelanders received 3,600 comments on the work of the Council and 370 amendments to the Constitution. Each week, the Council published a new article on the Internet for public discussion. After two or three weeks, after seeing the proposals from the public and experts, the Council published the final version of the articles, which are then discussed again. In addition, members of the Council once a week recorded the story of his work and laid it on "YouTube" and their meeting could be broadcasted live on the Internet. At the end of all 25 members of the Council voted for the finalization of the Basic Law. "We, the people of Iceland wish to create a just society where each of us will have an equal place at the table," - these words begins the Constitution ».

In the comments members of the Constitutional Council recognized that the translation into foreign languages, the first sentence of the Constitution sounds a bit sloppy, but, in their view, it is clear to every Icelander and best reflects the desire to create equal opportunities for all. According to the draft Constitution, the natural resources of the island are exclusively public property. Of particular interest is an article titled "Public information and truthfulness", which obliges the government to keep in the public domain, all working documents, if they are not a state secret. Also, the Constitution requires the government to work for the benefit not only of man, but of the Earth and the biosphere. A separate article enshrines the rights of animals.
The groundbreaking document was a place for a very archaic rules, excluded from most of the European Constitution. For example, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Iceland maintains state status.

It is worth noting one important for the further development of events nuance. Constitutional Council in its composition proved to be, as they say now, "evrosotsialisticheskim." And not so much because the majority of Icelanders leftist, as a result of a rather short-sighted and simply foolish behavior of Icelandic law: before the former power, "Progressive Party" and "Independence Party" called on their supporters to boycott the election of the Constitutional Council and the work on the Constitution, and their voters did so. As a result, in the Council and in the text of the new Constitution of the effect of the right and the conservatives were minimal.

Thus, as a result of the cumulative effects of both objective and subjective factors, most surprisingly master of the situation - and the Constitutional Council, and among participants in the development of the Constitution among the voters in a referendum. And the result is so "exceeded expectations" that for more than a month, the world's leading media eloquently silent on the outcome of the Icelandic national referendum on October 23 at which the draft Constitution approved more than 80% of Icelanders with a turnout of 66%.

Well, you understand? Value to allow the majority of the development and adoption of the Constitution and constitutional laws as instead of privatization as a panacea for all the ills of the economy "has turned" nationalization of resources, rather than state secrets - openness, instead of strictly representative democracy - the elements of direct democracy.

And God forbid (in terms of neoliberal governments around the world) will follow Iceland's example to other countries. After all, today the same decision that Iceland
2 years ago, offered to other nations. The people of Greece said that the privatization of the public sector is the only solution. The same is said to Italians, Spaniards and Portuguese ...
What if they follow the example of Iceland? Scary to think ...

But this is! Many of our travelers who hinder cultural rest continually striking "European pig» (PIGS - a common designation of the four countries of the European Union on the verge of bankruptcy: Portugal (P), Italy (I), Greece (G), Spain (S)), pay It notes that on many banners for some reason, often referred to Iceland. But these trifles news programs also fail to mention - they are interested importantly - on what conditions these "pigs" graciously agreed to take the proposed loan to repay the debts of private banks burst.

That's why you knew nothing about the Icelandic referendum - the world's media pretend that nothing happened. After all, the media, as well as the government, as well as parliaments also represent the interests of the ruling class, which - in any country - oh how profitable that most were allowed to manage.

But for all those who are closer to the interests of the majority and who care about true democracy, Icelandic history - it's a lesson. Organized majority.
Direct democracy. Real implementation of the rights of the majority. People's law-making and the electorate. Total order, without which true democracy is impossible in principle.

the text is not mine. I'm sorry, the link to the source is not preserved.

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