The Myth of Scandinavian Socialism

Contact Your Elected Officials

Seamus: Dare I ask?

Bob: We need to be more like Scandinavia, so that we can be happy like them.

Seamus: How do we need to be more like Scandinavia, Bob?

Bob: Their poverty rate is less than half the United States and they have free healthcare, free higher education, free paternal leave, free vacation, free retirement, a living minimum wage, a high happiness index score, and a higher individual GDP than the US. Scandinavia proves that Democratic socialism can work

Seamus: Actually, Bob, the Scandinavian countries that people like to point to like Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and Norway aren’t really socialist all.

Bob: What?

Seamus: Not only has the prime minister of Denmark gone out of his way to publicly say that their a market economy, those four Scandinavian countries ranked about the same as the U.S. as far as economic freedom is concerned. Yes, they have very robust welfare systems that previous administrations have put in place, but they’ve been trimming back both their social programs and their levels of taxation since the 1990s, once the people realized that there are economies were suffering because of the expanding tax-and-spend social democracy policies that kept being implemented. As far as levels of poverty are concern, national-level poverty is measured comparatively to what other people in the same country are making. And where that line is set varies from country to country. Not even the World Bank will release comparative data sets on that. And all four countries have higher individual and family tax burdens than the U.S., with Sweden and Finland is being significantly higher. If you earn in $54,000, once your employer has paid the necessary taxes for hiring you and you’ve paid your income tax, you’re left with $39,000 in the U.S. and only $20,000 to $25,000 in Sweden. I wouldn’t call that free anything.

Bob: But what about their GDP?

Seamus: Well, according to the World Bank’s most recent data, only Norway had a GDP per capita that was higher than the U.S. and that’s largely because of their relatively large petroleum reserves. It’s also worth noting that other per capita GDP has sharply decreased in recent years.

Bob: Their high minimum wage?

Seamus: By and large it isn’t set by their government, it’s negotiated industry by industry between unions and businesses, usually. Bob, it’s great that you want other people to be happier, but maybe we could find a way that doesn’t involve government mandates or Viking horns?

Bob: Val halla!!!

Seamus: You can keep the Viking horns, then!

The Thinking Conservative
The Thinking Conservativehttps://www.thethinkingconservative.com/
The goal of THE THINKING CONSERVATIVE is to help us educate ourselves on conservative topics of importance to our freedom and our pursuit of happiness. We do this by sharing conservative opinions on all kinds of subjects, from all types of people, and all kinds of media, in a way that will challenge our perceptions and help us to make educated choices.

Cherished Unalienable Rights

In the USA, the โ€œrightsโ€ of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are written endowments, supposedly, held sacred, and secured and protected by govt.

ANOTHER Private Bill Gates-Trump Meeting in the White House โ€” Why?

The notion that Bill Gates concerns himself with โ€œprotecting Americansโ€™ healthโ€ is so delusional that anyone buying that is too far gone to be saved.

Hereโ€™s What the USโ€™ Security Guarantees For Ukraine Might Look Like

Western security guarantees for Ukraine are one of the main issues delaying a political resolution to the conflict. Russia launched its SMO primarily in response to NATO-emanating threats from Ukraine.

The Cost of Anger

I will not write much here. There are no words I can say. I only wish to remember those forgotten casualties, the unseen cost of the current antagonism in America.

Another Mass Trans Shooter Not to be Discussed

Robin (Robert) Westman was identified by police as the suspect behind a shooting at a Catholic school that left two children dead and 17 others injured.

Gov. Greg Abbott Signs Texas Redistricting Map Favoring Republicans

TX Gov. Greg Abbott signed bill into law aimed at flipping 5 U.S. House seats Texas in Republicansโ€™ favor amid a redistricting battle that includes CA.

Fox and YouTube TV Reach Carriage Deal, Preventing Disruption for Subscribers

Fox Corp and YouTube reached a deal to renew their carriage agreement, ensuring Fox channels remain available on YouTube TV.

At Wisconsin Steel Plant, Vance Touts Tax Cuts and Spending Bill

VP Vance told workers at the Mid-City Steel in La Crosse, WI, that tax cuts and federal spending outlined in a new law will benefit working-class Americans.

Child Who Shielded Friends During Minneapolis School Shooting Praised by Officials

Officials praised children at Annunciation Catholic School in MN who put themselves in harmโ€™s way to protect their friends during a mass shooting.

Trump Admin Moves to Cut $4.9 Billion in Foreign Aid Funding

President Donald Trump on Aug. 28 moved to cancel $4.9 billion in appropriated funds for foreign aid spending.

Trump Admin Removes Secret Service Protection for Former VP Harris, Official Says

VP Harris' Secret Service protection was revoked. Former vice presidents generally get federal protection for six months after they leave office.

Health Official Tapped to Be Acting Director of CDC

Trump has chosen HHS Deputy Secretary Jim O'Neill as the CDCโ€™s acting director, an administration official told The Epoch Times on Aug. 29.

US Tariff Exemption for Low-Cost Imports Has Ended

On Aug. 29, the United States ended a trade policy that facilitated the shipment of low-value goods into the country for years.
spot_img

Related Articles