Posted on 03/09/2011 8:36:08 AM PST by WesternCulture
Being a four year old toddler, my grandpa robbed me from my mother's knee and taught me the realities of life; "We men work and when work is finished, we'll enjoy grandma's great cooking".
My grandma knew how to cook.
I'm fortunate. I've enjoyed the greatest childhood any person could dream of. Despite the torture of Swedish Liberal schools.
My maternal grandfather owned three summer houses by the age of 30 and managed them all by himself (with a little aid from his family though). His father worked at a factory.
My paternal grandfather was just like him. He had no fancy Cambridge education, but knew how to do business with all sorts of people and got very successful in life. Unfortunately, I never encountered him, as he died just before I was born. His spirit never did.
I myself have slaved at the assembly lines of Volvo here in Gothenburg. Believe me, unless you're really fit and able to learn things quickly, you'd fail big time.
Furthermore, I've worked as a lumberjack employing the "most deadly tool on Earth" (a chainsaw is worthy of some respect, I could tell you that) and have also worked as a cook.
I don't deserve to be rich and in fact, I'm very poor for being Scandinavian.
But at least, I'm trying to get the job done.
If all nations shared this ideal, we could all make the journey my grandfathers made:
Going from a poor, bitter, nowhere childhood to owning a three story house filled with whiskey/whisky, cognac, fine whines and having no one else telling you what to do.
Hard work DOES pay off.
Correction:
“fine whines”
- Hardly drinkable.
Share the WORK, and let the wealth redistribute itself.
(Has anyone else ever noticed the left never mentions the "work" part?)
Kudos WC.
Agreed. Combine hard work with frugality and saving. That is the way to likely wealth.
“Combine hard work with frugality and saving.”
- What other option are there for real people?
Some get rich by luck or performing silly pieces of pop music on a stage, yes, but as you and I aren’t like that, why not get to know a real business.
I’m not ashamed of having worked at an assembly line.
I have a brother-in-law, wifes brother, who at 44, has had about 6 or 7 jobs in his life. None lasting more than 3 months. Has raised 4 kids on the government dole. They live better on handouts, than I do working full time, plus I always get side work. I work my tail off, his tax returns are better than mine. I have always ask him how that happens, his answer, child tax credits, his kids special needs ect. His kids walk and talk like most others.
His oldest does have some medical problems, and has been on ssi since birth. She recently turned 18 and left the house to go to school. Their answer was to get their 6 year old on ssi so as not to lose the income. I could not live like that, however the Government maintains this liability by encouraging this behavior. Tuff to watch someone who could be productive, spend their life this way. I will say they seem to work hard at working the system. They do not seem to understand that some day, they will have a rude awakening.
“Hard work DOES pay off.”
Not if Socialism can help it. The siren song of Socialism is equality. True, the ultimate end result of socialism is poverty for everyone.
Thanks a lot for sharing.
One fine day, people throughout the Western World will realize Scandinavian lifestyle requires Nordic work ethics.
Don’t hesitate to raise your voice once in a while when dealing with your relatives.
In case you find yourself living among a gang of first class sloppy “bunglers” - maybe that word hasn’t been used in America since the 1950s:)?, just speak your mind on this subject. To their face.
“Not if Socialism can help it. The siren song of Socialism is equality. True, the ultimate end result of socialism is poverty for everyone.”
- Totally agree with you.
“Agreed. Combine hard work with frugality and saving. That is the way to likely wealth.’
Ditto. The only things I have ever acquired in life were through my own efforts and hard work. I never minded it.
Congrats. May you enjoy the fruits of your labor all your life.
But don’t forget to give thanks to God for these things, too.
“The only things I have ever acquired in life were through my own efforts and hard work”
- I’d hire you.
Spirit matters, CVs don’t.
Where I live, there are people who don’t wish to work; junkies, drop-outs ans so on, but the main cause to why my home city is a place where money is a second rate issue in life is Lutheran work ethics.
We have even been successful teaching Muslim immigrants our culture (but no, I don’t want more of them).
Scandinavia is weak in the department of church attendence, but extremely strong in Christian culture.
“Congrats. May you enjoy the fruits of your labor all your life. But don’t forget to give thanks to God for these things, too.”
- Thank you for reminding me.
Best of regards from Sweden, a nation still waving a Christian cross banner in the fresh air.
I have, has not endeared me to some, oh well.
You’re welcome over here anyhow. I’ll take you on a tour in my Volvo and feed you “sill”.
I’m Swedish, alright, but that doesn’t mean I from worlds apart.
Congrats. May you enjoy the fruits of your labor all your life.
- Did you ever read what Botticelli wrote.
He was no clown.
You have the right attitude.
Don’t hesitate to throw your kids/neighbors/local politicians into a hockey rink.
We Swedes are liberal and fair, but perhaps not all that sparing in terms of ice hockey. It’s on.
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