Happy birthday, Suomi. Now, for some Sibelius.

Finland is 100 years old as of the 6th of December.

The legal basis for Finland's subjugation within the Russian empire evaporated when the Romanov dynasty fell during the first of two Russian revolutions in 1917. Professor Barry picks up the story in November of 1917.

Independence was actually granted by VI Lenin and his Bolshevik regime less than one month after seizing power and overthrowing the Duma government in November. Lenin admired the Finns and appreciated the fact that friends there had sheltered and hid him at least twice in the past after he had fled for his life from the Tsarist and Duma Regimes.

The composer Jean Sibelius wrote Finlandia with his country's national awakening in mind.

Finlandia is probably the most widely known of all the compositions of Jean Sibelius. Most people with even a superficial knowledge of classical music recognise the melody immediately. The penultimate hymn-like section is particularly familiar and soon after it was published the Finlandia Hymn was performed with various words as far afield as the USA.

The views of Finland's natural beauty seen in the video are stellar, indeed. In 2016, we didn't have time to make it past Helsinki, but I'm hoping to rectify this in the future.

Happy birthday, Suomi.

In Finland, a monthly allowance and the elimination of welfare services?

It's not quite as good as the local Democratic party's "bonus paving points" voter gifts, but we'll keep our minds open to the possibilities.

The Finnish Model , by Guy Sorman (City Journal)

... Economists and sociologists in universities, laboratories, and foundations provide a steady stream of fresh approaches to these problems. But politicians don’t seem to read much these days, preferring the advice of a closed circle of marketing consultants and dried-up slogan manufacturers. This makes Finland’s move toward instituting a universal basic income (UBI)—often referred to by economists as a negative income tax—all the more refreshing. The negative income tax is often associated with the free-market economist Milton Friedman, who defended it with passion and flair in the 1970s.

This year, the Finnish government hopes to begin granting every adult citizen a monthly allowance of €800 (roughly $900). Whether rich or poor, each citizen will be free to use the money as he or she sees fit. The idea is that people are responsible for their actions. If someone decides to spend their €800 on vodka, that is their decision, and has nothing to do with the government. In return for the UBI, however, the public accepts the elimination of most welfare services.

Finland's "basic income" scheme interests Adam very much.

It isn't the first time this has been mentioned.

The Green Mouse has learned that our local Democratic wunderkind Ambitious Adam has proposed a very similar plan for New Albany: Basic Gahan Income (BGI).

The way it works: First, competitive bidding on contracts is to be eliminated entirely. Instead, the city will pay a set amount of money on a monthly basis to construction companies, pavers, consultants, vendors, builders, engineers, architects and others pledging fealty to Oz.

In turn, these recipients of BGI will pay back their own pre-set basic monthly amount, though to the Gahan for Next Whatever campaign fund, and not to the city itself.

It's boilerplate, right? Might as well be trend-setting, and often invited to address conferences devoted to the preeminence of campaign finance.

Just so long as THEY pay expenses, right Adam?

Finland Will Pay Everyone in the Country $876 a Month, by Briana Madden (US Uncut)

To fight poverty and boost its own economy, Finland is planning to issue a check for $876 to every citizen, every month. The concept is called basic income, and the Finnish government is getting closer to finalizing its implementation this month.

The Finnish Social Insurance Institution (KELA) is drafting the plan to pay every one of its 5.4 million people $876 per month, tax-free, which would replace social support programs, such as welfare and unemployment benefits. Though a proposal from KELA isn’t expected until November 2016, a pilot stage is currently planned prior to full implementation of the program.

Finland.

"The Fenni live in astonishing barbarism and disgusting misery: no arms, no horses, no household; wild plants for their food, skins for their clothing, the ground for their beds."
Tacitus (c. 55-120) Germania

Society: The only way is Finland, by Tim Walker (The Independent)

America may once have been the Land of Opportunity, but thanks to its rising levels of inequality – not to mention the nightmarish visa restrictions – our political class now has another destination in mind. "If you want the American Dream," Ed Miliband says, "go to Finland." This week, the Labour leader told a conference on social mobility that "if you are born poor in a more equal society like Finland, Norway or Denmark, then you have a better chance of moving into a good job than if you are born poor in the United States".