By Fabrizio Tassinari, Special to CNN
Editor’s note: Fabrizio Tassinari is head of Foreign Policy Studies at the Danish Institute for International Studies and non-resident senior fellow at the German Marshall Fund of the United States. His next book is ‘Polaris: How to Advance when the West Fades.’ The views expressed are his own.
Scandinavia is officially hot. In a recent issue, The Economist crowned the Nordic economic experience as a “supermodel.” Last month, the New Yorker celebrated Denmark’s hugely successful noir fiction and the egalitarian society behind it as something of a “post-modern” paradise. While these characterizations may be accurate, America and other advanced democracies can be forgiven for dismissing the case of these small, wealthy economies in a remote corner of Europe as an extravagant exception. Not so: the real secret of the Nordic performance is applicable to all, for it is a paradigm of enlightened self-interest at its finest.
The haggling over the fiscal cliff was only the latest iteration of America’s partisan gridlock at its most destructive. Every European summit of the past three years has delivered half-baked results, in the hope that things will sort themselves out in the end. This systemic paralysis is bound to make Western decline a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Nordic countries are anything but declining, and they have their mindset to thank for it. While Scandinavia typically features among the best governed, least unequal, and most competitive countries in the world, the Nordics’ legendary modesty would prevent them from describing this extraordinary record as superior. Yet, any non-Northerner such as myself living in these virtuous lands cannot help being captivated by the consensus, cohesion and, indeed, the dullness that is behind this region’s success.
Nordics are masters in keeping their friends close and their enemies closer: from their flexible labor-market policies to comprehensive environmental legislation, social and economic stakeholders grasp that long-term interests are best served not by opposing adversaries but by joining forces, adapting to and, if necessary, compromising with them. People here seem to intuitively realize that in a complex and deeply interconnected global environment, you are better off pursuing incremental cooperation rather than shooting for grand bargains.
More from GPS: Exploring the Scandinavian model
The poet Paul Valery once wrote that: “we hope vaguely, we dread precisely;” if Nordic people are, by some measure, among the happiest on earth, it may be because they have found a way to hope very precisely. Just as for their trademark minimalistic architecture and design, the Nordics start out from a narrow focus on specific issues of strategic relevance, in order to attain ripple effects that are beneficial to the community as a whole.
Consider energy policies: after the debacle at the U.N. Climate Summit of 2009, “Copenhagen” has become a byword for world disorder. But ever since then, and with broad bipartisan support, the Danish government has adopted a strategy which, among other things, pushes its target for carbon emissions reduction for 2020 from 20 percent to 40 percent, with the ultimate goal of making the country carbon neutral by the year 2050. For anyone objecting that such strategy is only possible in a small and homogenous country, in 2011 Denmark launched together with Mexico and South Korea a Global Green Growth Forum, aimed at marrying bottom-up ideas from corporate and research actors with top-down government support. The only compass guiding these measures is not starry-eyed altruism; it is the realization that the individual need to be safe and secure is best pursued through a single-minded focus on collective action.
Just like the rest of us, the model is not perfect. After all, what makes Scandinavian fiction popular is precisely the combination of institutional clockwork and chronic social maladies. These open societies are also home to some of the best organized populist parties, which in recent years have proven viciously intolerant in relation to immigrants. As someone hailing from the profligate South of Europe, I can testify that ever since the credit crunch a distinctive form of parochialism has resurfaced, even though it is often camouflaged by these nations’ extraordinary civility.
Whereas libertarians would claim that these are all the side-effects of a Leviathan state, Nordics would probably retort that perfection has never been the goal.
The moderation, caution, pragmatism, and even patience characterizing these societies are not an end in themselves – they are a means to attain objectives that are common to all mature democracies. One may not be able to wire the Nordic political culture into other political and economic systems. But in these times of rigid ideological posturing and short-term thinking, we should all heed the advice that accepting our imperfections is the most serious way to salvage our way of life.
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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You libruls with your fancy book-lernin... if you don't like it, LEAVE! This is murica not some pansy librul scandivian country with their sissy laws where you can't own a gun and gays can marry. USA! Number 1!
It's statements like that that make people disagree with American policies. The point of the article is to show the differing political systems in the world. If not for an open minded perspective on the creation of policies within the United States government you wouldn't have your oh so important right to bear arms. It's the open minded mentality that the founding fathers had that mad this country great. And if we continue to dismiss other opportunities for open minded ness we will fail to meet the needs of the changing world. And that fellow commentator is the 'Merica I believe in and support.
Lighten up. He's making fun of you.
You don't recognize the blatant sarcasm?
And the award for most unaware person on the entire internet goes to
It takes a certain amount of intelligence and awareness to recognize satire and sarcasm. You evidently do not possess the necessary intelligence to grasp even a basic level of irony. It must suck to be that stupid.
Not everyone in Scandinavia adopts the "Jantelagen". Denmark's prime minister, Helle Thorning-Schmidt is known for her stylish dress sense and exclusive taste, leading some papers to dub her "Gucci Helle". She's married to Stefan Kinnock, son of British Labour politicians Neil and Glenys Kinnock and the current head of the World Economic Forum.
Successful troll is successful.
I'm sorry. I lost track. Who is making fun of who?
LOL I think you completely missed the sarcasm
Dude, go back to "start", do not pass go, do not collect $200. You missed the point.
He was being sarcastic.
What a tard.
Wow, it's post's like Cletus that make me worry about the stupidity of the right wing in my country. They are proving with every word how uninformed and ignorant they are. Judging this person's writing abilities, he or she never passed second grade. This person must be from a Red state. Education is a good thing. Let's start with the basics, grammar, logical thinking, science, and facts. Cletus has none of these traits.
Um, did you actually not catch the obvious sarcasm in "Cletus's" post?
Just like a Liberal. Your first instinct is to get offended and poke fun at the other side. This guy is clearly being sarcastic. Let's spend more on education. I agree, but your man BO is spending all of our national wealth on social safety nets and handouts for people who don't want to be educated.
This is why we need a parliament system. I disagree with this guy, he disagrees with me. Ne'er the two shall meet. We need third and fourth and fifth parties to build coalitions and make functional compromise work.
That's funny you calling the commenter stupid while yourself being too stupid to realize they are joking.
Sarcasm. It's real.
Liberals clearly have no sense of humor when the joke is on them.
Ha ha, this is funny! All you guys making fun of McAlpine for getting upset at Cletus without realizing that McAlpine's rebuttal of Cletis was a clever mockery of librul namby-pambiism! I'm the only smart one. Ha ha!
Well its hard to tell some times. Theres alot of right wingers that would say something as dumb as what Cletus said.
Thank YOU for displaying the stupidity so often seen from the left. What's the matter? Is your benefit check late again?
Wow David, speaking of education... and along with your lack of reading comprehension, here's another little gem to consider; This is not your country. The US doesn't belong to you, you belong to the country.
Along with working on your reading skills, you need to develop some tolerence for those who disagree with your political views. The very nature of democracy is an excange of different ideas, not a mindless conformity to one model of sociial order. Git some education, it will serve you well.
