If Sweden was a U.S. state, how rich would it be? (HINT: Not Very)

The Claremont Institute ^ | December 7, 2004 | Joey Tartakovsky

[radiohead]

We don't feel the need to be different. No one needs a lot of choices."

Boy, that sounds like my Norwegian friend. Maybe not so much about the need for choice, but she's certainly stated that there seems to be an ingrained concern that no one appear different.

She bought what looked like a regular pair of athletic shoes to me but was very concerned that they would mark her as someone trying to be a 'fancy American' when she went back home to visit.

Strange system, where people are afraid to exercize choice and individualism.

[tomjohn77]

strange that most Americans thought that the Scandinavians were classy at my University. The girls wanted to go to Norway to buy fancy cloths like the Norwegian girls had.

[tomjohn77]

Also strange that whenever Americans visited our high school they could be spotted from distance because of they baggy jeans and xxl t-shirt. To me thats not fancy , but probably you think so.

[tomjohn77]

But not get me wrong average pay is high in the US.

[RAY]

The danger is that MOST of the people we have coming to America today want the JOBS and the MONEY but still believe in socialism. They don’t like it as much where they’re from but want to make the US more like that place. Makes sense, right? The original immigrants we had were people who wanted less state, less rules. They saw the paradox in BIG state and long term freedom. Today, many Americans do not share the view of the founding fathers and that of the original immigrants to our nation. Culture makes wealth, not wealth culture. I hope the European socialist thought does not rub off on us.

Your statement above is so true. We know a number Swedes who work in the States and they don't want to go back to Sweden to work - but they say the U.S. would be a much better country if it had better social programs. Yet, many of the Swedes will tell you that their system is bankrupt - and they will not be able to sustain it.

[mountn man]

You forgot the Swedish Bikini Team.

[Trailerpark Badass]

They do have a smaller percentage of their population living in poverty.

Sweden: 6.5%

United States: 17%

How is that measured? Remember America's "poor" are defined without accounting for the many thousands of dollars of "assistance" and free services they receive.

[Trailerpark Badass]

A strange thing is that the worlds richest man is a Swede. Kamprad. The man who own IKEA

And he's lived in Switzerland for 30 years. LOL!

[mountn man]

"I kind of hate Bush," Lidmark said. "Everything he does reflects on us, every (American) election has a reaction in Sweden too because he's so powerful -- both America and Bush. We probably should be voting in American elections."

Some of Lidmark's feelings for Bush stem from the war in Iraq.

"I think it's good Sadam Hussein is gone, but if you look at a place like Rwanda a lot of terrible things happen there and the U.S. doesn't do anything about that," she said.

So let me get this straight, everything the US does reflests on Sweden. Its good that Sodamn Insane is gone. Done by the US-good for Sweden. Yeah!!!!!
Rowanda, nothing done by US-bad for Sweden. Booo!!!!

Hey Sweden! If Rowanda is so important to you, get off your dead a__es and do something about it. Don't let the US hold you back from saving the world.

Oh yeah, I love how this little bimbo thinks they (the Swedes) should be able to vote for OUR president. Well when Sweden brings something to the party, I guess THEN they can have some input on the decorations. Until then STHU.

[Melas]

Since the 1980's, largely due to American investments, Ireland has been booming. I wouldn't discount that figure so readily.

[Melas]

Yep, it's called Seasonal Affective Disorder and it's extremely prevalent in AK. AK also suffers from a related problem when it stays light for months at a time. Different from depression, it's more psychotic in nature.

When I was just a youngster, I remember a teacher saying that man was a tropical animal, and the tropics were the only environment that we could physically survive unaided. As I've gotten older, I've realized just how right she was.

[napscoordinator]

I think it is very hard to compare Europe with America. Two very different ways of life. First of all, Europeans don't put money ahead of family like we do in America. Europeans would rather spend time with family than work that extra couple dollars for a new car. They make enough money to live. Since they all live in the same house they don't have to worry about high housing costs. They have lunch everyday with the family (usually 3 hours). They also do not have individual debt so they don't have to work extra hours for paying off credit cards and loans. I am not saying which is better or not, but for conservatives on FREEPER to consistently put down Europeans for not having enough money just gets on my nerves. As a conservative, I love the way they treat there families. I think America could learn from them. So they don't have a huge bank account like we do. At the end of the day on their death bed they don't have any regrets with regards to family like many Americans do. However, we do have that huge bank account which all the kids will be fighting over. /sarc.

[wtc911]

If Sweden WERE a state would they use proper grammar?

[RobbyS]

What they have is genteel poverty. Like Britain had from 1945 until 1985.

[tomjohn77]

Hey you trailer parker. That means that Kamprad has lived in Sweden for around 50 years. He started his company in Sweden. You probably know what IKEA is short for too then?