Equitable budget for whom?

The Swedish opposition led by party leader Mona Sahlin and finance expert Pär Nudar announced this week an alternative budget cutting down wealth and property tax benefits introduced by the conservative Alliance government, and restoring low union fees and longer unemployment payment period. In addition, the retirees are promised a pension raise. The Socialists claim that the conservative Alliance' budget has made the rich, richer and the poor, poorer. That it has created a more inequitable distribution of wealth.

Let us dissect both budgets and see where inequities lie. Tax reduction under the conservative Alliance became visible within its first year in power and many wage earners - from high income to low income, saw the difference in their pay checks. That was swift fulfillment of an election promise. The downside was, union fees rose dramatically , in particular membership fees to the unemployment insurance. Those two alone ate up most of the 1000 Swedish crown tax relief. For those in the service sectors, the increased union and unemployment insurance membership fees became a heavy burden for already tight household budgets.

Then the Alliance - seeking to reform an over-exploited welfare state system- forced unemployed and long-term sick leave beneficiaries to go back to work, by cutting down on unemployment insurance benefits. Tax reduction incentives (jobbavdrag) means tax reduction applies only to those with jobs. That's about 30 out of 38 billion crowns for the first step tax reduction, according to an SvD report.(SvD, 6 Oct. 2007)

The Socialist opposition criticised the work tax incentive as "creating inequities in the society and affects those who stand outside the labour market". And now, the opposition parties are saying no more to a next-step 11 billion crown job tax reduction benefit. Where is the injustice here? It creates a strong motivation to work. There is always work to be found for those who will not live forever as social welfare parasites, nibbling at the taxes paid by the hard-working productive members of society. Look at the Vietnamese refugees who came to Sweden in early 1980s- who simply started their small businesses and sent their children to higher education. The same goes for other Asians like the Thais who set up restaurants and specialty shops. They did not get any government subsidies to get started.

We have to admit in all honesty that the thieves and parasites of the welfare state system have increased their tribes, in proportion to the generosity of the Socialists distribution of taxpayers' money. Although the sudden fee increases introduced by the conservative Alliance made instance chock, in the longer run, curing the Swedish society of a malignant welfare dependency sickness is more acceptable and just. The only thing that they have truly missed out, and for which the Socialist opposition has seized upon, was the proposal to raise pension. Here lies true injustice, when the larger population of retirees in Sweden - who have already paid taxes while actively working, should be taxed as high as 30 percent. But the Socialists' proposed 2000 crowns raise over a one-year period is pittance and pure cosmetic.

The other items in the Socialists' alternative budget are just refrains from an old song grown weary from repetition. If Sahlin and company want to spread egalitarianism, by all means do so via increased productivity and not through dole-outs. And definitely not at the cost of other people's sweat.#

Selling Sweden

In the Sept. 26 issue of Dagens Nyheter came an article about a film on how best to promote the Swedish trademark abroad. A film entitled "Sweden - open skies, open minds" will be premiered on Tuesday, Oct. 2. It will be a 4 minute, 33 second fast-moving documentary showing a visual and emotional experience of Sweden, the news release said. The promotional film under the sponsorship of the Swedish Institute and the Authority for the Promotion of Sweden Abroad, intends to use it in various official occasions "to strengthen Sweden as a trademark internationally".

First of all, I find the title "Sweden - open skies, open minds" very misleading. Open skies for what. Seriously, this sounds like an invitation for terrorist attack from above. For unfriendly countries with hidden agenda to wage or plot terroristic attacks by air because Swedes have an "open mind"? What happens to national soverignty that includes prohibition to fly over other national territories without prior agreement. And what has "open minds" got to do with promoting the unique nature beauty of Sweden, its archipelagic waters, frontier forests, multi-ethnic society and well-landscaped, well-maintained cities like Stockholm. Such a waste of taxpayers'money ( I would assume so, as the Swedish Institute falls under the jurisdiction of the foreign ministry.) for a project that mismatches words and visuals.

