The last Stalinist state
热度 3已有 381 次阅读2010-7-1 19:34
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No, we are not talking about North Korea. We are talking about the Kingdom of Norway.
The latest shock of how long the government is stretching its arm came in the form of the following incident:
Three Norwegians flew to Cyprus for holiday. They booked a mini-cruise which would take them from the port of Limassol to the Greek island of Rhodes. When they were about to pay for the trip at the travel agency, they found out that NONE of their credit cards were accepted. The reason however, is not what you would generally assume: denied credit cards due to maxed out expenses. It was quite simple. The cruise boat has slot machines and other gambling terminals on board, like many many other cruise boats in Europe. And the government has recently introduced a law of denying the use of Norwegian credit cards (VISA, MASTERCARD) on any foreign facilities involving gambling that is not approved in Norway.
Mind you, my friend, this has nothing to do with that gambling is considered evil and the government wants to make sure you are not involved in it - that's a topic that deserves attention of its own.
In fact, Norsk Tipping, which is the largest gambling/betting state owned lotto company in Norway, has commercial rights and air time on both TV and the radio. The Norwegian Red Cross has thousands of slot machines and gaming terminals across the country to secure billions of kroner from the players, to be used for supposedly good cause, including that for people with gambling addiction.
You see? It's not so backward-ish here. Gambling is allowed in this country. The difference, is that the government wants to make sure you are not gambling abroad. And Good lord, how terrible would THAT be!
Measures in place so far include banning all online games and casinos, and banning the use of credit cards for online games if you live in Norway. The latest fiasco, is the law that came in effect above. So regardless exactly where and how you want to spend your hard earned money, as long as SOMETHING there is connected to gambling, you can forget about using your credit cards.
I'm sorry but I don't buy the "government-is-doing-this-for-your-own-good-so-you-don't get-addict-to-gambling" crap, Or the "of-course-you-can-use-your-credit-cards-as-long-as you-avoid-the-places/establishments/cities/countries that-are-connected-to-gambling" nonsense. People who believe in the latter should move to North Korea or 1984.
This is my money! Whether I want to spend it on Norsk tipping or a casino in Monaco which is totally out of the jurisdiction of the Norwegian government, is MY decision to make! I'm not a gambler myself but I must defend the right of every game player.
So the Swedes are right. Norway IS the last Stalinist state in Europe. You need more proof?
And the Norwegians, please, do yourselves a service. GET RID OF THIS LABOUR GOVERNMENT IN THE NEXT ELECTION!!!