Et forsvar for «svartmalingen»

In a commentary piece, a commentator expresses their view on the situation in Norway. During a recent business trip to the capital, several train stations were cancelled, all of which were rescheduled. This year's summer is considered the worst in five years, with August being the turning point, as reported by NTB recently. They looked into the Bane Nors punctuality statistics.

The commentator then recalled Aftenposten commentator Andreas Slettholm, who called the latest party leader debate "a NM in blacklining." Slettholm rhetorically asked, "Is it strange that people think it's going badly here with politicians like this?" It's true that often we overstate our problems. Sometimes it sounds like Norway is an underdog on the verge of collapse, not a country swimming in milk and honey.

Many of what we call "crises" would be major challenges in many other countries. However, it's correct to say that we don't live in those other countries. We live in Norway. Being frustrated about delayed or cancelled trains is an internal issue. But internal problems are still problems. Most people are not stupid. They know Norway is a good place to live, and they appreciate the welfare level and comfort we have.

They know Norway is one of the wealthiest countries in the world. We have 22,000 billion kroner in a pension fund and over 500 billion oil kroner to spend each year, which is about a quarter of the state budget. On top of that, we are among the OECD countries with the highest tax burden. In short, Norwegian politicians spend an enormous amount of money.

The high expectations placed on them for what they should deliver is not surprising. It's entirely reasonable and understandable. This phenomenon is known as the rising expectations syndrome. The more we expect, the more dissatisfied we become. It's a valid diagnosis, but beneath it lies an assumption that such rising expectations are a sign of something going wrong.

However, it's actually quite natural. If you have expenses like a Michelin restaurant, it's understandable that you won't eat at a budget fast-food joint. Even though it's a decent fast-food joint. So it's not strange that people get frustrated when trains are discontinued day after day. When they snicker at a column describing ten good reasons not to move out of Oslo (everyone is taking the train), or feel like a time travel when traveling to their parents' place because it takes them out of the city, or get irritated by long wait times for bureaucracy, government offices, childcare workers or daycares, or are frustrated with the tax burden.

It's foolish for politicians to blacken the slate. But it's even more dangerous when no one feels they are being heard. I personally love gulrøtter, whether raw, burnt or steamed.