I went to the unemployment office this morning and found out that they had lost a few of my papers. I registered on October 27th and was supposed to get money on December 1st. Oh, they lost my papers and there is a man in that chain that wasn't at work that was supposed to finnish the application?
I broke down emotionally and asked the lady how this could be? (I've been raised in total fascism and thought my system would be there for me?). I've basically been without an income for the past 2 months and they do this to me? I've had to beg my relatives for money, my friend and my young son. She suggested that I'd go to the Church for some food......
I woke up from a bad dream and threatened to report them to the Icelandic News. (There are a few news channels here that want to cover the reality of what's going on here.) The lady was shocked and printed out a ticket that gave me a one way ticket to the welfare office.
There was freezing weather today and what saved me was my accountant. I went to his office and took care of closing my freelance business. While I walked to his office I cried my heart out in the Northern cold. It felt so good and I knew I could keep my pride because freezing weather makes you tear so much.
He is a good soul and made me feel human again. He was very disappointed that I had to shut down my business when I was doing so good. I promised to let him know if I'd leave the country. I saw in his eyes fear and hope at the same time? Later on I realized his fear; what if a huge amount of talented people leave Iceland?
Anyway, back to the Welfare Office. I took a few buses and was there by noon. I handed them the paper and found out about the rules about mailing the tax card by snail mail.
(At the welfare office I have to call the Unemployment Office to mail my tax card so I would get the full benefits of 99.000 kr. And then I have to call the welfare office to mail my tax card back to the Unemployment Office when my application goes through?)
I pointed out to one worker that our technology is so advanced, " Why haven't we found a way to do this in computers?"
She looked at me like I was retarded and answered "Then you would loose your tax rights, if you don't have a card to hand in you have lost your 33% tax return".
OK, and I will thank god every night for being different and thinking like I do. Her answer said all there is to say about the system in Iceland.
I took another bus home and thought about my wonderful welfare system in Iceland. I realized my system is designed to break people down and make them lose all hope. The energy and work that went into this day was too much. I understand why some people are killing themselves (Icelandic news have hidden this fact due to an order from the government); they might have a big life saving that goes to the family?
I'm not going to kill myself, I'm going to fight. I can't live with the fact that my son could look back knowing I did nothing to save his country. I'm not going to hope for the better while my Government is selling our banks again. I'm not going to live here in silence when I've heard that there are kids eating out of dumpsters......
