When Diversity Beats Doctors: Three UK Healthcare Realities to Make Stalin Envious

I just read a news story about the United Kingdom which, in all its absurdity, seemed downright unbelievable. According to it, a radiographer is “obliged to inquire about possible pregnancy even, for example, from middle-aged men.”

In other words, this is about the impact of diversity, equity, and inclusion—DEI—on the way hospitals operate. But the detail I just mentioned wasn’t even the most ridiculous part of the article. At least not in my opinion; it only took third place.

Second place in this intellectual somersault went to the claim that the health system in England spends over 45 million euros annually on salaries for staff working in diversity roles. And as a result, there apparently isn’t enough money for things like new office chairs. 

And the gold medal? That went to the revelation that DEI trainers in Britain’s healthcare system can indeed be paid several times more than doctors. Yes—you read that correctly, dear reader: a doctor is no longer the most important figure in healthcare, at least if measured by salary. That role now belongs to a political commissar spreading left-liberal propaganda and keeping watch over others.

My apologies to all the British readers, but at this very moment I can’t think of much positive to say about you. Unless, of course, one counts the fact that even the late dictator of the Soviet Union, Joseph Stalin, would be envious of your achievements.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Unintended Consequences of Modern Value Shifts
Feminists, Woke, and DEI People Justify Violence Against Women
The Free World Needs America’s Leadership Now

Finland to Cut Off Taxpayer Money for Immigration

Under the leadership of Finland’s Minister of Finance, Riikka Purra (Finns Party), a budget proposal has been drawn up which would allocate no state-collected tax money next year to the integration of immigrants or the reception of quota refugees. This would be a major change from the current situation, in which a significant share of tax revenue is used precisely for these purposes.

According to Minister Purra, “The integration structures within the public sector, and the ‘private’ integration industry that has grown around them, form one branch of the welfare state that has become enormous. The taxpayer foots the bill. If immigration broadly worked, such structures wouldn’t be needed at all. The government has previously cut integration spending, and in my opinion, it could easily cut more.”

Minister of the Interior Mari Rantanen (Finns Party) commented on the proposed change, stating that “Integration should not be measured by the amount of money spent, and society should have an incentive to push those granted permission straight into work. That would also put an end to all sorts of busywork back home, such as collecting droppings in matchboxes.”

It remains to be seen, however, how the other government parties and Parliament will respond to the Finance Minister’s proposal. It is expected that the ending of support for companies making their living from immigration would face opposition within the government, at least from the Swedish People’s Party, and in Parliament from the entire green-left bloc.

The taxpayer, on the other hand, would welcome it—since once Finland’s chronically deficit-ridden state budget is brought into balance, they might one day have a say over the use of a larger share of their own paycheck.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
A New Beginning: Economic Independence in the Hands of Developing Nations
Finnish Branch of Extinction Rebellion Faces Possible Ban
Finland's Stance on NATO Defense Spending Is Linked to the Geopolitical Threat from Russia

AI Drones: Ukraine’s New Edge in the War?

The Financial Times reported that Ukraine is now using a new type of American-German drone, which can operate independently using its own artificial intelligence. If this information is accurate, it marks another significant step forward in the evolution of warfare.

As a consequence, Ukraine’s technological superiority over Russian forces is increasing, shifting the balance—at least to some degree—in favor of the defenders, who have so far been the underdogs. Whether this will be enough to reverse the course of events on the front lines remains to be seen.

Naturally, this news is extremely bad for Russia, and especially for its dictator Vladimir "Little Man" Putin, whose political future is closely tied to success on the battlefield. It certainly doesn't help that Putin’s war chest—namely the National Wealth Fund used to cover the budget deficit—is inevitably running dry, having shrunk from €110 billion at the start of the war to around €30 billion.

For us bystanders, the situation is undeniably fascinating, as the long-standing trench warfare reminiscent of World War I might shift into a more dynamic and mobile conflict as early as next summer. This could ultimately lead to the collapse of the Russian army—and with it, the fall of Putin from his throne.

Previous thought on the same topic:
Military Support Is Needed to Reinforce EU Sanctions
Russian Soldier in Finland – A Sign of Crumbling Morale?
Renaissance of the Finnish Defense Industry

A Wake-Up Call from Trump to UNESCO

The United States has once again withdrawn from the UN’s cultural organization UNESCO. The reason cited was the organization’s focus on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, as well as its promotion of socially and culturally divisive issues — and continued focus on them.

According to a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State, such a globalist and ideological international development agenda is in conflict with the America First foreign policy pursued by the Trump administration.