You cannot be this dense, oh wait, maybe you can...
@Tack – For every point you'd get for a logical argument, you lose one for the cheap swing at "liberals". Maybe if you spent more time being respectful to people out there who may lean left, people might actually listen to you more.
Irony?
D'OH!! Cletus is being sarcastic, people!
IIt's sarcasm you nimcompoops!
Ah cain't b'lieve all o' y'all didn't git mah sarkism! Yee haw! Jayzus take the wheel!
Cletus, you should know you absolutely made my day at work. I laughed till i cried and now whenever me or my coworker beside me get aggravated we say "JAYZUS TAKE THE WHEEL" . You've started something here, sir!
You my good sir are a fine example of our public education system. Now go sit at home, collect your government checks and watch TV. We'll do the thinking for you.
I'd rather see people like you leave this country so it can move forward rather than become a 3rd world nation with morons like you at the helm. I suggest China as you best bet to take you in or even North Korea.
I would just like to point out that the sarcasm isn't very good.
true but bad sarcasm is still sarcasm and this was a softball pitch that got the resposne he wanted
REEL Em In Cletus – Happy Trolling – Well Done
I have quite a few Friends from Norway and they all seem very happy.I never ever heard a downward remark from any of them. They however point out to me every once in a while that I am being too negative at times and I should just lighten up a bit.I take their advise and you know what it really works. You're wrong about them owning guns.I think everyone in Norway has a gun of some sort and you just don't hear about gun violence like here. I can't speak about the gay part but then I don't let it bother me as long as it isn't pushed on me Just like religion.To each his or her own.
Are you forgetting about Brevik?
Cletus! I told you to stop drinking that "night train" and brush that one tooth...You makin us look bad "boy"
Sorry Cletus, Love America? Then keep working for a more perfect union where-ever the best examples can be found.
Love the sarcasm!!!
ad hominem logical fallacy attack...dismissed.
Hey Cletus – why don't you just get out?
It's not us leaving because we don't like it here.We would be leaving because of idiots like you!
This iinsightful comment from America's most intelligent and literate, heed his word!
Cletus learns that sarcasm doesn't work on the internet.
Hey now, don't lump all of us liberal-leaning types in the same bucket. *I* certainly picked up on Cletus's (Cletus'? Cletuses? Whatever....) sarcasm.
A prime example of someone who shouldn't own a butter knife, let alone a gun. Ignorance is really bliss...
I assumed it was scarcasm, but sarcasm isn't quite as funny when it resembles reality. A whole lot of people really think that way ...
Sarcasm usually has a point to it.
Maybe I got here too late, but I'm having a little difficulty figuring yours out, Cletus.
Your comment probably offended the machos in America because, even real macho men know they've gotten by with a little help from their non-macho friends.
It's ignorant gun toting bible thumpers like you that keep this country in the dark !
Try managing a country with a few million vs. hundreds of millions. Big difference. Plus, in the case of Norway, there is no mention of the vast natural resources per capita vs. other countries. When the oil and gas runs out in Norway, so won't their seemingly idyllic lifestyle. The article also doesn't mention what these countries have done to limit immigration. Proportionally, they are much less burdened by the "huddled masses." Now, they do have us on education. Maybe that's the key. Or maybe the US should be divided up in to smaller city states/countries? When the US crashes – and we will – that may be the outcome. However, I've been to Scandinavia extensively. Nice to visit, wouldn't want to live there.
Actually immigration helps countries, the less skilled to the jobs that can't be filled by regular citizens, the higher skilled help grow it through innovation. The main reason Nordic countries don't have more immigratns is because it's so damn cold and the language is foreign to most immigrants. Efficient government works.
Legal immigration is fine it's the illegals that cause the problems.. No I am not talking about the crime rate as much as the services we have to pay for because they don't or can't get the things needed to survive legally.Just think about all the Government services that you and I have to pay for for them... let them pay into the system just like me.
You don't knoiw that the US has vast national resources? Where have you been?
Hm, I got an "o" and an "i" for the price of an "o". Good bargain.
Oh yeah, the percentage of immigrant population is not that far apart - 10.4% for Denmark, 11% for Norway, 12.9% for the US and 14.3% for Sweden. Only Finland, which is classified as Nordic but not Scandinavian, has a significantly smaller immigrant population at 4.9%. So you're just wrong.
I suggest you read the Economist article – the Norwegian exception is very intelligently discussed.
Just to clear up a few misconceptions:
Somewhere around a thirty pecent of the population of Sweden (the largest Scandinavian country) are either immigrants themselves, or first generation descendants of immigrants. In a traditionally Christian country of 9.5 million, 450 000 are now Muslim. Just like the U.S., Sweden has problems with illegal immigrants – people asked to leave because their temporary rights to stay have expired go into hiding. The immigration pressure on Sweden is constant, and most Iraqis were smuggled there illegally and consuming considerable resources to manage and control. So much for Scandinavia being too cold... Speaking of Iraqis, one smaller city took more Iraqi refugees than the entire U.S. for a period. Speaking of cold – maybe I should point out that Chicago winters get colder than Stockholm winters.
Check your facts. Chicago is warmer than Stockholm throughout the entire year.
.
No, YOU check your facts! I wrote, "Chicago winters get colder than Stockholm winters." That's a fact.
Chicago: "The temperature in January averages about 29 °F (−2 °C) in the daytime, and 14 °F (−10 °C) at night."
Stockholm: "In winter, temperatures range from about 19°F to 36°F (-7°C to 2°C)"
"The coldest temperature ever recorded in Chicago is −27 °F (−33 °C) on January 20, 1985."
"The highest temperature ever recorded in Stockholm was 36 °C (97 °F) on 3 July 1811; the lowest was −31 °C (−24 °F) on 20 January 1814. However, the temperature has not dropped to below −25.1 °C (−13.2 °F) since 10 January 1987."
Sweden has never been a Christian nation?
90% of Swedes do not believe and don't care about religion. Muslims make up less than 1% is the immigrant population. You clearly have been brainwashed by Jimmy Åkesson.
Sorry to hear some folks are already defeated on US. Fine get out of the way so the rest of us Americans can make this great country work for the rest of US.
It's hard to see how your post is relevant to the previous posts. It seems somewhat nonsensical.
I agree wt Polar Bear, I've made many trips to that region. Its loaded with natural resources which are the backbone, except Finalnd. lol go to Finland you'll see the difference. The Norwegians even consider the Swedes a burden, ha. Take away that oil and gas, you take away their current lifestyle. Plus, you don't have the burden of immigrants and minorities taking handouts. As harsh as that sounds, it's true. Very few blacks, Hispanics, Russians. It's frustrating knowing we spend so much on our military when countries like these honestly get a free ride with our military behind them. We should start charging them somehow for this. I don't know how but we shold. Nice place to visit not live, I agree.
Jealous much...
I lived in Norway for 2 years in 1966. It was a lot poorer, but still a fabulous place. It's the culture and spirit of the people, not the oil and gas that creates a model nation.
