A Formal Introduction Or Something - me. new. sings well. ta

[genniva]

So, I'm new here.

I'm quite old, it seems (30-ish), and definitely from a wrong part of the world -- Estonia. Former Republic of the Sovier Union. Now what they call a Potato Republic (too cold for bananas).

I have this fascination with good old Soviet songs (anywhere to upload mp3s rescued in the nick of time from old scratchy LPs?). I absolutely love the Radio Rebelde (first station in years I can listen to even when sober!) as the mix of Exploited, U2 and Pete Seeger reminds me of my well and truly hectic teenage years;)

And yes, I'm a member of Estonia's one and only left-wing party. Sure, the one that got 660 votes at the last local elections (to make it into the city council, they would have needed about 6000 votes) but so what, we'll keep fighting and one day we will win!

[Field Marshal]

That's pretty cool. How are you guys trying to get more approval and support? What is the general political situation in Estonia?

[genniva]

After the USSR broke apart, the general political situation swung to the right so fast and far, I feared we're gonna fall off the map;)

However, as the Capitalist state has already sold everything they found a foreign buyer for (no more national electricity. no more national railroad. no more national seaports. all major newspapers belong to two Scandinavian media empires. wonder why they kept the army? no buyers?) and instead of a cozy bourgeois country we've got HIV, drugs, homeless people, muddled medical services, deteriorating education, fights between youths of different nations, nonexistent agriculture, foreign-owned industry, lots of taxes, international Mafia, and huge debts to dear Uncle Sam and his smaller European cousins -- and of course, the very few who can afford everything and don't hesitate to show it -- the Work Party of Estonia doesn't HAVE to do much. At this stage, we're slowly gaining recognition, expanding people's awareness, planning our own steps (it's easy to be Leftist in a functioning country, but Estonia is in deep s**t and it seems we're the only ones interested in wrenching it out again) but the present Government is doing our work for us: giving the people a taste of predatory Capitalism at its worst;)

As for me, personally, I'm fighting for the future. I'm a mother of three, and I want my children to grow up as self-respecting, free people, not as dirt-poor aborigines. While all the other political factions are bickering over child support money (everyone is for big payments while in the opposition but they all somehow find a reason not to raise any social security and child support payments when they get to the top, and vice versa. weird huh?) I'd suggest keeping the direct social security and child support payments at a sensible minimum and invest in free medical care for, at least, the very young and the very old, in schools both for kids and for senior citizens trying to keep up with the world (guess what, computer courses for seniors are wildly popular in Estonia!). I'd raise teachers' wages and state or municipal support to various hobby centers.

A Parliament representative of an ultra-Nationalist party said Estonia can't waste money on children because we need to entice foreign capital and these children will mostly grow up into no-good drugheads anyway. The way I see it, if all the Parliament thought that way, the best they could do would be donning white sheets and heading for the nearest cemetery. I want this country to have a future. And I'm going to do my d*mn all to give this country a future, to give my children and all children a life to look forward to.

[Goldfinger]

Welcome to the forums, mate! It's not often we see someone of your age here.

[Felicia]

Hey, there's another board member here from Estonia, Maaja. Welcome :)

[Ian]

You aren't that old, there are many members that are as old or older here.

[Panamarisen]

Quote: from genniva on 5:48 pm on Oct. 30, 2002
After the USSR broke apart, the general political situation swung to the right so fast and far, I feared we're gonna fall off the map;)

However, as the Capitalist state has already sold everything they found a foreign buyer for (no more national electricity. no more national railroad. no more national seaports. all major newspapers belong to two Scandinavian media empires. wonder why they kept the army? no buyers?) and instead of a cozy bourgeois country we've got HIV, drugs, homeless people, muddled medical services, deteriorating education, fights between youths of different nations, nonexistent agriculture, foreign-owned industry, lots of taxes, international Mafia, and huge debts to dear Uncle Sam and his smaller European cousins -- and of course, the very few who can afford everything and don't hesitate to show it -- the Work Party of Estonia doesn't HAVE to do much. At this stage, we're slowly gaining recognition, expanding people's awareness, planning our own steps (it's easy to be Leftist in a functioning country, but Estonia is in deep s**t and it seems we're the only ones interested in wrenching it out again) but the present Government is doing our work for us: giving the people a taste of predatory Capitalism at its worst;)

As for me, personally, I'm fighting for the future. I'm a mother of three, and I want my children to grow up as self-respecting, free people, not as dirt-poor aborigines. While all the other political factions are bickering over child support money (everyone is for big payments while in the opposition but they all somehow find a reason not to raise any social security and child support payments when they get to the top, and vice versa. weird huh?) I'd suggest keeping the direct social security and child support payments at a sensible minimum and invest in free medical care for, at least, the very young and the very old, in schools both for kids and for senior citizens trying to keep up with the world (guess what, computer courses for seniors are wildly popular in Estonia!). I'd raise teachers' wages and state or municipal support to various hobby centers.

A Parliament representative of an ultra-Nationalist party said Estonia can't waste money on children because we need to entice foreign capital and these children will mostly grow up into no-good drugheads anyway. The way I see it, if all the Parliament thought that way, the best they could do would be donning white sheets and heading for the nearest cemetery. I want this country to have a future. And I'm going to do my d*mn all to give this country a future, to give my children and all children a life to look forward to.



I´m very fond of dirt-poor aborigens... ;)

Welcome, genniva!

HASTA LA VICTORIA SIEMPRE!

[Popokatepetl]

I`m pretty new here too, but I want you a welcome from whole my heart. Never gave up!

[IHP]

welcome comrade

[Man of the Cause]

Welcome Comrade! Have Fun.