[ARCHIVED THREAD] - How Laissez-Faire Made Sweden Rich (Page 2 of 2)
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the problem is when people here use them as an example success and want to model our system like theirs, but fail to consider the part in bold as a factor Quoted:
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Swedish governments have reduced taxes substantially, from 52 to 44 percent of GDP Jesus fucking Christ!!!!! Scandinavian tax rates seem high, but you actually get something for your taxes (good schools, medical, elder care, etc.) It's not the middle class -> FSA wealth redistribution system we have here. the problem is when people here use them as an example success and want to model our system like theirs, but fail to consider the part in bold as a factor Liberals here don't actually want the Swedish system at all. They just want certain surface aspects of it that aren't really the core of it. |
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In before GD tells you what Sweden is really like.  ummmm....my first wife was Swedish. I lived in Sweden for years I still own property in Sweden A number of my family are still there. that being said...Great article OP! in some ways I see Sweden and the USA being similar....the FSA is alive and well in both countries...and the hand wringing liberals are alive and well in both. It is funny to watch the libs try and figure out how to shit money out of their asses for supporting immigrants...which are practically given everything when I was there. A classic story was my neighbor in Goteborg. There were a number of immigrants that newly arrived that lived in the neighborhood. He stripped down an old bicycle...repainted it from the bare metal...installed a new seat, brakes, tires, a basket for carrying groceries, etc. It was a GREAT looking bike. He told me he was going to give the immigrant family this bike to help out. Several days later...after he gave the bike to them....he was PISSED OFF. I asked him what happened. They Sold the bike....bought a used piece of shit car....that they could not afford, and were back to square one financially Classic liberalism at work there PS..I love Sweden.....great people....if you get past the liberals.....remarkably middle class......hated the heath care system though. You do get much more compared to the US benefits versus taxes collected |
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It's a symptom that's been repeated all over the Western world: Get rich, and all of a sudden the people start thinking about what they can spend money on. Welfare/social programs are it. All these countries then institute massive social programs like they're ALWAYS going to be rich. Well, we're finding out that we aren't going to be forever-rich and the time has come where we can't afford these programs anymore. Problem is: We've turned a huge percentage of voters into welfare state dependents, and now we can't cut ourselves off from it. Oops. |
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I hope that we will continue on the current path. Even the Social Democrats have backed away from many of their far left positions out of fear of losing middle class voters. However, even in the best case scenario it will take decades to get this country to where I want it to be. Quoted:
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It will be interesting to see if Sweden will continue to turn things around, and if the U.S. will begin to go down that same path. 
I hope that we will continue on the current path. Even the Social Democrats have backed away from many of their far left positions out of fear of losing middle class voters. However, even in the best case scenario it will take decades to get this country to where I want it to be. I think it's a lot easier for a relatively small country to change paths. The U.S. is simply massive, with a very diverse population and a lot of inertia. |
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It's a symptom that's been repeated all over the Western world: Get rich, and all of a sudden the people start thinking about what they can spend money on. Welfare/social programs are it. All these countries then institute massive social programs like they're ALWAYS going to be rich. Well, we're finding out that we aren't going to be forever-rich and the time has come where we can't afford these programs anymore. Problem is: We've turned a huge percentage of voters into welfare state dependents, and now we can't cut ourselves off from it. Oops. It's almost like if you subsidize something you get more of it, if you tax something, you get less of it. Liberals don't want you to feed the bears because they'll change their way of life and become dependent upon handouts. Liberals believe that if they increase taxes on things like cigarettes and guns that there will be less of them Yet, somehow they believe they can hand out things to the poor and they will not change their lifestyle to become dependent upon it, and that they can just tax the rich...always "more"/"fair share" and that the rich will somehow not go away. |
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Quoted: It's almost like if you subsidize something you get more of it, if you tax something, you get less of it. Liberals don't want you to feed the bears because they'll change their way of life and become dependent upon handouts. Liberals believe that if they increase taxes on things like cigarettes and guns that there will be less of them Yet, somehow they believe they can hand out things to the poor and they will not change their lifestyle to become dependent upon it, and that they can just tax the rich...always "more"/"fair share" and that the rich will somehow not go away. Quoted: Quoted: It's a symptom that's been repeated all over the Western world: Get rich, and all of a sudden the people start thinking about what they can spend money on. Welfare/social programs are it. All these countries then institute massive social programs like they're ALWAYS going to be rich. Well, we're finding out that we aren't going to be forever-rich and the time has come where we can't afford these programs anymore. Problem is: We've turned a huge percentage of voters into welfare state dependents, and now we can't cut ourselves off from it. Oops. It's almost like if you subsidize something you get more of it, if you tax something, you get less of it. Liberals don't want you to feed the bears because they'll change their way of life and become dependent upon handouts. Liberals believe that if they increase taxes on things like cigarettes and guns that there will be less of them Yet, somehow they believe they can hand out things to the poor and they will not change their lifestyle to become dependent upon it, and that they can just tax the rich...always "more"/"fair share" and that the rich will somehow not go away. Don't forget that "the government" is US. All of us. Or more specifically: Our parents and grandparents who had a full treasury and thought it'd be just peachy to share these riches with the less fortunate. Compassionate idea, but they didn't realize the monster they had created. |
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It's a symptom that's been repeated all over the Western world: Get rich, and all of a sudden the people start thinking about what they can spend money on. Welfare/social programs are it. All these countries then institute massive social programs like they're ALWAYS going to be rich. Well, we're finding out that we aren't going to be forever-rich and the time has come where we can't afford these programs anymore. Problem is: We've turned a huge percentage of voters into welfare state dependents, and now we can't cut ourselves off from it. Oops. One way or another, it's going to happen. The 3rd World is progressing rapidly, and they're not burdened by welfare systems like ours. If we aren't competitive, they'll overtake us and we won't be able to keep our welfare systems anyhow. The cushy days are over, and it's time to get back to work. |
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I think it's a lot easier for a relatively small country to change paths. The U.S. is simply massive, with a very diverse population and a lot of inertia. Quoted:
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It will be interesting to see if Sweden will continue to turn things around, and if the U.S. will begin to go down that same path.
