Posted on 07/02/2020 1:23:58 PM PDT by yesthatjallen
Socialism has entered the mainstream of American politics, perhaps for the first time in our history. Socialists insist their model isn't the failed socialisms of the past; rather, they claim their model is the one place where socialism seems to work: Scandinavia. "I think that countries like Denmark and Sweden do very well," Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) says. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) has said her proposals "most closely resemble what we see...in Norway, in Finland, in Sweden."
But what do we see in Norway, Sweden and other Nordic countries? Lars Lokke Rasmussen, former prime minister of Denmark, insists that those who associate the Scandinavian model with socialism are wrong. "Denmark," he says, "is far from a socialist planned economy. Denmark is a market economy." In line with this, here's the headline of a column by Jeffrey Dorfman in Forbes: "Sorry Bernie But Nordic Countries Are Not Socialist."
At the same time, Rasmussen and Dorfman both know that Scandinavian countries have high marginal tax rates in the 60 to 70 percent range, as well as a whole raft of social programs that largely provide for the higher education, health care and retirement of citizens. If Scandinavia is not socialist, as Dorfman claims, then the American Left has a crushing response: In that case, you will not object to importing a Scandinavian-type welfare state to this country!
SNIP
In sum, Scandinavian countries are careful not to kill the goose that lays the golden eggs. Their socialism comes in sharing those eggs - this is the socialist part—but even here, we must recognize how Scandinavian socialism differs markedly from what socialists in America propose. Let's start by considering who pays for the expansive welfare state that covers the costs of college, health care and retirement.
SNIP
(Excerpt) Read more at newsweek.com ...
Shouldn’t the costs of coffee be covered?
Defund College.
1. Until the oil showed up in the 70s it was one of the poorest countries in Europe. Oil simply funds ever social program in Norway. They are running out. Should be fun to watch.
2. Oddly enough it is NOT and EU member and therefore is not burdened with EU taxes.
3. Virtual everyone there has private Health Insurance. as using using the National Health Service means waiting months.
4. They did not buy into open immigration like their neighbors Sweden and Finland. The majority of Norwegians are not pro immigration.
5. Fun fact about Finland, the immigrants sent there and wing up somewhere other than Helsinki, generally ask to be sent elsewhere.
6. Education is not held in great regard. Read up on the Russ Parties (aka russefeiring). Their magnet schools are for athletes not academics. There is only one Engineering School in the country.
7. Unless you like winter it is best to go in July. Most things have thawed out by then.
In the Scandinavian countries, the lion’s share of the economy is still controlled by private investors. No major party is seriously discussing the abolition of the market system, and state ownership is limited to specific strategic industries. The Danish Prime Minister famously corrected Bernie Sanders for calling Denmark “socialist” because of this. For these reasons, it is more accurate to say that the Nordic countries are social-democracies than democratic socialist states.
Not going to Newsweek to read this.
European social welfare states also offer more bang for your buck. Meaning the services offered via taxes are great for everyone. I honestly don’t know what is done with our tax money. Even infrastructure: in Germany roads are repaired with a time frame, often to last 50 yrs. The town where my cousin lives, dug up main street and at the same time replaced all the pipes and cables at the same time. They dug down 6 feet, instead of just scraping the old and pouring a new layer of asphalt. I’d gladly pay for that.
A chunk of our tax dollars goes to our military to protect the Scandinavians so they can have more social programs with the money they don’t have to spend on military.
Excellent article I worked in Norway and he is correct. The left in the USA want us to be Venezuela. I also lived and worked there pre Marxism of Chavez. It was good duty and a wealthy and prosperous nation. It choose poorly and not is a failed nation of violence hunger and desperation
.
~25% of our federal money goes to defense. Less from the states, county and cities.
Where does it all go?
We are paying not that much less than say the Germans. When you look at GDP share that is in some form government (not just federal as is usually listed) we are already at 43% while the Germans are at 48% government. We are not that far behind.
Of course for a leftist media it’s never enough. Until all the means of production are state owned and we all are happy with our bicycles and public mass transit living in apartments with rent control they will tell us about some glorious socialist utopia out where their dream is working.
True, they know that an equal distribution of income kills the economic system. Still, ignorance abounds. Most people don't have a clue what Socialism is or what it means. I was recently in Hungary and our guide was quick to point out as we walked by a university that it was free. I said, "subsidized". She then pointed out that health care was free. Again, I said subsidized. She looked at me and said that if she qualified, she could go to university free. I asked her what the tax rate was on her income. She said 40%. On top of that, there is a 24% sales tax on everything except certain foods and outdoor concerts which are taxed at 18% (why?) So, I said you pay almost 2/3 of your income in taxes and she said yes, but she got "free" education and health care.
So brainwashed she doesn't get it.
that certainly thrills every american taxpayer...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.