May day

Today we celebrate the workers' movement and its achievements. Today we protest against the anti-workers, anti-poor and anti-immigrants politics that is seen all over the western world. Yes, even here, though we are in part spared from the worst results oft, having a social democratic government. It's not good, but because of their history and their ties to the unions they can't take away the rights of the workers the way the liberals and conservatives wants to do. And to be honest, I still think they have some ideals and don't want to. But the pressure is hard from the industry and their lobby groups. And it has been very successful. Something happened with the way people think in the 80s, due to very succesful lobbying from the right-wing groups. Politics is no longer seen as a means to make life better for people but as a way to please the industry and the "market" so the stock prices don't fall.
It has looked bad for a long time and it feels like we're only fighting a defensive struggle to stop things proposals that will take away our rights and make it harder for the poor. But I will NOT give up.

Rickard is home and ill so I can go without Maja, which is convenient.

The story behind the date

Translation and summary of a newspaper article about the first 1st of May celebration in Stockholm in 1890

Oh, I know that a lot of you don't agree with me. But this is my journal so I write what I feel and you really don't have to tell me that doing whatever the big industry wants is the only way to run a country or something like that. Because it will only make me mad and ruin one of the most important holidays for me.

And yes, I'm aware of the stalinist terror. 1st of May is not, and has never been, owned by the Soviet union however. It is older and it is everybody's.

Gjeitost?

A question for haugtussa and mirazandar:
aeddie, husband of the adorable marymont just asked a question about the different types of norwegian cheese in his LJ.
Will you enlighten him?