I hope that we will continue on the current path. Even the Social Democrats have backed away from many of their far left positions out of fear of losing middle class voters. However, even in the best case scenario it will take decades to get this country to where I want it to be. I think it's a lot easier for a relatively small country to change paths. The U.S. is simply massive, with a very diverse population and a lot of inertia. Your only hope is your Federalist system. A state can change faster than the federal government. |
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Well, sweden, good luck trying to undo some of your gun laws. Look at Canada how we abolished the long gun registry, it's a small step but it's a step. Hopefully you can join the ranks of economic and banking strong-houses, at our side.  We still have standard capacity mags though, and our economy is doing well.
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I work for a large company that is half Swedish. The other day I sat in on a talk by a Swedish professor and he went through details about Sweden's healthcare system. Sounded very efficient. The way they collect and store patient information so that it can be accessed nomatter where the patient goes is something we are still trying to replicate. Then they are able to collate that info and remove patient identifying details and use it for observational studies so that it can further improve healthcare. |
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I work for a large company that is half Swedish. The other day I sat in on a talk by a Swedish professor and he went through details about Sweden's healthcare system. Sounded very efficient. The way they collect and store patient information so that it can be accessed nomatter where the patient goes is something we are still trying to replicate. Then they are able to collate that info and remove patient identifying details and use it for observational studies so that it can further improve healthcare. Most aspects of our healthcare system work. However, it's sometimes difficult to get the right care if you suffer from rare conditions. I know this from personal experience. |
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We still have standard capacity mags though, and our economy is doing well. Quoted:
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Well, sweden, good luck trying to undo some of your gun laws. Look at Canada how we abolished the long gun registry, it's a small step but it's a step. Hopefully you can join the ranks of economic and banking strong-houses, at our side. We still have standard capacity mags though, and our economy is doing well. So is ours but no luck on the mags...yet 
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It's a symptom that's been repeated all over the Western world: Get rich, and all of a sudden the people start thinking about what they can spend money on. Welfare/social programs are it. All these countries then institute massive social programs like they're ALWAYS going to be rich. Well, we're finding out that we aren't going to be forever-rich and the time has come where we can't afford these programs anymore. Problem is: We've turned a huge percentage of voters into welfare state dependents, and now we can't cut ourselves off from it. Oops. Well said. Ant verses Grasshopper. Americans have chosen grasshopper lifestyle.  
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Most aspects of our healthcare system work. However, it's sometimes difficult to get the right care if you suffer from rare conditions. I know this from personal experience. Quoted:
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I work for a large company that is half Swedish. The other day I sat in on a talk by a Swedish professor and he went through details about Sweden's healthcare system. Sounded very efficient. The way they collect and store patient information so that it can be accessed nomatter where the patient goes is something we are still trying to replicate. Then they are able to collate that info and remove patient identifying details and use it for observational studies so that it can further improve healthcare. Most aspects of our healthcare system work. However, it's sometimes difficult to get the right care if you suffer from rare conditions. I know this from personal experience. You just haven't met the right Doctor. Your condition (thinking you are a black American tv character from the 1980's and a weapons specialist) is certainly rare. 
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Except Norway has oil and Sweden has none.  Quoted:
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In before GD tells you what Sweden is really like. 
Norway is a Swedish province. Except Norway has oil and Sweden has none. If we had known about the oil we would never have let them secede.
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That's racist! 
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