The organisers also explained that during the premier showing of the film - which basically " will show Sweden with its sunshine (?) dazzling nature (?) and beautiful people(?), wondered if other images of Sweden should also be included, such as disharmony(?). What in heavens name do they mean by "disharmony". Are they referring to the "ugly" as well? Things like hidden poverty? racial segregation in housing? immigrant ghettos in Rinkeby and Tensta? segregated labour market where immigrants are the underclass? Excuse me, but if they cannot specify what "disharmony" represents, the whole thing sounds like music with discordant notes.

Show the Royal family castles by all means, Swedish music (ABBA is forever!) and fashion ( It is Hennes&Mauritz country, for God's sake!) and museums, why not! But please don't label it "Open skies, open minds". It is dangerous and I would say, rather embarassing for people who know what "open skies, open minds" imply.

One Given Sunday

Sundays in a non-religious way mean fun and get-togethers, amongst families and friends. True to the Christian interpretation of the creation of mankind, the seventh day is meant for rest and satisfaction of one's conscience that the previous six days were well-spent in productive ways that helped improve society.

I don't have too many free Sundays and this is the problem (and supreme sacrifice) of caring for helpless and sickly people. Deep inside me, I secretly wish that I would have the same devotion to duty in my very old age. But at the rate the Swedish government is holding back on wages for the healthcare sector, chances are, there'll be more illiterates who cannot differentiate between dementia and diabetes.

But one given Sunday, I finally got hold of my teenage granddaughter - whose weekend calendar is fully booked in advance. So we headed off to her favorite childhood playground, Skansen. It is a microcosm of Swedish tradition, nature, animals and history. It is a good Sunday outing for families and an excellent hospitality gesture for visitors with limited days in Stockholm. So Ariana ( my granddaughter ) found in Skansen an international festival of which the Philippines was also a participant.

Bonding with grandchildren is a challenge these days, especially if the generation gap is wide and deep. But between me and Ariana, it cannot be that big a gap as I have caught up with the internet tech, familiarised myself with the pop culture and lingo, and I shed off my parents' authoritative grip over children. I can joke so that Ariana blushes when I said that, it would utterly impossible to make love to a gypsy without being entangled in her skirt.

Swedish children grow up to be adults, too fast and too soon. Since corporal punishment was outlawed many years ago, children now have become state properties. They can go direct to any state authority and complain about their parents or teachers. They have rights, since the UN ratified the Child Convention. Infact, too much rights, that they don't know how to exercise them in responsible manners. See all those buss stations with broken glass walls? Teenagers! Arson in schools? Gangs robbing elderly people. Youngsters who don't give a damn about giving their bus seats to old people. Drunks in the underground train. Loud and leud conversations. Just a few of the now-generation antics that would have been impossible in my own teenage days in the Philippines.

But Ariana was brought up to be a responsible person and to understand the burden of making one's own decision and taking the consequence. To be able to differentiate between right and wrong at an early age is a moral strength that elders can hand down to our children, and them to theirs. When most politicians (seeking a second term) join the global warming bandwagon and trigger-happy raise taxes on everything, we private persons can hold on to our sense of ethics and morality.

More on chili fruits

The habanero is the hottest compared to the mild Spanish pepper. It has a fruity aroma and may be used with great care with sweet fruits like mango. It is sensitive to strong heat and therefore must be added last in the dish. A relative is the yellow scotch bonnet. The piri piri is small but very strong. It is very common in Portugal and is excellent with fish and prawns' marinade. Piri piri powder is extra strong.

In Mozambique where my family lived from 1983 to 1987, grilled piri piri prawns was a popular delicacy. The jalapeno is the most useful if chili fruits as well as being the most popular around the world. It serves a number of uses, mostly sauce and chutneys. The Spanish pepper is the best known variety. The strength varies from mild to strong. It is decorative as they can be cut to look like flowers.

Did you know that mango and chili fruit is an unbeatable combination? You can make smoothie by mixing 1/2 package of diced mangoes and chopped chili, add 3 dl mild yoghurt natural, 1 dl water, 1 tsp honey and pinch of salt. Chili fruits are rich in vitamin B and carotine which strengthen the immune system and protects the body's cells. They contain substances known to be anti-oxidants.

