Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Debunking the Myth of Socialist “Success” in Scandinavia
New American ^ | 25 August 2015 | Alex Newman

Posted on 02/08/2016 10:38:31 AM PST by Baynative

With one of the leading 2016 U.S. presidential contenders, self-styled socialist Bernie Sanders, openly advocating the transformation of America into a Scandinavian-style welfare-state utopia on national television, the book's message is timely indeed from an American perspective. But as the monograph explains, Sanders, whose campaign has recently surged past Hillary Clinton's among voters in the key primary state of New Hampshire, is hardly alone in totally misunderstanding the lessons Scandinavia can offer Americans and the world. Left-wing celebrities, politicians, journalists, and ideologues worldwide have also been pointing to the Nordic nations for decades as a model to emulate.

~snip~

In other words: Americans, beware. In Scandinavia, with the partial exception of Norway which is able to coast along thanks to its gargantuan oil revenues, governments have started to learn the error of their ways and have drastically reversed course, expanding economic freedom across the board. (Personal freedom is another matter, of course). Those who seek to push Scandinavian-style Big Government in the United States are either misunderstanding the facts, or deliberately misleading you. And Scandinavian Unexceptionalism, a must-read for economic-policy wonks and anyone interested in understanding the region's success, makes that abundantly clear.

(Excerpt) Read more at thenewamerican.com ...


TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: bernie; scandanavia; socialism
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-36 next last
The basic argument I always have for the people pushing for what they call social democratization is a comparison of climates or lifestyle.

People who don’t like cold climates like Idaho find a way to move to the south. People who want large animals move to rural communities. People who like urban bustle and social diversity live in places like Seattle.

So why aren’t the people who extol the virtues of socialism moving to the many places that employ that type of civil governance?

I ask them to tell me why instead of going to find the society they admire, they are so insistent in changing the one that I love and making me live the life I don’t want.

As expected; I either get no answer, or derogatory remarks about my stupidity or racism.

1 posted on 02/08/2016 10:38:31 AM PST by Baynative
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

Yes, I know it was written 5 months ago. But, a search didn't turn the story up as being posted yet. So, easy does it rock throwers.
2 posted on 02/08/2016 10:40:10 AM PST by Baynative (The people promising to raise taxes and support abortion are already rich and already born.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Baynative

Good catch!

BTTT


3 posted on 02/08/2016 10:41:41 AM PST by stephenjohnbanker (My Batting Average( 1,000) since Nov 2014 (GOPe is that easy to read))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Baynative

if they have such a utopia, why do they need all those Muslims to make it better?


4 posted on 02/08/2016 10:43:23 AM PST by MNDude (God is not a Republican, but Satan is certainly a Democrat.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Baynative

BFL


5 posted on 02/08/2016 10:43:51 AM PST by Skooz (Gabba Gabba we accept you we accept you one of us Gabba Gabba we accept you we accept you one of us)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Baynative

I want Sanders asked about Karl Marx. What does he agree with Marx about?

What was Sanders doing in the USSR?

and why can’t sanders openly admit he’s an atheist?


6 posted on 02/08/2016 10:45:00 AM PST by TigerClaws
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Baynative

Bernie’s supporters need to check out the Swedish tax rates.

First bracket is 30%. Starts after $2,700. Next bracket is 60%.

SS/Medicare tax is 30%. And there is a 25% VAT.


7 posted on 02/08/2016 10:45:29 AM PST by joshua c (Please dont feed the liberals)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Baynative

That is because socialism isn’t about freedom. It is about FORCING people to live like the socialist ruling class says.


8 posted on 02/08/2016 10:45:47 AM PST by Blood of Tyrants (Liberals are the Taliban of America, trying to tear down any symbol that they don't like.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Baynative

Electing a Socialist will turn this country into a single corporation owned by the government. This is a prescription for disaster, poverty and ruin.


