"NORWAY - THE CITADEL OF MEDIOCRITY"

By Heidi Anita Hell - 23 September 2023

When I was little, I used to believe that adults knew everything and that the world was in safe hands.

That belief quickly faded away. Deeper insight, unfortunately, doesn't inoculate against naive faith in justice. I held onto that faith for an alarmingly long time. Probably because one has to toughen up when the veil is lifted, and you see one idiot after another.

Idiots, you can tolerate, after all, you're one yourself. But when idiots show up where they shouldn't be, you start feeling the need for a blood pressure monitor. I'm, of course, talking about all the people we encounter in life as authorities, and now I'm beyond parents; they only meant well, after all. I'm talking about authorities in the sense of people who shape your life's path. Teachers are the first. Then they appear one after the other: bosses, bureaucrats, politicians, social scientists, and researchers. All those who decide what you can't do, what you should do, and how you should think.

Sometimes during life, you discover that you are surrounded by underqualified mediocrities, and they get away with it. The belief in justice keeps you going: one day they will be exposed, tarred, and feathered. It's a naive thought, but it's painful to let go of.

Norway is a nation deeply satisfied with itself. We think the world has a lot to learn. The world should watch out for that. Norway is a fortress built on social democratic inbreeding. Mediocrity is the measure of all things, and we have a bureaucracy in the billions to block heretical activities. Nowhere else in the world is political correctness in thought, word, and deed as crucial to an individual's destiny.

The social democratic model doesn't just control the state apparatus but also, strangely enough, the private sector. Norway holds the world record for bad leaders. And worse leaders are dangerous leaders because they surround themselves with weak middle managers. Bad leaders always make sure to keep potential challengers, i.e., capable people far more qualified than themselves, away. Corruption starts at the top and spreads down the systems. The day something goes wrong, it's the ones at the bottom who get the blame. Just like the bureaucrats, the leaders protect themselves and each other.

Politicians are mediocre professionals with too much free time and a rampant need for power. They have no expertise in anything, yet they lack the humility to decline key roles. They can be the Finance Minister one moment and the Education Minister the next - two of the most crucial positions in Norway - without much competence in either area.

Together with their fellow government members, they've inflicted serious damage on the Norwegian education system. While the rest of the world laughs at us, one of our Education Ministers, let's call her Halvorsen, a few years ago boasted that Norwegian schoolchildren were the best in the world... at democracy! Yes, you read that right. Democracy. Truly something to have on your CV when applying for a job.

Norway is a world leader in producing mediocre leaders, spineless jerks who let those beneath them take the fall when caught in falsehoods. They seemingly know nothing but are among the most powerful people in Norway. Right behind the Prime Minister, who deflects all criticism with a deranged look, no matter how justified and well-documented it is. Politicians are the least qualified of all bosses, yet they are the high priests of bosses.

Underqualified people will inevitably make mistaken decisions. At worst, it costs lives, but usually, it costs taxpayers' money - in billions. The fantastic thing is that it doesn't have consequences for those responsible. It's almost only in international football that bad leaders get fired on the spot. In Norway, the system protects them and lets them carry on.

There are plenty of idiots who hinder progress in life. Case officers with the right to remain anonymous, social workers, so-called experts and advisers whose heaviest baggage is their own ego, researchers on taxpayers' payroll discovering things we already knew, bureaucrats, including those who make sure you can't buy beer after 8 PM, journalists who can't write, presenters who can't speak...

After about a quarter of a lifetime, you realize that justice will never prevail. By then, it's too late. You've become a whining complainer whom nobody takes seriously.

You can't even say, "I told you so!" because you didn't say anything. "You just got Old."

Excellent.

In reflection, it's important to acknowledge that no society is without its flaws, and every system has room for improvement. While it can be disheartening to encounter mediocrity and poor leadership, it's also crucial to remember that change is possible. Many individuals and groups in Norway are working tirelessly to address these issues, advocating for transparency, competence, and accountability in leadership.

Hope lies in the resilience of communities, the dedication of educators, the drive of reformers, and the power of informed citizens. By staying engaged, demanding better, and participating in the democratic process, there's a path forward toward a more just and competent society.

While the journey may be challenging, the belief in progress and the potential for positive change should always remain alive.