Opened the newspaper yesterday and not one, not 2 neither 4 pages but 8 (!?!) pages about the Swedish’ princess engagement. By getting the newspaper I had the intention of getting information about what’s going on out in the country and the world, but was literally news-raped about the royal family.
For those who haven’t followed (from us who were forced to) the oldest princess Victoria, who will become a queen one day, got engaged in February if I’m not mistaken. Fine, good luck and all the best. But it doesn’t stop there. The King has asked the government for some extra cash for the wedding as it will be quite big and many royal families from all over the world will come. Ok you might think, that’s maybe how it goes in Sweden. well maybe, but the thing is that the extra money the King wants will come from regular taxpayers; me and you. Yes you heard it right. In Sweden you get about 2800SEK a month plus a rent paid (http://www.inga-pengar.com/socialbidrag.php in Swedish) The King receives millions a year… Anyway, doesn’t matter how much the royal family gets, my point is that they can make a budget like the rest of us. If they can’t afford to have 300 guests then cut the guestlist. If they can’t invite people from all over the globe, get over it. People on social wellfare can’t even afford the thought of getting married as they struggle everyday to pass it and make it as good as possible for them and their family, if they have one.
Please don’t take me wrong, I don’t mind people getting married, I actually don’t care that Victoria’s boyfriend isn’t from a royal family. But what upsets me is that the King, in days of this economic crisis cutting back every person on earth, isn’tembarrased to ask for more money for a wedding. Many swedes have reacted negatively on this as we don’t have a saying about if we should give him the extra money or not. I mean it’s not like they live on the same financial support as people who really need help do.
From 2010, the government decided to cut peoples’ pensions. Why? Financial crisis like everywhere else and this must be the most used line ever. People living on the “old” retirement system in Sweden have not a huge pension but it s ok and dependent of how much you have worked earlier. Now the cut back means some 100s SEK less per month and in general terms, retired people belong to one for the poorest groups in this country. And the actually reason they’ll loose a few bucks per month is becuase some people gambled with their money while board of directors got some millions in bonuses.
Well add to that, that some old people now already have a hard time getting by and will have to cut back even more, they will also pay for someone elses big wedding. Isn’t life great? I think it’s so absurd it’s getting me angry and therefore I’m writing this post. Add to this then that Victoria’s little sister got engaged these days but, the King has said that he will pay for this wedding on his own. Good! Good for you! They count this one to only cost about 50 Million SEK, so that’s no problem. 50 Million SEK would manage so many people in several villages in Africa to survive and have one or two decent meals a day. But I guess the alternative costs aren’t interesting for the King…
Caldeia's World 