Hooray, it't tax day!

[Miisa]

This week the Finnish tabloids released the tax info on all those who are somebody. It has, always, been a real saucy hoot.

Yeah, we take the fun wherever we can find it.

http://blog.foreignpolicy.com/posts/...s_the_best_day

On Monday the Finnish tax authorities made public the data of each person in the country, opening the door for a media frenzy of gossip, boasting, and fingerpointing about who has paid their fair share in income tax.

While some might abhor the lack of privacy, the Finnish government believes that making tax information public is necessary for keeping the country functioning. Finland's welfare system, like America's, is based off taxes, so public disclosures reinforce the idea that everyone should contribute. But apart from being an opportunity for Finnish society to have its yearly dose of schadenfreude, the country's fixation on taxes highlights an internal political debate about sustaining Finland's welfare model.

...every November, Finland's top papers clamour to dig through the data, tracking the rise and fall of the fortunes of politicians and businessmen, while Finnish tabloids capitalize on the public disclosures to peek into the lives of the country's celebrities. In past years, investigative work based off the annual release of data has exposed tax-dodging cabinet ministers and sports stars with offshore tax havens.

I just can't believe the Germans coined the word schadenfreude, it is clearly and utterly a Finnish invention.

[Nullifidian]

Can we get this translated into Finnish?

'Schadenfreude' - Avenue Q

[Watser?]

Oh, we have a word for schadenfreude. Ze Germans just get all the attention with the words they 'invent'.

[Dingfod]

Words invented by cramming together existing words. In English schadenfreude would be pleasurefeltatsomeoneelsesmisfortune©.

[Miisa]

Vahingonilo. (Finnish)

Would be shorter than the German.

[JoeP]

Not as many consonants ... same number of vowels.

[JoeP]

Originally Posted by Miisa

Every year? Why do tax-dodging cabinet ministers and sports stars with offshore tax havens think they can get away with it then?

[Watser?]

Originally Posted by JoeP

Not as many consonants ... same number of vowels.

Leedvermaak in Dutch, how's that for vowels.

[Miisa]

[quote=JoeP;1209585]

Originally Posted by Miisa

Every year? Why do tax-dodging cabinet ministers and sports stars with offshore tax havens think they can get away with it then?

The same reason all criminals think they can get away with it... because they are special. Also, who knows how many do get away with it?

[Miisa]

Oh, BTW, of the 10 biggest jackpots in the Eurojackpot draw, 4 have come to little Finland, more than any other country. Which says a lot not only about how much the Finns play the lottery, but through that also how they feel money and its distribution actually works.


I's amazing we have businessmen at all.

[JoeP]

I wonder what it is in Polish.

[Dingfod]

Radość? I like "ubawienie" better.

[Dingfod]

I know, I know, that's what she said.

[Dingfod]

German is fun, today I learned a Hitler mustache is called a Rotzbremse, meaning snot brake.

[erimir]

Originally Posted by Miisa

Vahingonilo. (Finnish)

Would be shorter than the German.

Originally Posted by JoeP

Not as many consonants ... same number of vowels.

But the German is only 4 syllables, while Finnish is 5.

[Miisa]

Ok, yesterday and today the big news has been the bankruptcy of the mining company Talvivaara, as it was backed by big names in politics and apparently was a favourite for many investors who have now lost big time, most of them tens of thousands.

My big question is how could they find 80 000 people to invest so heavily in a company whose name is the Finnish translation of Winterfell? Do people with money to burn just not read?

[Janet]

Mick is of the opinion that the English word for schadenfreude is humor. I can't really argue with him.

[Dingfod]

If one based what they think is the American sense of humor on tv sitcoms, probably.