20060920,00

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153 million!

They fall from power with full security. Sweden's cabinet ministers are guaranteed one year's full pay plus cabinet minister pension until they're 65. The parachute agreements start a couple of weeks after the election. Millions are paid by Swedish taxpayers until they're 65 and as long as their new careers do not net them as much money. They're Sweden's new upper class.
 - Expressen

153 million! That's what it costs the Swedish people to get rid of the first bona fide corrupt government they've ever had. As Göran 'Napoleon' Persson consolidated his power, he started spreading the wealth and favours around to protect himself against potential enemies. His government grew to monstrous proportions and he made sure they all had great agreements for the day when the Swedish people finally had enough.

Bottom line? Getting rid of Göran 'Napoleon' Persson and his fellow crooks is going to be financially painful. Extremely so. They get over SEK 153 million. The press call it a 'slap in the face', and they're really holding back. It's actually much worse.

Do you know how much your elected representatives are being paid? Do you know who decides what they're to be paid? Were you represented when those decisions were made? And what about appointees - like those below? You didn't vote for them. Can you control who gets appointed, how many get appointed, and what they're paid? Can you control these obscenely crooked parachute agreements they essentially grant themselves? Are you living in a democracy? Are you really sure?

Cabinet Ministers

These are the elite - the top drawer. Get in here and don't defy Napoleon and don't get chosen as his fall guy when he screws up and you'll be set for life. Of course Napoleon made sure he took home more than anyone else, but >$10 K pcm for doing nothing in a country where $10 K goes a lot farther than in other places is serious cash. And you don't have to really work ever again. An elitist cradle to grave security for those more equal than others, courtesy Göran 'Napoleon' Persson.

Undersecretaries

Napoleon's government may have been ineffective - and arrogant - but they built up one of the most formidable walls of impregnability a Swedish government have ever had. It's a maze, and anyone seeking justice is expected to get lost in it. And come time for Napoleon to step down it becomes yet another slap in the face.

Press Secretaries

Does a lilliputian country like Sweden need twenty eight (28) press secretaries? Don't ask - just pay!

Political Experts

Aren't cabinet ministers supposed to be experts? No matter - pay them too! All one hundred nineteen of them!

Planning Managers

'Planning managers'? Planning what? Don't ask - just pay!

Assistants

Everybody needs an assistant, don't they? Or do you have a friend or relative in need of a job with a lucrative parachute agreement? They won't have to actually do any work, but they might like the salary and benefits! Or maybe you know a comely lass who would 'respond gratefully' to such a fine offer? [Note all the assistants are female - don't female cabinet ministers like boy toys?] And you taxpayers: shut up and pay!

FA: förvaltningsavdelningen (administration dept)
Fi: finansdepartementet (dept of finance)
FÖ: försvarsdepartementet (dept of defence)
Jo: jordbruksdepartementet (agriculture dept)
Ju: justitiedepartementet (dept of justice)
M: miljö- och samhällsbyggnadsdep (environment dept)
N: näringsdepartementet (dept of commerce)
S: socialdepartementet (social dept)
SB: Cabinet Ministerssberedningen (cabinet minister committee)
U: utbildningsdepartementet (dept of education)
UD: utrikesdepartementet (dept of foreign affairs)