According to UNESCO’s own statement, it operates as a global laboratory of ideas in the fields of education, science, culture, and communication, and as a catalyst for international cooperation. It declares its values as follows: "Our #SharingHumanity campaign reminds us of our global values, culture, and knowledge. By strengthening these ties, we build the foundations of peace between people and nations."

It remains to be seen what impact the U.S. withdrawal — similar to what happened during Trump’s first term — will have on the organization’s operations. Most likely, the impact will not be overwhelming, since only about 8 percent of UNESCO’s budget comes from the United States — less than what most UN agencies receive from the U.S.

Nevertheless, it would be beneficial if UNESCO — and its supporters — would also openly examine whether the Trump administration’s claims have any basis in reality. And if such a basis is found, that the organization take steps to address the issue, in order to better and more cost-effectively fulfill its missions in the future than it does at present.

Previous thoughts on the same topic: 
Finland Decides to Withdraw from the Ottawa Treaty — But What Business Is It of Guterres? 
António Guterres, You Won’t Stop Russia – But Mines Might
Iran Rejects Direct Nuclear Talks with U.S., Calls Them Pointless

Why Does the Political Green-Left Lie, and Why Does It Resonate with the People?

Today we saw a textbook example of the rhetoric employed by the political green-left. This concerns the chair of the Green Party, Sofia Virta (Green), who commented on Prime Minister Petteri Orpo's (NCP) statement that the Finnish right wing government will not cut state spending beyond the previously decided nine billion euros.

Virta claimed that "this is purely an election speech" and suggested that the government would resume making spending cuts immediately after the county elections and municipal elections in April. She was supported in this by the chair of the Green Party's parliamentary group, Oras Tynkkynen, who speculated that "if the main government parties go into these elections without revealing everything about the policies they plan to pursue in the coming years, it is problematic for democracy."

Virta also made another odd comment. She claimed that Orpo's statements contradict earlier comments by Minister of Finance Riikka Purra (Finns Party) regarding budget cuts. This was based on a Green Party press release that alleged the Finance Minister had stated in December that further cuts would be needed in the spring budget negotiations.

In reality, however, Purra did not say this. She had earlier noted that additional savings could be made in the spring if necessary but recently added that "this political coalition does not appear to have the capability to identify significantly more savings."

The comments by the Greens and their leaders are an unfortunate example of a phenomenon that has become increasingly common in green-left rhetoric in recent years: outright lying to voters. 

The most striking example of this was seen a few years ago, when the then-chair of the Left Alliance's parliamentary group, Paavo Arhinmäki, told voters that the state never has to repay its debts and emphasized that Finland barely pays any interest on them. The truth, however, is that the Finnish government paid as much as 3 billion euros in interest alone in 2024, meaning that a third of the savings previously made by the state administration was spent solely on that.

However, there’s no need to wonder about the Greens' and the broader green-left's comments, as they have recently helped to boost their support. This is evident in the latest party approval poll, which indicates that the combined support for the governing coalition parties has dropped to 42.4%.

For this reason, rational people should focus less on the green-left’s rhetoric and more on their supporters. In other words, we must try to understand why they allow themselves to be swayed by deceptive rhetoric and, after enlightenment, address the problem one way or another.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
The Green Movement of Finland is Lost
The stabbing of the 12-year-old led to political revelry among the left in Finland
Challenges of democracy: Reflections on political violence and rhetoric in Finnish politics

Immigrants, Gangs, Decisions, and Self-Interest

The Finnish national broadcaster Yle reported unexpectedly yesterday that Pietarsaari is grappling with gang, drug, and violence issues connected to individuals of immigrant backgrounds, as well as ties to the capital city and Sweden. According to the report, 15 percent of the town’s population are immigrants.

This is not entirely new, as already nine and a half years ago, the local police stated that, "The reception center came about six years ago. These days, we almost don’t have a single case where someone with a foreign background isn’t involved."

At that time — in 2015 — the issue came to light because a 17-year-old youth of foreign background had stabbed two other young people. He was caught.

In Yle's recent article, 14-year-old Erdi from Pietarsaari said, "There are a lot of young people here who want to be in a gang… They act a bit like gangsters. They think they’re tough, but they’re not."

A local youth specialist, meanwhile, described young men who came to Pietarsaari through Sweden, following people, issuing threats, and "causing a stir. The youth talk about how they’re not from here. Now they’ve disappeared from the streets."

