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privacy be damned in the socialist utopia that is norway
Published Oct. 26, 2009Views: 231
Norwegian officials have released tax records for 2008 to the media under a law designed to uphold the country's tradition of transparency. The release of these official records shows the annual income and overall wealth of nearly every taxpayer in Norway.
Would you want your tax records exposed for all to see?
Is this necessary to maintain transparency and the distinctly Scandinavian custom of egalitarianism?
FROM the AP article:
Lutefisk and loot: Tax records open in Norway
OSLO – It's the moment nosy Norwegian neighbors have been waiting for — the release of official records showing the annual income and overall wealth of nearly every taxpayer in the Scandinavian country.
In a move that would be unthinkable elsewhere, tax authorities in Norway have issued the "skatteliste," or "tax list," for 2008 to the media under a law designed to uphold the country's tradition of transparency.
It's Norwegians' way of keeping up with the Johansens — from fishermen on the western fjords and Sami reindeer herders in the north to members of the committee that awarded President Barack Obama the Nobel Peace Prize.
To non-Scandinavians, it would seem to be a gross violation of privacy.
<SNIP>
"What each Norwegian earns and what you have in wealth is a private matter between the taxpayer and the government," said Jon Stordrange, director of the Norwegian Taxpayer's Association.
Besides providing criminals with a useful tool to find prime targets, he said the list generates playground taunts of my-dad-is-richer-than-your-dad.
"The children of people with low wages are being teased about it in the schools," Stordrange said Thursday. "People with low salaries are being met with comments at the grocery store, 'How can you live on these low wages?'"
The information had been available to media until 2004, when a more conservative government banned the publication of tax records. Three years later, a new, more liberal government reversed the legislation and also made it possible for media to obtain tax information digitally and disseminate it online.
Norway's 2007 law emphasized that "first and foremost, it's the press that can contribute to a critical debate" on wealth and the elaborate tax scheme that, along with the country's oil wealth, keeps Norway's extensive — and expensive — welfare system afloat.
The country of 4.8 million people had the third-highest income tax among industrialized countries in 2007, behind Denmark and New Zealand, according to the latest statistics from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.
<SNIP>
Most other Europeans, including residents of Britain, Italy and the Netherlands, have very different attitudes toward transparency and privacy and would be horrified at such a setup. Last week, the Spanish government for the first time released information on how much each Cabinet member is worth, but data on ordinary citizens is still private.
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Filed under: Human Interest
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2) They WANT it to happen here."
I can agree with you on #1 but #2 not so much. I don't see anybody really pushing for that.
GOLO member since June 16, 2009
October 27, 2009 11:16 a.m.
I actually wish they would.
GOLO member since June 16, 2009
October 27, 2009 11:09 a.m.
GOLO member since September 11, 2008
October 27, 2009 6:53 a.m.
when someone says: oh what do you/they do? It's a ploy to see how wealthy you are.........
that's really all people care about...... {and even though prometheus is a douuchepacker, he/she still has a funny blogg today}
GOLO member since April 8, 2009
October 27, 2009 6:33 a.m.
2) They WANT it to happen here.
Kinda sad, actually."
The elitists would make an exemption for themselves...
years ago, I worked at a place where the salaries of all employees was "accidently" posted on our intranet...talk about a shiitstorm...that thing went viral in a matter of minutes!
GOLO member since August 22, 2007
October 26, 2009 9:29 p.m.
--------
Indeed, OS.
GOLO member since April 24, 2008
October 26, 2009 8:49 p.m.
ROFL, ask Black and Easley"
I can find out exactly how much "salary" they were paid, what they keep from the public has. . . well, caught up to them.
GOLO member since February 22, 2008
October 26, 2009 8:49 p.m.
1) They don't think it can happen here.
2) They WANT it to happen here.
Kinda sad, actually.
GOLO member since July 17, 2007
October 26, 2009 7:53 p.m.
GOLO member since July 6, 2007
October 26, 2009 7:24 p.m.
ROFL, ask Black and Easley
GOLO member since July 2, 2007
October 26, 2009 7:13 p.m.
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