I am a mother of four who was lucky enough to get a seat in the National Assembly at the age of 37. Fairly fresh in politics, without being dependent on a lot of money and a large election campaign apparatus. It is a value we must take care of in Norway. There are opportunities for everyone to participate in democracy, and democracy improves when more people get involved. I fear we are about to narrow this road. This week I went from a moment of everyday happiness, where the family cooked dinner together. It was the first test of a food box, for new inspiration. When the pasta was about to boil, the phone rang. Unknown number. “Hello, it’s from VG”, I received in a message. “Are you free in the near future for any questions about your master’s from 2011?” The rest of the afternoon went by, even though my mouth was dry as wallpaper and my body was numb. The brain was working in high gear. Had I done something wrong? It was a bad feeling. It was the same feeling I had when the newspapers started looking in old travel bills, after someone had been caught for abusing the regulations. Fear of what might come, and a fear that I had done something wrong. Unfortunately, it is not a new feeling. In recent years, I have realized that it is not good to be a politician. It is unpleasant when you see that the travel bills of other politicians become a challenge, and the media constantly ask for more insight. I have occasionally walked around and been afraid that I have done something wrong. It happens all the time that people I meet joke about both commuter accommodation and travel bills. We are many politicians who are tired of these jokes now. It is sad, because it affects the reputation of elected officials, but it also affects the motivation to be elected. The worst thing is that it can also prevent people from making the choice to be elected by the people. VG’s case about the author in connection with the plagiarism cases. Facsimile: VG We need people with lived lives to enter politics. Then you cannot create an image of politicians that no one can reach. There must be high standards, don’t get me wrong, but there must be room for making mistakes. Both in the past, future and present. It’s part of being human. I was never the best in the class. Nor the class ramp. I would like to think that I am something as simple as completely average. It has never occurred to me in my life that I am better than others. Throughout a life that is beginning to count a few years, I have made mistakes of greater and lesser degrees. Most of them I would never be without, because they have taught me an important lesson. It usually goes well, if not then it’s over. Have I been luckier than many others? Clearly. Not everyone is lucky enough to represent the people in the Storting. I am privileged, and I know that, but now this privilege comes with a rather high price. The nomination process is underway, and what has been clear to me for a long time is no longer so clear. “As long as it gives me energy and I think it’s worth working for,” I have often said. It gives me a lot of energy to meet people and try to change society for the better. Right now I’m not sure if that’s enough. Although I get that energy, and political work gives me great joy, I simply don’t know if I will be able to expose myself to this possible feeling, for several years to come. I know I can stand the VG test. The question is whether I want to expose my family and myself to it. That afternoon, when the pasta was cooking and the family was about to enjoy their first meal from the food box, VG started a case about my master’s thesis from 2011. According to VG, it is relevant because I sit on the committee that dealt with the Universities and Colleges Act. They thus used two pages in the newspaper, on a case that turned out to be no case at all. My master’s degree has again been approved by the university. 12 years after submission. I hope the case VG chose to publish about my master’s degree can create a broad debate about the importance of distinguishing between the small and the big things, both in the public debate, in the comment fields and around the lunch table. Because if politicians are to risk being hanged in the newspapers for mistakes that have been committed, far back in time, without any idea of what may come, I think we risk that the path into politics will become narrower. There are politicians who break the regulations. That’s not what this post is about. We can agree that it destroys trust in politicians, and that we as politicians all have a shared responsibility here. However, I hope that we can agree on a common responsibility to also distinguish between issues that matter for the public debate, and issues that do not. Across politics, society and the press. We simply have to stop treating politicians as a herd, where the yardstick is a zero tolerance for making mistakes. Every four years we stand ready for our voters, and we receive a verdict on the trust. Let’s not make this a continuous feedback exercise, day by day, hour by hour. It only creates contempt for politicians. Few will enter a sinking ship. If we are to maintain trust in politicians, we need to start talking about the benefits of getting involved. You can actually help change the society you are a part of. It is educational and meaningful. But it becomes less meaningful if we lose diversity. I’m afraid we are in danger of that now.
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Does my life pass the VG test? – Speech