* * *

Yle’s news report confirmed that the immigration policies practiced in Finland and Sweden have been disastrous for the native population, and their negative consequences are not limited to large cities. For this reason, it would also be prudent for voters in Pietarsaari to remember that the current government, led by the National Coalition Party and the Finns Party, is the first to attempt to address these issues.

In fact, steps have already been taken, with the following immigration-related changes implemented: the introduction of border procedures, amendments to laws to prevent circumvention of entry regulations, a reduction of reception allowances to the minimum allowed by the Constitution and the Reception Directive, and stricter requirements for obtaining citizenship.

Starting next year, international protection will also be redefined as temporary. Additionally, administrative reforms have been initiated to strengthen these efforts.

And that’s not all—the government program includes further planned improvements to immigration policy. If these are implemented, it is likely that the flow of immigrants from developing countries to Finland will slow, and those who do arrive will have a stronger motivation to integrate into our society. That would be in everyone’s best interest.

* * *

It should be noted, however, that if Finns vote in the next parliamentary elections in 2027 to bring the Social Democrats back into government and relegate the Finns Party to the opposition, it is likely that the country will revert to the old immigration policies, which have been causing increasingly severe problems. This appears to be the trajectory based on current party support polls.

There is also a risk that the government could collapse due to internal conflicts and members of parliament prioritizing their own interests. This risk is evident among some MPs from both the Finns Party and the National Coalition Party, who plan to vote against the government’s proposed healthcare cost-saving measures, seemingly without understanding their broader implications.

One can only hope this doesn’t happen and that these MPs might even abstain from voting. However, given their prior high-profile public opposition, it seems likely they are determined to undermine the government’s efforts. In doing so, they may end up aiding the left-green opposition, which seeks the government’s downfall, potentially even by spreading falsehoods.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Finnish, Japanese, and Dutch Adults Lead in Literacy, Numeracy, and Problem-Solving Skills
A Murder in a Well-Known Finnish Immigrant Neighborhood
Immigration Policy Should Be Based on Evidence

The EU Is Suffocating Under Double Bureaucracy

The European Union was originally established to ensure that Germany would no longer cause a catastrophe like those in 1914 and 1939. In this sense, the project has been highly successful.

The Union has also been successful in another way, as it has attracted – and continues to attract – new members for decades. For example, my own country, Finland, joined through a referendum at the beginning of 1995.

However, as the Union has grown, we have also witnessed a development that is all too familiar to my generation. I mean the uncontrolled growth of bureaucracy, much like what happened in the Soviet Union.

This issue was raised by former MEP and current member of the European Court of Auditors, Petri Sarvamaa (National Coalition Party). According to him, “our biggest concern is precisely that the authorities of the member states are no longer even able to properly manage this complex jungle of rules related to the EU budget and budgeting.”

Although the growth of bureaucracy in the EU has been ongoing for a long time, it has been discussed relatively little in public. Therefore, it was good that Sarvamaa brought it up, and one can only hope that his remarks gain visibility across the entire EU and are taken seriously by the Commission, so that it can start working to reduce bureaucracy.

It is quite clear that the EU will not be able to compete with the world's other economic powers if its operations are hindered by double layers of heavy bureaucracy – one at the Union level and another at the national level. In line with the principle of subsidiarity, the first should be limited to only necessary EU-wide regulations.

Otherwise, the EU will suffocate in its own bureaucracy, eventually withering into a second-rate player in global politics. And with that, it will begin a slow but steady decline, eventually culminating in the breakup of the entire Union.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Rising Trade Tensions Between the EU and China
General Pekka Toveri, the Chair of the European Parliament's Delegation for Ukraine
EU Decision-Makers Did the Bear a Disservice

Bad News for Vladimir Putin and His Imperialistic Dreams

The Russians have recently received multiple pieces of bad news. The latest, which surfaced through social media, reports that in September, Russia experienced the highest average wartime losses: 1,271 soldiers killed or wounded daily.

Additionally, also according to information from social media, the Russian army has lost the equivalent of five divisions' worth of armored equipment in the Pokrovsk area of Eastern Ukraine over the past year. This information was gathered by compiling all recorded instances of Russian equipment destruction for which there is video evidence: a total of 539 tanks and around 1,020 armored vehicles.

If losses continue at this pace, it is possible that the Russians will eventually have to abandon their gradually successful offensives in the Pokrovsk area and retreat to defensive positions.

* * *

Another drawback for Putin comes from the Russian economy. Namely, Russia's state budget for next year includes a 12% increase, mainly due to a quarter rise in military spending from this year.

