Peterf
Active Member
For sure a lower percentage of Swedes are dependent on social welfare to survive than here in the USA, but nevertheless, a high degree of dependence on government provided social services provided with all those high taxes is not producing a happier population. From what I am reading, children raised by single parents are as disadvantaged there as they are here; teenage depression and suicde rates are on the rise; and welfare rolls are expanding. (You are there and I am here so if what I am reading is wrong, I'm sure you will correct me.)
Consumer Prices in Sweden are 39.26% higher than in United States
Consumer Prices Including Rent in Sweden are 26.61% higher than in United States
Rent Prices in Sweden are 2.72% lower than in United States
Restaurant Prices in Sweden are 54.69% higher than in United States
Groceries Prices in Sweden are 26.81% higher than in United States
Local Purchasing Power in Sweden is 24.15% lower than in United States
Cost Of Living Comparison Between United States And Sweden
Evenso most Swedes believe themselves to be happier than the average American. So it really comes down to what floats anybody's boat.
I wonder if most Americans consider themselves to be happier than most Europeans?
The reason this applies to the thread topic is the question as the government takes over more and more control of how we are allowed to live our lives, are we a happier, more contented people because of that?
International comparisons are notoriously difficult and often misleading. Questions like "Are you happy?" come out differently in different languages. And get different answers. No Frenchman, highly individualistic, would ever admit that he is content with anything. Ultra conformist Swedes are more reluctant to complain.
What is clear is that Sweden's wealth relative to what it was in previous decades is declining and lavish welfare can no longer be afforded. This is accentuated by many years of uncontrolled immigration, largely from places like Somalia. There are now large numbers of people here quite unable to integrate - even if they wished to try - who are entirely supported by taxpayers.
There is wide acceptance among Swedes that standards in education and health care have fallen and are continuing to fall.
The price comparisons in the stats feel about right. I have personal experience of store prices in Canada (where I will be in two weeks time) and they are, on balance, lower than those here.
Thanks for that response. Like I say, you are there and I'm not, and the eye witness is generally more reliable than one forming notions and speculating from a distance.
You are absolutely right that a tiny country with a highly homogenous people sharing a common culture and a population about the size of one U.S. state is not really comparable to a nation as broad and diverse as we are.
But one thing the USA and Sweden (as well as Greece, Spain, Italy et al) do all have in common is that high taxes and more government control and meddling in all aspects of life were great at the beginning, but could not be sustained. And all are now suffering under the addiction to free stuff that cannot continue at its former rate without severe negative consequences, and ALL are seeing an erosion of their common cultures, quality of life, and standards of living.
Just one point. Sweden WAS a homogeneous people when I began to know the country well 40 years ago. Since then there has been massive immigration and now well over 1 million out of 10 million are foreign born. There are immigrant areas in all cities. This summer those in Stockholm suffered a wave of violence and torchings of public buildings, particularly schools, and private property. The third largest city Malmö is now dominated by foreign criminal gangs, mostly Muslim - the not very large number of Swedish Jewish residents have almost all left. (I have heard that US travel advice to tourists is to stay out of Malmö if they are Jewish).
Successive Swedish governments have naively allowed and even encouraged mass immigration and contributed to slow - well, not that slow - national suicide.