Tearing down what's left of socialism - Newly elected conservative PM of Sweden plans brisk reforms

www.thelocal.se ^ | 09/24/2006 | Delphine Toitou - AFP

[CORedneck]

Now they need to quit admitting people from islamic countries.

[RightWhale]

A factor that might be of interest is the proportion who rent or live in gov't housing versus those who own their own home.

[RightWhale]

Thanks. I was going to mention the name if anyone was interested in looking into the matter a little deeper, or a lot deeper.

[WesternCulture]

You wrote;

" easier for small and medium-sized companies "

I like to think of such companies as 'young and growing', or "new technology companies', even experimental companies. Also maybe 'niche or boutique' companies.

I don't know about Sweden, but I suspect it is somewhat the same as in Germany, that is a lot of well educated young people, especially technically, who do not have enough growth in start up companies to use them. A lot of hanging on to a job and hoping everything is dragged out. That is not good.

Economic and political liberalization and the better utilization of human intellect and capital is only good. There is no scientific reason that things can not be better. Nor is the future limited. We have nothing to lose but bureaucratic chains of regulations! Power to the intellect!"

Yo've got the picture right.
Europe is in for major changes.

I've written these words before all over the internet and somehow I never get tired of repeating this effort:

A new Renaissance!

[Leisler]

In the old days, and still in a way, people used to get excited about digging stuff out of the ground, gold or oil or such. Or they would find new forest, or fishing grounds. But that wealth was physically limited. But the intellect, science, creativity, who or what limits that? Nothing save human political behavior.

The west needs to have its political economy like a excellent little farm where the best ideas and technologies can grow and those that are the best farmer should be rewarded for bring such fruits to market.

Hopefully the era of large centralized schemes is passing.

Enjoy.

Discover Magazine Interview with Newt Gingrich
Oct 2006

Q: You have predicted a fourfold to sevenfold increase in scientific discovery in the next 25 years. What does that mean?

Gingrich: I began thinking of the fact that you have more scientists alive now than in all of previous human history. You have better instrumentation and computation. The scientists are connected by email and cell phone. And they are connected by lisencing to venture capital and royalties -- and to China and India as reserve centers of production. Put all that together and it leads to dramatically more science than we have ever seen before. And if you get a breakthrough in quantum computing then you're in a totally different world. My instinct as a historian is that four is probably right. I used that figure when I spoke to the National Academy of Sciences working group in computation and information, and afterwards the head of the group said to me, "That's too small a number." He said its got to be at least seven. What it means is that if you have a planning committee looking out to 2031, and you're going to have four times as much change, that puts you in position of someone in 1880 trying to imagine 2006. If you are going to have a seven times as much change, that puts you in 1660. And nobody understands that.

[OldPossum]

Thank you for your comments. It's good to hear from someone in Europe who doesn't agree with the president of Iran and other tyrants in the Middle East that the United States is The Great Satan.

By the way, your English is just close to perfect. The only two "mistakes" I saw were that you didn't capitalize "swedes" and "swedish" (we would have). Is that the custom in your country? Just curious.

[PGalt]

Good news. Thanks for posting and answering questions. Education BUMP!

[Prophet in the wilderness]

This is a good sign of the tide turning in our favor, I hope it maintains momentum.
If anything, this will help President Bush when he will have to tell the UN , thanks, but, no thanks, we will have to do this alone ( again ) and build a new coalition to deal with Iran.

[Charles Henrickson]

Ping to the Swedish Ping List.

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

Anzar was ousted by Zapatero, but still, you point is generally consistent. Putin has remained strong, though.

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

In English?

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

And Berlusconi by Prodi.

[Southack]

Belusconi's election was a virtual tie; no trend there.

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

Agree about the tie part, but he was very popular when he was voted in. However, his tactless comments and allegations of corruption could have ruined him more than Iraq. By the same token, Schroeder was not defeated because Germans largely supported the war, and Martin was removed because of domestic corruption.

[aquila48]

"A united Western World can not be conquered by any force on this earth. "

Couldn't agree more - and the way you get to that unity is by banishing socialism from our cultural fabric. Congratulations to the swedes!! With this election you're re-enforcing the values that have made the Western World so successful and are contributing anew to that unity.

[Rutabega]

You know, my friends in Sweden constantly bragged about the quality of the homes there, but having lived in three different homes there myself, I was never very impressed. I know that they all wanted me to be, but for the size, the luxury comparison and over-all attractiveness, I'd take my home in North Carolina without any hesitation.

[Mentat]

The new PM has a tough job ahead of him. I would say that this is mainly due to the fact that Sweden is what we often call a "one-party state in people's minds" - not sure how to translate that into English.

Anyway, the for so long ruling socialist party has put its people everywhere: In the education system, in government authorities whose sole purpose is to "educate" the citizens, etc not to mention the press, whose journalists according to polls in 2000 to 70% favoured the left. Please then take note that the new PM is probably to the left of the american Democrat party.

It is a tough job but we have to change course. It will not happen overnight but if we adjust the Swedish system for two peroids of term - i.e. 8 years - it might make a significant difference. If they only stay for one term, the socialist will revert all the changes and then claim the credit for all the good effects that will show up after a few years themselves. It has happened before.

[linda_22003]

I visited your country for the first time a little over a month ago, and loved what I saw of it. My husband and I got into a conversation over dinner with an older, apparently prosperous gentleman, whose opening remark to us when he heard we were American was, "When are you going to DO something about your president?"

I indicated that something would be "done" one way or another when his term was up and not before (since we don't really want to imitate Sweden's record of recent political assassinations). We discussed tax rates, socialism, etc., and while he didn't seem too happy about it, he had a very "oh, well, what are you going to do about it" sort of attitude.

Since he had houses in the country and in France, he didn't seem like someone who was too pinched. He didn't seem to think much would change, so I wonder if that's a general sentiment there.

After that we discussed opera, it was safer. ;)

[WesternCulture]

"He didn't seem to think much would change, so I wonder if that's a general sentiment there."

Do you mean in Sweden?

From what I can tell, a lot of people over here seem to believe a lot of things will change in Sweden because of the new government.

Concerning GWB, one reason a lot of europeans dislike him is because the way he's portrayed by european media.

Finally, may I ask what part of Sweden you visited? (I live in the second largest city, Gothenburg, home of Volvo).
Glad to hear you enjoyed your stay. Welcome back again!

[RogerFGay]

How much change is expected depends on who you ask. The left is exaggerating the level of change to complete systemic change -- an end to socialism. They have vowed to begin working as an agressive opposition to proposed changes -- stated by outgoing SD Prime Minister Persson -- a prelude to the next election campaign.

Some of what has been promised is pretty agressive, I must say. I believe they will proceed to sell off the government's shares in former socialist monopolies. That in itself is a big deal but perhaps inevitable given Sweden's membership in the EU. Government monopoly sell-offs even took place under the SD government.

What's been more troubling in Sweden has been the underlying oligarchy (hope I'm using the word correctly) -- a system in which a limited number of companies control supply -- too much control for open competition to expand alternative goods and lower prices. Just after Sweden joined the EU, it seemed that alternatives did show up in the market place and prices dropped; but then it was like the old guard reinstated itself.

It may take time for people to sort out their feelings about how much change the center-right government is actually bringing. I'll tell you what the established wisdom has been from most people I've spoken with. Electing the center-right coalition happens when people are ticked off at the SD party enough to punish them. In the past, people have asked what the center-right has done after 4 years in power -- think nothing really good has happened -- and lose interest. SDs go back into power.

I have sensed a lot of anger against the SDs over the past few years; especially at PM Persson, who has announced his resignation as party leader.