Military expenditures will amount to 6.3% of the country’s GDP. Additionally, it is likely that more military expenses have been concealed, related to the ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

However, Russia’s economy has not developed, as the government has simply shifted more costs onto citizens and businesses. For example, the corporate tax rate is rising from 20% to 25%, and personal taxes will become progressive. In addition, the costs of housing, services, and public transport will also be increased.

As a result, inflation is expected to accelerate to at least 5.5%. Therefore, Russia’s central bank was shocked by the budget and plans to raise the key interest rate from the current 18% to 20%, but even this is considered insufficient to keep inflation in check.

Thus, next year’s Russian budget brings three pieces of bad news: the budget growth comes solely from businesses and citizens’ pockets, despite structural balance, the budget will increase inflation, and there is no end in sight to the negative trends as the invasion continues.

However, it remains to be seen how all of this will ultimately affect Putin's army's ability to wage war in Ukraine. The possible loss of its fighting ability would be really bad news for Vladimir Putin and his imperialistic dreams.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
General Pekka Toveri, the Chair of the European Parliament's Delegation for Ukraine
Putin Set a Goal — Failure Would Be an Embarrassment
Turning Points in the War in Ukraine and the West's Responsibility

The Finnish Government is Unanimous on Fixing the Country's Economy

The Finnish economy is in poor condition for many reasons. However, the situation is about to change, as the government formed by the political right has decided to address the issue.

This is despite the fact that the opposition, led by the left, has done everything in its power to sow discord among the government parties. One party has been accused of racism, and another of favoring the wealthy. And so on.

Nevertheless, the relations between the governing parties seem to be working, as evidenced by the fact that a budget meeting planned for two days only took one day. And there is no doubt that the outcome will have economic impacts on the lives of ordinary Finns.

The government's decisions were varied. First of all, changes were made to taxation so that low- and middle-income people will have more of their salary left for personal use than before. On the other hand, spending was directed toward essential expenses, and therefore, significant cuts were made to less essential items, such as development aid.

Despite these decisions, Finland's economy will not turn around overnight. However, over time, especially the structurally important budget changes, such as better support for business innovation, will take effect and lift Finland's economy out of its current decline.

It is also certain that the political green-left will not stop offering socialist solutions. And if they come to power in the 2027 elections and undo the continuity of the decisions now made, Finland will face an even more challenging future than the present.

That is why it is important for voters to understand this and refrain from disrupting the positive progress that is currently underway. Personally, I believe in that.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Will Orpo's Government Restore Finland to Sustainable Economic Growth?
Finns are backing the government making difficult decisions
Change of immigration policy and development cooperation

Will Orpo's Government Restore Finland to Sustainable Economic Growth?

The previous government of Finland – led by the exceptionally beautiful Prime Minister Sanna Marin (SDP) – was unable to manage Finland's public finances. This became particularly evident after the COVID pandemic was over, and the public sector should have been adjusted to match the available funds.

However, this was not done, and during Marin's government, Finland's public debt rose from 69% of GDP in 2019 to nearly 76%. At the same time, automatic expenditures were built into the state budget – the largest being a new level of administration with elected representatives for wellbeing services – which also forced the new government, led by the uncharismatic Petteri Orpo (NCP), to live on borrowed money.

The current strict Minister of Finance, Riikka Purra (Finns Party), recently commented on the situation. According to her, "The tax-funded bubble is even worse than I thought before taking on these tasks. I often wonder in my office, where protests, shouting, and threats occur under my window, whether the taxpayer really has to pay for all of this. Sometimes for legitimate reasons, and sometimes just because some acquired benefit has to be given up again."

She also criticized the attitude of the left-green opposition, stating that "Instead of constructing even a slightly coherent alternative to the government's economic and fiscal policy, the opposition strikes, hits, and shoots in all directions with every possible means."

Despite everything, Purra still believes that Finland's economy will turn for the better. This, of course, requires bringing public spending under control, as well as the success of Finnish businesses – from small bars to heavy industry – in domestic and international competition.

There have already been a few positive signals in this regard. One example is the order received by a Finnish shipbuilder for a massive Caribbean cruise ship, and another is the better-than-expected success of pharmaceutical company Orion’s new innovation on the market. The forest industry, which is particularly important for the entire economy, is also expected to improve its results within this year.

However, the most important task remains bringing public spending under control. This requires significant changes, especially in healthcare, where the new administrative structure has turned out to be even more expensive than anticipated, and the costly salary agreement implemented during the previous government doesn’t help matters.