Sweden does not have vast natural resources and yet it is still a model country compared to most.
Your assumption is wrong.
Oh, one small example of being ruled by "nanny." A couple of years ago, tax break to buy diesel cars in Norway. This year, "no drive days" for diesel cars due to smog. The rules change so often over there – and for some reason it's tolerated – that it would make your head spin. $300,000 tax on a 540hp car. Yes, $300K. Nanny says you don't need any more than 130hp. And you really don't need a car at all. Again, works in Norway, wouldn't work in the US.
Why exactly would taxing consumption not work in the U.S.? For one, I'm pretty sure we already tax consumption here through a myriad of taxes we pay. The $300M tax on a 540hp car is akin to "sin taxes" we already pay for cigarettes and alcohol.
And one of the main reasons you don't need a car in Norway is they have excellent public transportation there. If we had a good public transportation system in the US you would see auto sales drop.
It's fairly easy to have great public transportation when you have a tiny country with only a few million prople and a tax rate approaching 70%.
Can't find any info on $300,000 tax. Think you are making this up. Sorry.
The Scandinavians have always been progressive people. They were the first Europeans to reach North America back around 1000 AD and they managed to establish Socialism in their countries without any backlash from Great Britain or France. Let's just hope now that the Swedes don't make the mistake of joining NATO and carry out orders from Washington D.C.!
And they also have Brevik!
More socialistic than other Western countries, yes. But Socialism? No. They still substantially operate under free market economics. This idea of looking to countries who maker their systems work is kind of silly. Communist countries started looking to China for their economic model in the 80s, but without success. Culture, tradition, religion, those have more factors upon a country's economic and political processes than just pure ideology.
I'm sure all the victims of Viking attacks didn't find the Nordic countries particularly "progressive."
Something that is probably real, though, is the increased willingness of residents of harsher climates to cooperate with each other.
Wow, there are some seriously thick, unable to recognize irony types, at the start of this thread. Amazing. Go Cletus!
The one thing the Scandinavian countries have that the US does not and will never have is uniformity in the background of its people. It's incredibly difficult to immigrate to any of those countries. Everyone is basically the same and everyone traces their lineage the same. The US is the great melting pot. You can't find two Americans who agree on everything. You can find several million Swedes who do.
Several Million? The population for this entire county is less than 10 million. Swedes and other scandinavians are so bored that the only population growth comes from angry immigrants who bring and are encouraged to bring their national baggage from the heck holes they escaped from. The Nordics will be outbred to extinction in just a few decades because the won't fight for what they created. Sound familiar?
By far the dumbest comment of the day.
Actually JP it's a fair statement. They aren't the only country who's original inhabitants are being bred out of existence. It's the way of the world.
Actually, kbaredge126c, you're just repeating a false meme. Immigrants' children adapt to the norm and have fewer children themselves. The only way there's even a chance of a "takeover" is if immigration is at a high and constant rate. But of course the idea itself is based on racism. It doesn't really matter if Norwegian, Danish or Swedish citizens of a darker hue increase their numbers.
Incorrect.
Sweden, thanks to it's generous family leave policy, actually has a growth rate of about 2.0 births per woman. Considering the length of the average Swede's life (82 or so), this results in a natural population growth.
2.0 isn't growth. Its just under replacement (more then 2.1) is growth. and it takes more the 3.0 to be rapid and noticeable.
Scandanavia has the most lax immigration laws in Europe. If they continue to allow mass immigration from the Middle East and Africa into the frozen North, I doubt their economic sustainability, and their cultures, will last very much longer.
Actually, the immigration laws are strict, but these countries make exception for refugees. Which puts them far above most of the world in that category.
Demographically you're pretty ignorant if you believe what you wrote.
The Scandinavian countries have almost zero "immigration". What they have is an influx of refugees. There's a huge difference – although most Swedes lump them into the same category.
Fitty Stim: You are still an immigrant if you are a refugee who ultimately is allowed to stay forever so I think your statement that "there's a huge difference" is just plain wrong. To immigrate means moving there permanently, and in that respect it is irrelevant how you got there, why you are there, or whether or not you are there illegally. Your distinction is only relevant for those fewer refugees who are there temporarily. Thus your entire statement is false. Sweden has a large immigration.
candinavian countries have almost zero "immigration". What they have is an influx of refugees. There's a huge difference – although most Swedes lump them into the same category.
Sorry but their immigration levels are about the same as the US and Sweden has a higher percentage of immigrants than the US. Not boring either. There is plenty to do there and since they have excellent schools and overall are much more eucated than Americans they actually have the ability to entertain themselves and read books. Yes taxes are higher than in the US but then if you add US health insurance premiums to the taxes we pay in the US it would be a lot more expensive in the US. They have extremely low unemploymeent between 3% and 5%, so yes people are working. Cost of living is high but so are incomes. Overall they have a better life, live longer are healthier and much happier while alinve.
Scandinavia = Denmark, Sweden, Norway
Nordic = Scandinavia + Finland + Iceland
Personally, I wouldn't include Denmark in the Scandinavia group. Denmark hasn't had territory in Scandinavia for over 350 years.
That's like calling the US a British colony.
Denmark is not on the Scandinavian peninsula but Scandinavia can refer to the cultural-linguistic aspect (related languages and culture) and that does include the kingdom of Denmark.
Denmark not part of Scandinavia?? What are you smoking? Denmark is just as Scandinavian as Sweden – I should know, I am Danish.
Personally, Fitty Stim, I wouldn't include you among the intelligent group.
That's like calling the US a British colony.
We are a British colony.
They also fail to mention how Scandinavian countries are doomed to become islamic republics under sharia law in the next century...
Another racist far-right false meme. It's not happening anywhere.
It's called sarcasm, knucklehead...
No, Fitty Stim, many far right-wingers believe such nonsense. I don't think it was sarcasm.
Didn't you know? Right wingers have an uncanny ability to predict the future, no matter how ridiculous it may sound.
Truly civilized countries. Makes me proud to be of Scandinavan descent
I'm an African-American married to a Dane, and I live in Northern Denmark. There is NOTHING NEW that Scandinavia can teach the world about having an egalitarian society, and I DEFINITELY WOULD NOT recommend that other countries try to emulate this society.
Danes are some of the most bigoted people I've ever met in my entire LIFE, and this is coming from someone who has most of my family in the US South. The "mommy state" has made Scandinavian/Nordic kids here never having to experience "real" hardship, and the "parochial thinking" is far more dominant than people realize (referring to the so-called "Jante Law" which nobody here likes to talk about, but it's pretty prevalent in each and every one of the Nordic countries.) And don't get me started on how the "mommy state" has muddled gender roles to a point where it's causing people like Anders Behring Breivik to go on a rampage. What's funny is that even though I'm the kind of person that ABB would resent and hate, I actually have a high level of understanding on why he did what he did.
Yes, the health care system in Denmark is great, but you can actually find that in Canada and other parts of Europe, so that is nothing unique.
Scandinavians like to say that they're open-minded, tolerant, and modest, but in reality a good number of them are the complete opposite.
Taila the only bigot is you. "Muddled gender roles" helping you "understand what ABB did" and talking about how everyone in Denmark owes you the world since you are an "African-American visitor." Denmark would be better with you not in it. If people in both the US and Denmark think you're crazy, it's you, not them, that is the problem. Keep being a hypocrite and having that tremendous chip on your shoulder.
Dude, you need to chill out big time.
I live in Sweden and know exactly what she's talking about.
Wow. Since when is 'never having to experience 'real' hardship' a bad thing?
Wow, you mean that they are really human beings after all? Not a super race. To belive that you could go to any country and avoid all bigotry is pretty naive
Totally agree, i live in Norway. Norwegian will die with heart ache if the world does not call them good. They don't tolerate criticism because there is nothing wrong with them. If you as outsider give some critic you will be told to go back where you came from. Critic of a Norwegian is big NO, it is a sin worse then blasphemy.
Who ever wrote the article, i can tell you this because, i have lived here 12 years and talked to 1000's of them.
Its not that Norwegians are bad people , me me me and my happiness comes first in Norway. So everyone is happy in their own little heads.
me me me is synonym for Norway.
I'll second this.
You mean we're bigoted because we're the only ones in Northern Europe who have an open discussion about whether there might be a problem with fundamentalist muslims immigrating here and then demanding that our society change rules to accommodate Sharia law?
Your experience is what I've noticed with many from the US who come here. They're shocked to see that we don't care about whether something is PC or not. We are not superficial enough to just say everything is amazing like most Americans do. If we feel there is a problem we say so instead of beating around the bush.
It's not racism Taila, based on what you post I think it obvious that a lot of people would not like you regardless of what flavor you are..
A few years back I was working at a company that was about to be bought by a Norwegian company. The Norwegian company sent several representatives to investigate our company and as part of that they met with all our employees to give information about the prospective sale. After the meetings there were question and answer sessions with the Norwegian representatives. Without exception they ALL expressed complete contempt for the Norwegian economic system – and the socialistic malaise it engendered. They talked about how the people were required to buy all the Norwegian produce before any could be imported – so people went out and bought tons of lettuce and other sub-standard vegetables and threw them in the garbage so that all that junk would get used up and they could get some good food from outside Norway. They also talked about the absolute impossibility of increasing one's economic standing in the Norwegian system – due to HIGH taxes, government restrictions and the mediocrity that the socialist system engenders. OH YEAH! Let's use them as a model! You Liberals that foster this kind of nonsense are are sick in the head – and degenerately stupid!
Anecdote aside... You do realize they have better upward mobility than we do in the US, right?
Wrong! Absolutely!
Yes, Archie DeBunker, you ARE wrong, absolutely.
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R42400.pdf p. 9-11
http://www.verisi.com/resources/prosperity-upward-mobility.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_mobility
Norway is a country with a few million population and huge natural resources - including a large oil-field. This distorts their economy - they're not only paying their way as a nation but have put their surplus income into a huge soverign wealth fund. This contrasts starkly with the British model where the oil fields were exploited as rapidly as possible and what wealth was generated from them was used to mask structural deficits. Naturally anyone who could would want to get hold of Norway's wealth and appropriate it, anything less would be allowing 'socialism', but so far the Norwegians seem happy to keep things as they are.
So is Venezuela, but it hasn't quite worked out the same down there. They must be doing something different up north.
They don't have an ignorant, idiotic underclass they have to drag like a lead weight. Amazing how nice a country can be if everyone can just live normally, working reasonably hard, and not trying to steal from their neighbors. These countries do have high taxes, but do 47% of them not pay anything? Remember, the top 1% are already carrying ~50% of the tax burden here. How progressive are their tax systems compared to this?
Total bull. You lie.
Yo! You need to clarify to whom you are responding. Is it to the Archie Bunker dude or the British oil fields dude?
Fitty Stim, if I had replied to Martin I would have been further indented. If the post I wish to reply to doesn't have a 'Reply' button, then I include the name, otherwise not.
LOL Gotta love ig-nor-ance! Social malaise? Norway is filthy rich from oil. The Norwegian Government Pension Fund Global is worth $680,000,000,000 and growing, in a country of less than 5 million people. They have so much money they don't know what to do with it all so now they are aiming at the American real estate market. Watch out, USA! The Norwegians are coming.
Ever studied the suicide rate in those countries? Higher than that in the U.S. by far. Especially if you remove the disproportionate suicides among our military. And those wonderful Scandinavian/Nordic countries need to be spending a bunch of that "wealth" they have on providing for their own defense – instead of relying on the U.S. and the rest of NATO to keep them "free" to practice the economic nonsense of socialism. If Norway, Finland, Denmark, Sweden – or any of the others were required to maintain a fleet of F16's and bombers and enough trained personnel to assure their own safety from encroachment from the Russia and China, the "magic" of "free" educations, "free" medical care would evaporate in no time! Or, in other words – their "economic wonder" is a mirage – and we, as Americans, are paying for all those "free" educations, etc. by providing them protection free of charge! Socialism STINKS – and it never "works" without BIG influxes of cash from other sources! Ask old Liberal Idiot Garrison Keillor how well he liked Swedish Socialism! He went over there for about one year because he was so "sick" of capitalism and the U.S. Then he found out the Swedes were going to confiscate 50% of everything he made and he got the heck out of there – pronto!
Archie, now who should they be defending themselves against?? Be specific.
The problem is they actually have managed to be careful with their spending and not waste it on a massive bloated "defense department". Here in the US we just waste about 30% of our defense department budget according to Bush's Secretary of Defense. They have a military which they use judiciously.
To be honest only an idiot thinks Finland needs a military to defend themselves against either Russia or China,neither Russia or China have any interest in invading them
. At the end of WW2 Finland was one of the poorest countries in Europe. So they began to invest heavily in Education Now they are one of the wealthier countries in the World with some of the best educated citizens. They fought the USSR to a standstill before WW2. They don't need to waste money on building a huge defense department.
Angela, if we decided to pull all our troops out of Europe tomorrow, they would all Putin in their pants.
Scandinavian countries have a lot of advantages, that help them succeed:
1) Natural resources (especially North Sea oil).
2) Limited 20th century war damages (compared to their European peers).
3) Shared heritage, limiting internal ethnic, racial and religious strife.
Test
Ja pan & Ger many were destroyed by war, but quickly became highly developed. The success of a country comes from its people – far more than from anything else.
Joshua--Norway suffered and intense and destructive 5 year German occupation. Many entire towns were burned in retaliation for resistance.
I kissed my way up to VP at a health insurance company. Now I take over $600,000 of your health care dollars for NO VALUE ADDED to your health care. And that’s just me. Now think about how many other VPs, Directors, Managers, etc. are at my company alone. Now multiply that by thousands of others at hundreds of other health insurance companies. From 10 to 25% of your health care dollars go towards administration that adds NO VALUE to your health care. But my company’s PAC dollars will continue to fool you little people into thinking that a single payer system will be bad. Little people like you are so easy to fool. Little people also don’t realize that a single payer system is the ONLY system that would allow little people (as an entire country) to negotiate better health care prices. Little people don’t realize that the Medical Cartels already know that. And that is the reason why the Medical Cartels spend so much PAC money from the hospitals and doctors lobbying against a single payer system. Some little people say that a single payer system would cost you little people more. But if that were true, then wouldn’t the hospitals and doctors WANT that extra money? Yes they would. So why do the Medical Cartels lobby against a single payer system? It’s because the Medical Cartels know it would allow little people to negotiate better health care prices. And that’s what the Medical Cartels are afraid of. Period.
But us big wigs at insurance companies, hospitals, and pharmacy companies don’t ever need to worry about health care no matter what it costs. We get our health care paid for one way or another by you little people. And we get the little people that work at our companies to contribute to our PACs. And us big wigs say it’s to protect the little peoples’ jobs. But in reality it would be in the little peoples’ best interest to NOT contribute to the PAC. Again, little people are so easy to be fooled. I won’t ever have to worry about losing my job with so many little people being brain washed by the Medical Cartels’ PAC money. Not only that, the Medical Cartels’ PAC money is used to elect so many republicans that will never allow a single payer system. Republicans have always fought against any meaningful health care reform. But that’s what our Medical Cartels’ PACs pay them for. Politicians can be bought so easily.
Pretty soon the only people that will be able to afford health care is us big wigs. And that’s the way it should be. We don’t want you little people using up the resources when we need them. And once again, I thank you little people for capping my SS tax at the $113,700 level. Now I only pay 1.2% SS tax and you little people pay 6.2%. Also, thank you for extending my tax breaks. I’m using the extra money on my vacation houses.
The only thing missing from this comment was: "I know this is a little off topic but..." followed by the URL to http://www.letmestealyourmoney.com
B. S. Tommy Suckle!
Replace any VP at any insurance company with Timmy Suckle and then it's ALL TRUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hahahahahahahaha
LOL!
I only have 1 basic point and it is undeniable.
The USA has sea ports, railways, trucking, natural resources of almost every possible kind. We have manufacturing capability, and the knowledge to invent and create new products.
So why are we broke and 95% of of the middle class and lower has a declining standard of living? 1 answer.
The US Government. We are rich by default – Poor by Choice. The Government is stealing everything you have and more with wars, spending, interest on the debt via federal reserve. Strink the Government to be nothing more than a national defense and make it SERVE the people....not destroy the People.
Sweden's taxes are triple ours, relative to GDP, and they have a balanced budget and recently experienced 6% economic growth, which is something remarkable for a non-developing country.
Actually the weird thing is that my taxes aren't triple what I paid in the US.
I pay about 27% in income taxes and a 25% sales tax (VAT). But the money left over is all mine.
I don't have to pay for medical or dental insurance or pension or 401(k). I don't even have to pay for hot water or cable TV. Telephones and 100/10 broadband is pretty much free. Everything associated with raising a kid is "free" (paid through taxes).
So after paying all my bills and everything (I'm talking no debt except mortgage), we have about $5k to "play" with each month.
It's not so different than when I was living in the US – except I work about 1300 hours per year instead of 2000 hours.
One of the brighter things I've read in a while.
very few large-breasted asians in Nordic countries would be the reason for me to avoid that model
I don't know about bust size, and while there are more in the U.S., there are still quite many Asians in Sweden. What do you want? You'll find Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, Filipino, Pakistani, Indian, Thai – anything you want! You may want to stick to the larger cities though, preferably Stockholm.
Minnesota is a Nordic nation!
Yeah, and Al Franken is the epitome of the blond, blue eyed Nordic male.
Article on a topic of interest to me. Wish it really contained more information and reporting though, rather than mostly the authors positive feelings about the region.
You cannot look a country like Denmark with a population of 5M and compare it to the US with a population of 315M. Their economic model works because of its relatively small size. Duh.
Matt, your response is the most factual and less emotional.
It's also pretty much true.
Luv denmark
Explain how small size makes the critical difference, then. Are we only to compare the US with Russia, Canada and China?
A positive article about a northern European country? RACIST!
anyone else think the lack of diversity in those countries plays a part? these countries have MANY common goals among their citizens – we have very few. i've been there several times and have NEVER heard anyone refer to themself as polish-dane of afro-dane – just danish. america is circling the drain and will soon break apart based on cultural lines.
Marvelous hyperbole there. The US is not breaking apart, and we do think of ourselves as primarily US citizens, no matter what our heritage.
you have plenty of responses but little to say. how about something original instead of your laconic put-downs?
These countries are doing well because they have less diversity and higher levels of education. Too many immigrants are bringing down the USA to a 3rd world country
Your argument is based on false beliefs. The Scandinavian countries are on a par with the US as far as immigrants are concerned. Read posts above.
He means aside from their Horse Meat scandal....oh and that Anders Behring Breivik thing. I do agree that that their immagration policy is a bit better than ares, although I am sure they do not get quite the number of people who want to be part of the greatest country on Earth.
I couldn't get past "immagration" or "ares"...
Holy hell, you can't spell!
I too would like to know http://t.co/d35PvVmb
"Diversity is strength"!
Now lets DREAM act 11000000 splcs, allow birth right citizenship and grant afromitive action to monkeys.
Well one reason is a thousand years of entirely racist monoculture.
I gather you've never been to Scandinavia.
Must be nice, having the US pay for your defense and looking to the world like you're so special.Send them a bill for what we do and have done since WW2 and see how great they are.
We've done nothing much for Scandinavia. Our armament, which was more for our benefit than Europe's, was and is concentrated in mainland Europe and England.
A major reason these countries are successful is because they put an emphasis on education. Students seeking higher education (Bachelors Degree, Masters Degree) get paid to be a student. This is a foreign concept in the U.S. where instead our Universities break the backs of students just to get an undergraduate degree. Not to mention the significant levels of students failing to even reach University levels.
Instead, in countries like Denmark, it is the norm to have a Masters within your general field of study. Increasing levels of education within society makes these countries more attractive to foreign businesses investment and raises the bar for production within the country as a whole.
@John. You appear not to know the difference between a Magister's degree and a Master's degree.
All northern Europeans (Germans, Swedes, Danes, Norwegians, Poles, others???) translate the Magister's degree to a Master's degree. This is in error.
However, the Magister's degree is really equivalent to an American Bachelor's (undergraduate) degree.
A Master's degree requires one to first have studied and earned a Bachelor's degree (typically a four year stint at a university). After the four year undergraduate degree, the student studies an additional two years for a Master's and then two more years for a PhD.
Ask a northern European who claims to have a "Graduate degree" what their undergraduate degree is and you will be met with blank stares.
That depends on what specific degree you are looking at:
For example, if the school is 13 years and a magister/diplom takes 4.5 years (270 credits), then it is highly questionable if it is worth less than 12 years of school and a 240 credit degree
Another followup:
Unlike the Bachelor/Master, the Magister/Diplom is not streamlined and actually encourages students to take more courses. For example in Germany, the average time to finish a Magister/Diplom is/was ~6 years.
US is hardly able to pay for it's own defense (it might be offense), and that is along with sick care cost the main reason for huge national debt which is getting worse by the hour. Before sending them a bill, let us look at our own bill. If we are so "rich" why do we owe so much money?
They do the obvious: invest in education, urbanism, environment, and they also maintain their budgets under control, with few debts
The problem is.... THAT THIS COUNTRIES WILL BE SOON CALLED DENMARKISTAN, SWEDINSTAN AND NORWEGISTAN!!!!!
Hardly. You're just ignorant. And bigoted.
Really! Small countries with nearly all Germanic people who have less bureaucrats govern the best? Consider me shocked!
If they are so happy why is the suicide rate so high??
http://healthland.time.com/2011/04/25/why-the-happiest-states-have-the-highest-suicide-rates/
not really http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Suicide-deaths-per-100000-trend.jpg
Except that this idea of high suicide rates in Scandinavia is complete nonsense! Denmark and Sweden have the same suicide rates as the U.S. (actually a tiny bit lower). South Korea has the world's highest suicide rates with 31.7 suicides per 100,000 people and year. At place 34, you'll find the U.S. (12.0), at place 35 Sweden (11.9), and at place 36 Denmark (11.9). If you look at all the Nordic countries, Finland has the higest suicide rate and rank 19 in the world with 16.8 suicides per 100,000 people and year. (Finland is Nordic, but not Scandinavian). Source: Wikipedia "List of countries by suicide rate". Google on "suicide rates countries".
There is a long list of other reasons why these countries do so well:
1) Lack of corruption. Nordic and Scandinavian countries routinely rank as the most transparent and least corrupt countries in the world. Sweden, Norway and Finland are so obsessed with openness that they ** publish ** every citizen's salary and tax information for everyone to see. Mitt Romney could not hide his wealth and tax loopholes in these countries.
2) Lack of military spending. While the USA spends approximately $1.6 TRILLION a year on war-related activities (Pentagon, CIA, NSA, Dept. Homeland Security, VA, interest on the debt from previous wars, etc.), these countries spend a far lower percentage of their GDP on the military, and are free to spend that money on keeping their citizens healthy and happy instead.
3) Lack of religiosity. There is a direct correlation between lack of religiosity and prosperity and equality in the world (and in the USA, per state); these countries are some of the least religious in the world, and can devote their energy to more productive purposes. They do not have to worry about Creationists trying to dumb down their population.
4) Egalitarianism. The gap between the rich and poor is far narrower in these countries than in the USA, which ensures a strong middle class which is one of the best ways of making a country strong and prosperous. This is something the USA pioneered, as from 1950-1980 prosperity was equally shared among the poor, middle class, and rich alike, and the USA became the beacon to the world. Since 1980, however, more and more of the benefits go to the top 1% this social contract is being dismantled and now the gap between the rich and poor is the greatest since start of the Great Depression. This is not true in the Nordic countries where the middle class is not falling apart.
Norway does have significant oil resources relative to its population, but that's not true of all the Nordic countries.
You do not know what you are talking about, corruption is what they are made of. Except the military spendings you are totally wrong.
Prove your claim, uneulv. I say you're dead wrong and ignorant.
Actually, Sweden was among the top five richest countries in the world back in the 1970s, yet was also then the world's most militarily powerful neutral country, so I don't know about your theories about military spending...
I'm not talking about the 1970s, I'm talking about today. Sweden spends only spends 1/4, relative to GDP, as we do on the military.
I'm not sure why the theory of not spending money on X means you can spend it on Y instead is a radical "theory."
I can see Nordic from my back yard.
You really have not much insider knowledge. Danmark and, maybe, Sweden are more like normal countries, but e.g. Norway is hell on earth. Too few people to develop a human culture. If you want to see the very worst that humans are capable of under extremely favorable conditions, then go and visit Norway and discover what they do their fellow beings and their selves while showing off a beautiful but false face to the world. No place in this world is more scary, nowhere has human life less meaning.
You must have had a bad personal experience, but your claim is laughable.
I have many relatives in Norway...and I say bull...NO more like BULL SH IIT!
What leads to the conclusion that greater equality is better? It is inequality that provides drive for innovation.
To a certain degree, yes, but don't forget that a large number of inventions, ideas, and scientific discoveries come from the Nordic countries – as well as all sorts of entrepreneural ideas, which of course is one of the fundamental reasons for Nordic economic success.
Prove it with figures, please. I doubt you are correct.
Maybe the number of patents in force is a good metric. US has about 18 times as many patents as Sweden but 31 times as many inhabitants.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_patents
Northern Europe = Not Brown = Successful
Northern Europe = Seasons = Great
Hmm well in Scandinavia – like everywhere there are good things and bad. The public transportation is fantastic – and no one goes hungry – however many people live for years off of welfare bringing down those who do work. Things are frightfully expensive and there would be few if any new products like ipads and other modern marvels if they werent devloped elsewhere – true nokia and some companies fiddle around with electronics – but until the GUT WRENCHING CRIPPLING 22 PERCENT sales tax goes away no one there will be able to make any money and enjoy life for once instead of drinking absolut vodka like the russians...but yes again its not thirdworld africa thats for sure and the freedoms are great – have to love the redlight districts and hot scandinavian girls...too bad you cant build mansions there
They're not bringing anyone down - The average Norwegian is way better off than the average US citizen. The prices are NOT frightfully expensive to Norwegians, because their pay scale is accordingly higher. Satisfaction is higher in the Scandinavian countries than in the US, and they don't find their tax rates gut-wrenching or crippling, they find them normal. I've lived there and go there several times a year - believe me, they're living a better life than we are.
You just see everything from the perspective of a US citizen. A conservative one, I'd guess.
Sleep safe and sound Nordic nations, the United States Armed Forces are only a phone call away.
Actually, they're way over in Germany, and the Cold War is long gone. Please join the 21st Century at your convenience.
This article really promotes Denmark, but does little to promote anything else in Scandinordia.
Sweden is the largest of the Nordic countries by both geographic size and population. The population of Sweden is 71% larger than that of Denmark, and without huge Greenland (belongs to Denmark), Sweden is 10.5 times the size of Denmark. The population of Sweden is 30 times that of Iceland – just to give you some perspective by comparing the smallest and the largest of Nordic countries.
Large countries like the U.S. don't seem to be able to sustain a more socialist economic model. If you put the largest several westernized democracies (England, Germany, Italy, France, Spain, etc) on a graph, you would see that an increase in tax as an percentage of GDP is correlated with an increase in debt as a percentage of GDP. Small countries have a better chance of making it work. Maybe if the U.S. was more socialist at a state-run rather than federal level, it might work. It might make accountability closer to home. For example, California recently claimed to have balanced its budget. The fed is miles away from that.
so why does Canada seem to have a working solution for a socialist economic model?
I'm a large fan of the Nordic Model but Canada has a population of around 30 Million.
The cutoff must be around 35 to 40 million. We might find out in 20 years or so.
Northern Europe has been better managed and more productive than southern Europe in all sorts of ways for many decades – financially, democratically, corruption-wise, education-wise, technologically, GDP per capita, life expectancy, etc. It is a simplification, but as such, is very true. Smacked in the middle of it all, however, is the wealthy alpine region and Switzerland.
This column offers comments with diametrically opposite "facts" expressed:
Jeff: "Scandanavia has the most lax immigration laws in Europe."
Mark: "It's incredibly difficult to immigrate to any of those countries."
I guess what they mean is:
Its incredibly difficult to settle, work there and become part of the society if you come from a reasonably developed country eg Canada, USA.
But its incredibly easy if you're coming from some 3rd world country claiming refugee status, eg Somalia, Iraq
I was hoping that the Thought Police at CNN went home , but it is worse than I thought. As usual my comments did not match your propaganda -sorry, I know a lot more about the subject than the author or any "expert " at CNN-I have been there and know E.U. well as well as European history. Your practice of removing comments is an indication of a totalitarian state a la Communist censorship. Congradulations, you elevated CNN to a servant of the Truth Ministry in a totalitarian state.
I'm guessing they simply couldn't make sense of your comments. You do realize that free speech does not apply to a private web site, don't you?
This article is not scholarly, and thankfully it doesn't claim to be. There are so many differences between the political and societal structures of the US and these individual Nordic countries that the comparison at some level is nonsense. Strife and conflict in society arises through stratification in the society horizontally (by economic class (think Haiti or many African or Middle Eastern countries)) and vertically (by race, religion, tribe, language,culture, and other demographic factors (think the U.S., the former Soviet Union, China, Iraq, India, and the former Yugoslavia). The likely hood of strife and conflict is most probable when there is too much stratification or when horizontal (economic) stratification coincides with vertical stratification. The US has significant stratification both horizontally and vertically, and is an enormous and diverse society with a complex, federal, republican democracy. Yet, we amazingly have coexisted peacefully for the majority of our history. That is what makes the US so special and still relatively unique, although other parts of the world are becoming more diverse. With all of that said, the Nordic countries by in large suffer neither horizontal or vertical stratification. Therefore, to claim that we should transfer their political discourse to the US and to expect to have positive outcomes is counter intuitive. Certainly we need to have less divisive discourse in our politics, but we should not expect to be or try to be Norway. That is not who we are. At the same time, given the stratification in our society, we must also recognize that our survival as a viable union cannot continue indefinitely if we don't address our differences in rational, constructive ways through compromise as our forefathers did. Taking absolutist positions and dividing our self on cultural and economic lines will eventually lead to our own self-destruction.
Thank you for having common sense, multiculturalism is a fantasy that has only worked in the us, it is a death sentence for Europe and Asia and will kill the Spanish, French, German, and Swedish cultures we have all come to love
They might have a great system, but the uniformity and lack of choice involved with such a system can be seen as oppressive. In a place where such a strong emphasis is placed on community and doing exactly what is expected of you for the good of all, there is less room for creativity, individuality, strong opinions, outspoken people, etc. Can there really be a democracy when everyone is trained from birth to think the same thing? Also, they may seem peaceful, but they have a large arms industry. They may seem like they have a great political system, but they still have a political elite that rules through violence(look up the assassination of Olaf Palme if you don't believe me). I remember when I was a kid I learned in school that Singapore was an oppressive dictatorship that arrested people for spitting on the sidewalk. Later, in college, they tried to teach me it is a model country that we should emulate. Before you all go and idolize some supposedly perfect system, think for yourselves and try to find the other side of the story. If I personally had to choose a viking-type country for the United States to idolize right now, I think it would be Iceland. They arrested the dudes we bailed out.
Since no one knows who killed Palme and wounded his wife, your comment amounts to speculation not backed by fact. A single incident from a quarter of a century ago hardly points to "a political elite that rules through violence" unless you're a tinfoil-wearing conspiracy nut.
You vastly overstate the uniformity of the cultures. I lived in Norway and have been to all three countries many, many times, and I know you're simply wrong. Plenty of creativity and individuality. Plenty of outspokenness, to the point of bluntness.
You have it backwards, by the way - their strong sense of community led to laws that preserve that feature. It wasn't imposed from above.
By the way, I know a little about Singapore, too, and it WAS a (somewhat) oppressive dictatorship that has eased in recent years, and they are considered a model country for their economy, not for any social innovations. They are just now realizing that this area needs some work, now that they have breathing room due to being SW Asia's fastest-growing economy. They are still a one-dominant-party political system.
I'm sure their all great countries to live in. I was just saying there's two sides to every story. I don't mind speculation as much as you seem to. Speculating, hypothesizing, dealing in hypotheticals, etc. is one of the greatest abilities humans have. It leads to great inventions and a variety of new ideas. Yes you have to test it later, and I admit I really only heard one guy(who may have been a conspiracy nut) talk about Olaf and read only a couple articles about it but it still seemed odd enough to mention. Objectively, to a completely logical machine, community wouldn't mean anything at all. I'm not sure what would mean anything to it really. So discussions about what kind of country we might want are going to be more emotional than logical.
Also, police in Singapore also used to hit people with canes all the time. It should be easy for them to lighten up on the rules a bit now that everyone that once opposed them is conveniently gone. Boooo singapore!
I'm glad you responded to my and everyone else's posts though. Your point is well taken. I'd also really like to ask you, as a non-conspiracy theorist who's probably actually been to Iceland, what did you think of the whole Iceland thing?
When I saw the headline, "Nordic nations hailed as 'supermodel'" immediately I thought the world has finally admitted that ladies from the Nordic countries are the most gorgeous. What a disappointment when I found the story to be another endless political debate that does no one any good.
So the jist of the story is that decent people from a decent culture make good public policy. Imagine that.
Sure, Scandinavia is great, they have oil, culture, wealth, but their immigration policies are terrible, the massive immigration is destroying their culture, the blonde haired blue eyed happy nordic stereotype is dying out, soon it will be just another piece of crumpled trash ruined at the hands of political extremists and multiculturalism
These nordic countries each are the size of a single U.S. large city, population-wise. The kind of government that works for them, or for a large city for that matter, doesn't scale upward to a country 50 times their size encompassing many different languages and cultures. They're a good model for low-population countries with lots of natural resources, maybe.
The answer is simple: Canada. A nation that combines the best of the Nordic countries, welcomes immigration, is culturally diverse, has a very high standard of living, universal (but not perfect) health care, a low crime rate, an educated populace, and really, really polite people. Canada has its issues, and is far from perfect, but overall is the best country in the world.
Nobody can beat good old USA. Oslo train station charge you $2.50 to pee in public toilet which is not clean as in USA.
"Not so: the real secret of the Nordic performance is applicable to all, for it is a paradigm of enlightened self-interest at its finest." If this is true, why have no large countries been able to do it? The fact is, Tassinari is just plain wrong. These countries appear to work, but pay a price that is not well known. They have lots of freedom on paper, but actually, they have very little. Also, because the weather is so bad, they have almost no poor people. The rich have to hide their wealth in offshore bank accounts, otherwise the government will take it. Don't judge a book by its cover.