(Ed. note) Start your read with "Autumn delights". "More on chili fruit" should be the 3rd article.

Know your chili fruits

Chili has its origin in South America. The seafarers in the 1500- century took them to Europe. Piri piri is a chili sort planted by the Portuguese in its African colonies. Piri piri means pepper. The hottest part of the chili fruit is the seeds that one can remove to decrease the taste of fire. Its good to know the different kinds of chili and how to use them for cooking.

You have the chipotele-the red, ripe jalapeno that turns brown when dried. Good for barbecue sauce and marinade. The de arbol are red dried smaller chilis than the Spanish ones. Used to add sting to vinegar and oil, as well as taste provider for sauces, stews and soups. The ancho is the big, dark red chili fruit poblano. The New Mexican is also a big chili fruit that has several names. The taste is herb-like and earthy. Its strength varies from mild to strong. Also used for stews, soups and grill marinade.

In the Philippines, we have the "siling labuyo", small but terribly strong chili that Filipino addicts fortify during storms by building walls around the chili plant. Very true in the Bicol region where I come from.

Hot chili for the cold winter

I have a work colleague from Haiti, Yvonne who makes the best chili sauce according to my London-based, chili lover son, Cholo. She buys all the different kinds of chili she can find in Skärholmen market- a suburb in Stockholm where one can buy exotic food ingredients for very reasonable prices. Yvonne has not revealed the secret of her chili sauce. She chops all these different chili fruits, boil them with vinegar, seasoning, sugar, salt, and vegetable oil. Could be some hidden ingredients I don't know.

However, I found two good recipes for making chili paste and marinated chili. For the chili paste, use the Mexican chili fruit that has a herbal and earthy taste. Use around 20g dried chili fruit and let boil for an hour. Mix with couple of spoonful raps oil or better yet, olive oil. Let cool and keep in a jar stored in the fridge. As for the marinated chili, use several kinds. Wash in running water and chop them into small pieces. Put in a pan with one deciliter apple vinegar, 1 dcl.water, one tsp. sugar and 1 tsp salt. Store in a jar with tight lock.

Use the chili paste/sauce for stews and other adventurous food mixes. I meet some people at my son Luis wedding in June, who cannot do without chili sauce. It was very handy that I bought four bottles of Yvonne's still undiscovered chili sauce marvel. One bottle went to Hongklong with Sarni and Toshi and earlier, another went to London with Cholo. And now that autumn is here, I must keep my kitchen warm and cozy with hot stews and chili. As all my friends know, the kitchen is my favorite part of the house.

Autumn delights

Autumn is my favorite Swedish season for many reasons - a spell-binding landscape of riotous red, orange and brown colours; the softness of chilly wind that touches the face; the exciting autumn and winter fashion clothes and most of all, the smell of wonderful stews from the kitchen.

We come across thousands of food recipes from every part of the world and cultures - for different seasons and moods, for casual and formal entertaining. We also have favorite favorite culinary experts whose magic in the kitchen we simply marvel at. Take the case of Jamie Oliver, very young, very rich and very herb-oriented. I borrowed a few of his recipes- like baked salmon with herb, lemon and spinach stuffings, added some other ingredients (lemon grass) and now I call mine. Yes, one can borrow other people's recipes and make them your own by discovering new ingredients that suit best your taste.

Here's a borrowed one that I served recently at a dinner for six people. I started with mango cubes and shrimps marinated in lemon, chili, salt and pepper. The next course was spring rolls with Thai sweet sour sauce. Then came this great Mexican stew- a chili con carne, done with bigger chunks of beef ( instead of ground meat); garlic, red onions, red and gold paprica, little rapsoil and fresh chili fruit; one can of cut tomatoes; meat cube for seasoning, one can of big white beans plus another can of kidney beans. You can use different kind of beans, actually. Serve this hot with french garlic bread and marinated cucumber and tomator salad. For sweets, a piece of blueberry cake with vanilla ice cream. The evening was well-remembered.