It remains to be seen whether Orpo's government will succeed in returning Finland to a path of economic growth, one that hasn’t been seen since before 2009, but is optimistically reflected in the linked graph. 

And in any case, the recovery of the Finnish economy would be welcomed in order to attract highly skilled labor from abroad. Or as Purra stated: "When it comes to real foreign top experts, they will come along with private sector-led economic growth. This creates high value-added jobs that foreigners will also want to pursue."

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Balancing the Books
The Finnish Minister of Foreign Affairs apologized to the Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs for the words of the woman who criticized the man who exposed his penis
Finnish horror gallery and reality

Finns are backing the government making difficult decisions

The problem commonly associated with democracies is that when the government has to make unpleasant decisions for public finances, voters tend to shift their support to the opposing parties. Thus, there is a temptation for leaders not to make economically sound decisions while in power.

In this sense, the situation in Finland is interesting. The right-wing government that came to power last summer has planned labor market reforms, cuts to public services, and reductions in income taxes to balance the state budget, which was heavily indebted during the previous government's term, and to revitalize economy.

These plans have resulted in widespread and ongoing political strikes opposing the reforms. Both trade unions and green-leftist parties are behind these strikes, and even according to citizen surveys, the protests have public support.

However, what makes the situation interesting is that in polls measuring party support, the government's popularity has not declined; instead, it is clearly on the rise. Based on this, it seems that Finns understand that their country's public finances are indeed in need of correction. Therefore, rather than abandoning the parties in power, they are actually shifting towards supporting them.

This bodes well for Finland's future, but of course, only if the ongoing changes by the government lead to results and the public remains supportive for long enough for the economy to turn back towards growth.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:
Correct minister, ridiculous facts
The people long for strict economic policy
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Change of immigration policy and development cooperation

Finland is considered a prosperous Western country, and accordingly, it has been allocating approximately two percent of its annual state budget to development aid. However, in the program of the government that came into power this summer, this funding has been significantly reduced.

At the same time, Finland has decided to change the conditions of its development cooperation. The most notable changes include directing aid to Ukraine and, conversely, denying it to countries that support Russia in its illegal war against its neighboring country. This applies to countries such as Ethiopia, Mozambique, Vietnam, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan if they do not change their stance on the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Furthermore, the Finnish government has decided that development aid will not be granted to countries that do not accept their own citizens without a residence permit in Finland. This is a significant change in Finnish asylum policy, which has led to an increasing number of undocumented migrants from developing countries staying in the country, along with a rise in certain types of crimes.

According to recent information, Finland's western neighbor Sweden has set an example. It announced excluding Mali from its development aid due to its support for Russia.

Hopefully, Finland will also make similar decisions to streamline its development aid policy and humanitarian immigration policy. At the same time, the Finnish government has decided to increase incentives for skilled labor immigration. 

Therefore, it is crucial for a country with high taxation and a Western-average salary level to maintain attractive features for quality labor — features such as a safe society and a balanced public economy that enables good services. Both of these goals can be achieved through the designed changes described above.

Previous thoughts on the same topic:

Could Kenyans serve as a model for Somalis and Iraqis?
Why doesn't immigration cause protests in Japan?
Strong statement or intellectual dishonesty in COP27?

Correct minister, ridiculous facts

The Finnish parliamentary elections were held last summer. As a result, the country's government switched from a red-green coalition to a political right-wing one in the summer.

Among the politicians of the previous government, Maria Ohisalo of the Greens first served as the Minister of the Interior and later as the Minister of the Environment and Climate. Therefore, it was interesting to note her criticism of the current government on messaging service X, stating that Finland's ranking had dropped by a whopping 11 places according to the latest Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) ranking.

The situation became amusing when it was revealed that the former minister had not noticed that CCPI used two-year-old data for statistics, precisely from Maria Ohisalo's ministerial term. In other words, she blamed the current government for her own achievements.

It is clear that Ohisalo made herself appear ridiculous. What is less clear, however, is why she rushed to politicize the new information before verifying its accuracy.

If this behavior was typical for Ohisalo and the previous female-led government, it is no wonder that the previous government term was, especially in terms of the economy, downright catastrophic for Finland. For example, during the four-year period (2019-2022), the state debt increased by a whopping 33 percent, leaving the budget permanently about seven percent in deficit.

Hopefully, the current government will familiarize itself better with the facts before decision-making and succeed in revitalizing Finland's economy to make it comparable again to other Nordic countries.

Previous thoughts on the same topic: Advice to participants of the COP27 climate implementation summit 175 happy winners Minister Maria Ohisalo panicked