Swedes offer polital asylum to wolf

April 7, 2001 2:22 AM

Swedes offer polital asylum to wolf This has definitely put the Swedish nation up in my estimation!
posted by Nick Jordan (10 comments total)

Before anybody else corrects me, yes I know I spelt 'political' incorrectly. I blame going out for a few drinks last night.
posted by Nick Jordan at 5:37 AM on April 7, 2001

The Norwegian in me hopes this "asylum" is really just an advanced wolf trap. Then again, we kill whales for fun, too.
posted by frednorman at 6:00 AM on April 7, 2001

Interesting theory, but how would you communicate the idea of political asylum to the wolf? Or am I taking this too seriously?
posted by Nick Jordan at 6:55 AM on April 7, 2001

The operation is estimated to have cost taxpayers 3 million Kroner ($331,200) - about $36,000 for each wolf killed.

I wonder how many $s worth of livestock each of these wolves actually killed... I have trouble believing it could be $36,000 worth.
posted by Neb at 8:19 PM on April 7, 2001

It's not exactly making economic sense, is it? Surely it would be better to simply compensate farmers for their losses? Even with the admin costs and the like, it's got to be cheaper.
posted by Nick Jordan at 11:49 PM on April 7, 2001

Nick Jordan: Surely it would be better to simply compensate farmers for their losses?

Believe you me, in typical Norwegian manner, the farmers have been compensated for their losses (and more so) too. As usual, they're eating their cake while having it too. But that's quite another discussion, I guess. You know, if you take a look at a topographic map of Norway, it's not much of a land for farming, for sure. So they're subsized. In every possible and unposible meaning of the word.
posted by frednorman at 6:01 AM on April 8, 2001

Maybe I should emigrate! I could set up a farm somewhere totally unsuitable, not actually do a lot, and get compensated by the government. How I wish that things were really that simple.
posted by Nick Jordan at 7:14 AM on April 8, 2001

Ah, but what message would that send to the other wolves? Pretty soon, all wolves would start to think they could scoff at the laws, and then the reindeer and the voles and the salmon would be next, and what would you have? A nation of lawless, uncivil animals. That can't be allowed to happen! No, friends, Martin the wolf must die.
posted by rodii at 7:32 AM on April 8, 2001

Nick: that's actually what some people do here. They need only such and such number of sheep to get government subsidies for a "farm", and then they buy that number of animals, while keeping their other job(s) at the same time. Also, they don't have to pay much taxes if they live in remote areas, so it's really not too far from the scenario you describe. Though, of course, the people I'm talking about would disagree vigourusly.
posted by frednorman at 10:27 AM on April 8, 2001

Though, of course, the people I'm talking about would disagree vigorously.

Of course they would. It's called 'preserving one's way of life' in some circles. Sounds like what some people in London would call 'a nice little earner' to me. Or possibly 'money for old rope'.
posted by Nick Jordan at 11:32 AM on April 8, 2001