9 posted on 02/08/2016 10:50:05 AM PST by buffaloguy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Systems like that can only possibly work in a perfect monoculture with a high work ethic. If you bring in diversity, the split second an alien group has the appearance of not pulling their weight and are not only leaching off of society, but also contributing negatively to it, resentment begins with a grumble, then later a roar, and before you know it, things start to get ugly


10 posted on 02/08/2016 10:52:02 AM PST by dsrtsage (One half of all people have below average IQ. In the US the number is 54%)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Baynative; stephenjohnbanker
Julius Caesar would rather have been Chief among a Tribe Wearing Goat Skins and Scalping people for Giggles than a mere Citizen in a Civization that had Hot and Cold running water.

Plutarch-"Having received the government of Farther Spain after his praetorship, he came to a little town in passing the Alps; and his friends, by way of mirth, took occasion to say, "Can there here be any disputes for offices, any contentions for precedency, or such envy and ambition as we see among the great?" To which Caesar answered, with great seriousness, "I assure you I had rather be the first man here than the second man in Rome."

If you understand that, you understand everything.

Liberals/Progressives/Communists, would burn this country to the ground so long as they could be Kings of the Ashes.

11 posted on 02/08/2016 10:56:19 AM PST by KC_Lion (I think it is obvious, feminism stops where Islam begins.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Baynative

Dr Phil says anger is always a response to frustration or fear.

Poor frustrated scared Jeb.


12 posted on 02/08/2016 10:57:35 AM PST by DannyTN
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Baynative

Even if the Scandinavian countries were legitimate successes of socialism, think about this: socialism has been implemented by nearly every country on the planet in some form. If you can only cite 3 countries as possibly having become more prosperous under socialism, that is a REALLY bad track record!


13 posted on 02/08/2016 10:58:49 AM PST by Boogieman
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: KC_Lion; Baynative; All

“Liberals/Progressives/Communists, would burn this country to the ground so long as they could be Kings of the Ashes. “

Post of the DAY!!


14 posted on 02/08/2016 10:59:22 AM PST by stephenjohnbanker (My Batting Average( 1,000) since Nov 2014 (GOPe is that easy to read))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Baynative
Any claims have been undone by the presence of blood-thirsty, rape-happy Muslims over there.
15 posted on 02/08/2016 11:00:25 AM PST by PATRIOT1876 (The only crimes that are 100% preventable are those committed by illegal aliens)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Baynative

There is a place where everyone is equal, where the food and housing is free, everyone has free health care and only the police and guard have guns. It’s called prison and should be the liberals’ utopia.


16 posted on 02/08/2016 11:03:05 AM PST by Blood of Tyrants (Liberals are the Taliban of America, trying to tear down any symbol that they don't like.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Baynative
"I ask them to tell me why instead of going to find the society they admire, they are so insistent in changing the one that I love and making me live the life I don't want.

I used to work with a guy who was a world traveler. One time I asked him which country that he'd been to, if he could, where he'd like to retire.
He said Norway.
I asked him "why Norway?"
He said because the gov. does so much for the average citizen.
I asked him if then he was going to retire there.
He said no.
I said "why not?"
He said because it's too expensive.
I said "why do you want to retire there then?"
He said because the gov. does so much for its citizens.
I said "how can it be great, if it's too expensive to live there?"
He finally disgustedly walked away from me.

17 posted on 02/08/2016 11:03:43 AM PST by driftless2 (For long term happiness, learn how to play the accordion)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Baynative

Norway’s population is 5,000,000 about the same as the greater Houston area.

What they do doesn’t apply to us in any way.


18 posted on 02/08/2016 11:07:48 AM PST by buffaloguy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Baynative
I ask them to tell me why instead of going to find the society they admire, they are so insistent in changing the one that I love and making me live the life I don’t want.

The Baby Boomers have spawned a generation of little socialists....

19 posted on 02/08/2016 11:08:41 AM PST by yoe
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Baynative

I never get that myself, maybe some of these folks believe that what they do will lead to world peace maybe.


20 posted on 02/08/2016 11:09:25 AM PST by the_individual2014
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-36 next last

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.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson