Zone1 The Myth of Scandinavian Socialism

[DudleySmith]

Facts that may surprise some.

The Myth of Scandinavian Socialism

Bernie Sanders shouldn't cite Scandinavia to support his "socialist" interventionism.

fee.org

Democratic socialism purports to combine majority rule with state control of the means of production. However, the Scandinavian countries are not good examples of democratic socialism in action because they aren’t socialist.

Social Democracy Is Not Democratic Socialism​

In the Scandinavian countries, like all other developed nations, the means of production are primarily owned by private individuals, not the community or the government, and resources are allocated to their respective uses by the market, not government or community planning.

Saab, GM, Chrysler and Why Sweden is More Capitalist than the US

The usual image we have of the Swedish economy is that they're all rather dreary socialists, revelling in being able to charge some of the highest tax rates in the world. However, there are certain dimensions along which it is possible to prove that Sweden is more capitalist than the [...]

www.forbes.com

The usual image we have of the Swedish economy is that they're all rather dreary socialists, revelling in being able to charge some of the highest tax rates in the world. However, there are certain dimensions along which it is possible to prove that Sweden is more capitalist than the US.

Reality or just semantics? Uncle Bernie wouldn't fit in well in Scandinavia. They don't seem to be fans of 'Too Big To Fail'.

 

[Anomalism]

Scandinavian countries are only not socialist when it suits the right's narrative. In the next breath they'd call them socialist to fit a different narrative.

Obsessing about these labels is fucking stupid. Bernie has clearly stated countless times that he wants us to emulate the Scandinavian countries as best we can.

 

[DudleySmith]

Scandinavian countries are only not socialist when it suits the right's narrative. In the next breath they'd call them socialist to fit a different narrative.

Obsessing about these labels is fucking stupid. Bernie has clearly stated countless times that he wants us to emulate the Scandinavian countries as best we can.

Actually the Right always demonizes Sweden and Denmark and Norway as horrible hellholes of Socialism. Clearly they aren't, and probably less socialist than a lot of rightwingers are in real life.

Labels are important for making distinctions and definitions. I realize that is hard on those with limited vocabularies and reading skills, but so are many words in economics.

 

[Anomalism]

Actually the Right always demonizes Sweden and Denmark and Norway as horrible hellholes of Socialism. Clearly they aren't, and probably less socialist than a lot of rightwingers are in real life.

The right trying to point out that Scandinavian countries are not actually socialist is not new. They do it to separate the success in Scandinavian countries from the ideology of people like Bernie Sanders.

 

[Kruska]

The right trying to point out that Scandinavian countries are not actually socialist is not new. They do it to separate the success in Scandinavian countries from the ideology of people like Bernie Sanders.

Socialism/Socialist = the control of market prices via the state, respectively the people, (communism) in contra to a capitalist system = demand and offer regulate the market price

It was Finland's prime-minister who proclaimed upon Obama-care; - We are all socialists now - documenting to the world how stupid he and those politicians in the free-world in general really are.
No socialist state has ever existed - all European nations practice capitalism and some (e.g. Scandinavia or presently Germany) are more committed towards social policies.
Hence terming it Free Social Market Practice. Being countries usually ruled by social democratic parties, and not socialist parties. E.g. Germany doesn't even have a socialist party.
SPD stands for Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands = Social democratic Party of Germany.

 

[Captain Caveman]

The right trying to point out that Scandinavian countries are not actually socialist is not new. They do it to separate the success in Scandinavian countries from the ideology of people like Bernie Sanders.

Just like any system, it has it's pros and cons. The Nordic system is classed as cuddly capitalism, not socialist, and if anyone thinks the welfare is fantastic, look at the tax levels.

 

[DudleySmith]

Just like any system, it has it's pros and cons. The Nordic system is classed as cuddly capitalism, not socialist, and if anyone thinks the welfare is fantastic, look at the tax levels.

It will probably begin unravelling as they continue to allow unassimilable alien cultures to immigrate in and create chaos and violence.

 

[initforme]

My neighbor went to Denmark. He had shortness of breath. Was in a hospital for 4 days. Cost him $20 total. He was in awe of the service he received as well.

 

[Frankeneinstein]

My neighbor went to Denmark. He had shortness of breath. Was in a hospital for 4 days. Cost him $20 total. He was in awe of the service he received as well.

What was wrong with him?

 

[Frankeneinstein]

My neighbor went to Denmark. He had shortness of breath. Was in a hospital for 4 days. Cost him $20 total. He was in awe of the service he received as well.

I had a similar problem 5-6 years ago accompanied by chest pains, also spent 4 days in the hospital and it cost me nothing...btw, your neighbor only paid $20.00 for his health care because he does not live and work there.

 

[initforme]

He had pneumonia and dehydration. He used to joke about next time he gets sick he's taking a plane to Denmark.

 

[initforme]

I had a similar problem 5-6 years ago accompanied by chest pains, also spent 4 days in the hospital and it cost me nothing...btw, your neighbor only paid $20.00 for his health care because he does not live and work there.

Yes they pay higher taxes for it but then don't have to go bankrupt when sick.

 

[TNHarley]

The label doesnt matter to me.
They are leftist. Leftism is the antithesis to liberty. Period.

 

[initforme]

The label doesnt matter to me.
They are leftist. Leftism is the antithesis to liberty. Period.

Liberty means not going bankrupt if I'll.

 

[TNHarley]

Liberty means not going bankrupt if I'll.

huh?

 

[Frankeneinstein]

Yes they pay higher taxes for it but then don't have to go bankrupt when sick.

Well in that case the only difference between us and them is the higher taxes....so what was wrong with your friend?