Wow, who would think that small nations full of Protestants would be nice places to live. But how about we put a few hundred thousand Mexican gang members into Stockholm, let's see how long their Shiny Happy Tolerance lasts. Because that's what we enjoy in the USA.
But then, Malmo is already overrun with Islamist immigrant gangs, so they will learn soon enough.
What makes the gangs you refer to worse in the US, is the prejudice from people like you. We wouldn't have such a poor minority, if they majority hadn't systematically kept everything for themselves in the last 500 years. One more point, is that in colonial times, those were the nations who did the least amount of imperialism, I think that was good for their karma. England, France, Portugal and Spain are all suffering for those injustices.
Going by your logic, I don't see why Denmark, Sweden or Norway should be suffering any bad karma from "immigrant gangs". The only way that karma should bite a country like Denmark is, oh, from immigrant gangs of Greenlandic Inuits, but clearly that isn't happening.
I love how 90% of the gripes of the Nordic Model come from racists who hate the fact there are Muslims and Immigrants there.
Guys, we are moving into a world with no borders, if people from afar who are different from you want to live in your country, your country is doing something right.
Also, will we cannot port the entire Nordic Model over( The Model is just as cultural as economic) we can port somethings:
1. Better funding for Infrastructure
2. VAT Tax ( With controls, a VAT Tax with no modification would decimate the poor.)
3. More funding in R&D
4. Being more open to globalization
5. Single Payer Healthcare
5. I don't know about you, but I would pay higher taxes for better education, healthcare and infrastructure. Our anti-tax mindset is borderline stupid, we accept mediocre services in exchange for stupidly low taxes.
Point is that hard-line capitalism and racist ideals will destroy this country. While more inclusive nations that look out for their own will rise and stay stable.
Test
What is truly impressive is that the Scandies have been able to accomplish this even in the face of the almost crippling lack of ethnic diversity. Go figure.
You really don't know much about the Nordics, do you? There are people from almost 200 countries living in Stockholm, Sweden (the largest and most populous Nordic country), and somewhere around 30% of the population of Sweden is either born in another country, or first generation immigrants. Sweden has 9.5 million people. Some 451,000 are Muslim. One city alone took more Iraqi refugees than the entire U.S. for quite some time. Aldready many hundreds of years ago, dark-haired, brown-eyed people from today's Belgium immigrated to Sweden, as did Dutch, German, French, Romani, Jews etc. Since World War II, large numbers of Turks, Greek, former Jugoslavians, Somalis, Iraqis, Iranians, Eritreans, Argentinians, and so forth have immigrated to Sweden. In the 1970s, many Korean babies were adopted to Sweden, and after the Vietnam war, Vietnamese fled to Sweden. There are plenty of Thai, and you'll have no problems finding Chinese, Filipino, Spaniards, Palestinians, etc. The prime minister of Sweden is 1/32 African American. Of of the ministers who left after several years is black.
The misconceptions expressed in this column are sometimes hilarious!
I meant "or has at least parents born in another country" (instead of "or first generation immigrants").
My Swedish cousins brag about their cradle to grave benefits and then complain about their high taxes – 70% or more for "middle class" people! We visit them occasionally and ask them to come visit us, but they say they could never afford it. That's Socialism!
What most people don't realize that the one thing that seperates Americans from Europeans is the amount of disposable income left over after the government takes their cut. Yes, Europeans receive alot more from their government however on payday the amount of money they have in their pocket to spend on what they want to spend it on is a lot less than us. Want to know why Europeans spend so much time hanging out in cafes slowly sipping their coffee? Because they don't have the cash for a second cup.
"...their high taxes – 70% or more for "middle class" people..."
Not sure what you are talking about. No "middle class" people pay 70% income tax in Sweden at least since the very highest tax bracket is 60%, but sure, if you add in the tax part your employer pays in, plus 25% sales tax, and a third-of-the-price-or-so gasoline tax, etc. then the percentage becomes high.
Guess I need to adjust my BS meter. I'm drowning in your BS.
Snark and sarcasm. What a bunch of fun and likeable people on this post!
Meanwhile, back in reality, the main factor in the Scandinavian countries' success is their cultural unity, whcih is simply not possible in any country with significant immigration or emphasis on "diversity".
Um... Norway simply has oil wealth. Their productivity is low, but they have a small population with high incomes. If you have oil wealth, then that is the end result. Take it away, and they would be Greece.
Maybe I'm missing something, but I fail to see why we should hold nations with such high suicide rates up as role models.
Oh my Lord, the myths about the Nordics just never stop...
This idea of high suicide rates in Scandinavia is nothing but a myth with no basis in reality. Denmark and Sweden have the same suicide rates as the U.S. (actually a tiny bit lower).
South Korea has the world's highest suicide rates with 31.7 suicides per 100,000 people and year. At place 34, you'll find the U.S. (12.0), at place 35 Sweden (11.9), and at place 36 Denmark (11.9). If you look at all the Nordic countries, Finland has the higest suicide rate and rank 19 in the world with 16.8 suicides per 100,000 people and year. (Finland is Nordic, but not Scandinavian).
Source: Wikipedia "List of countries by suicide rate". Google on "suicide rates countries".
What's there effective tax rate in those countries. Take a look.
Immigration to Sweden in 2010 by country of citizenship:
Returning Swedes: 19 765
Somalia 6 819
Irak 4 534
Polen 4 414
Danmark 3 437
Kina 3 186
Iran 2 820
Thailand 2 775
Finland 2 300
Turkiet 2 232
Tyskland 2 202
Indien 2 150
Norge 2 070
Afghanistan 1 920
Rumänien 1 726
Eritrea 1 604
Pakistan 1 575
Storbritannien och Nordirland 1 435
Litauen 1 370
USA 1 329
Ryssland 1 221
Others: 27 917
Total: 98 801
The part about immigration populist is just lol because they are very tame and very unpopular compared with Southern republicans who want to build a wall
Anyone who thinks America is number 1 in anything but number of overweight people and people in prison are sadly out of their minds.
Aircraft Carriers
The USA is number one there and it's funny people never mention them, because they're the reason so much trade flows unhindered around the globe.
I m PROUD TO BE A NORD. CRUSH THE EMPIRE! KILL THE THALMOR. NORDS RULE SKYRIM!
The Scandanavian model is very humane compared to the USA. There is an emphasis on the well being of all it's citizens and they value their children as their future. Daycare, education and healthcare are all provided to support families. The taxes are not any higher than in America after you factor in all the preceding (daycare, education and healthcare costs. The equality that exists there is also another sign of prosperity because when a country eliminates poverty you have improved outcomes for your people. Here in the USA you have people who are selfish and bitter and would rather people starve and live in poverty than pay a little extra tax to help create an equal society. The 1% are living here in America.
Its because they didn't allow themselves to become flooded with 3rd world immigrants like the rest of Europe.
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