Why do so many people mistakenly think that Scandinavia is socialist?

[the cac mamba]

because americans think anything to the left of america is socialist

 

[Cave Savage]

because americans think anything to the left of america is socialist

European countries aren't even to the left of America necessarily, on issues other than healthcare/welfare

 

[Cave Savage]

Norway’s government owns the country’s largest oil company Equinor (previously called Statoil), the country’s largest telecommunications company Telenor, and the country’s largest financial services group DNB. This would be like if the U.S. government owned Exxon Mobil, Verizon, and JP Morgan Chase. Norway also has a huge sovereign wealth fund.

The Nordic countries are constantly using public ownership and state owned companies intentionally to stop capital flight.

What about Denmark and Sweden?

 

[FAH1223]

What about Denmark and Sweden?

Similar but to a lesser extent

 

[Pure Water]

European countries aren't even to the left of America necessarily, on issues other than healthcare/welfare

But healthcare and welfare is like 2/3rds of what people of the left in the US are fighting for.

 

[Cave Savage]

But healthcare and welfare is like 2/3rds of what people of the left in the US are fighting for.

Immigration and LGBT issues are also a pretty big chunk of what the American left fights for IMO. My own mother places immigration reform as her number 1 issue and she's not even an immigrant.

 

[Cave Savage]

Similar but to a lesser extent

I've seen someone on here say that Denmark and Sweden have considerably less nationalization of industry than even Bernie Sanders advocates for

 

[Pure Water]

Immigration and LGBT issues are also a pretty big chunk of what the American left fights for IMO. My own mother places immigration reform as her number 1 issue and she's not even an immigrant.

That's fine. That doesn't change what I said.

 

[FAH1223]

I've seen someone on here say that Denmark and Sweden have considerably less nationalization of industry than even Bernie Sanders advocates for

Bernie doesn’t even advocate nationalization of industry. I’ve never seen him say nationalize the banks, the oil companies, telecom, etc

 

[Oldschooler]

The same refugees whose livelyhood and GDP were destroyed by warmongering big American defense lobby money and blackwater types ?

Immigrants don't enjoy the same benefits as locals in Europe. They are the underclass and work menial jobs if at all.
Their kids will integrate since these countries are small and will sustain the workforce to fund pensions from the aging population.

I agree with the first part, but I was mostly talking about Norway here. Clearly illegal aliens are a new form of slavery for American society. It is my understanding that a lot of refugees do get the benefits of social services in Norway. In my honest opinion the far left loses a lot of points on their immigration theory here in the United States. And I say this as a very progressive social democrat.

 

[Oldschooler]

Immigration and LGBT issues are also a pretty big chunk of what the American left fights for IMO. My own mother places immigration reform as her number 1 issue and she's not even an immigrant.

I think America needs to focus on a points based immigration system where only qualified, educated, or people bringing a certain work skillset that is in need should be welcomed. Our birth rate is extremely low due to high cost of living just like all developed countries. Thus we need immigrants to carry the ballooning economy, such as the real estate market for example.

But the dilemma is that now this makes it harder for the struggling generational American families to get ahead. This is especially true for the African American community. This is why you see angry posts on TLR about middle eastern or asian stores setting up shop in the hood.

 

[Professor Emeritus]

Norway’s government owns the country’s largest oil company Equinor (previously called Statoil), the country’s largest telecommunications company Telenor, and the country’s largest financial services group DNB. This would be like if the U.S. government owned Exxon Mobil, Verizon, and JP Morgan Chase. Norway also has a huge sovereign wealth fund.

The Nordic countries are constantly using public ownership and state owned companies intentionally to stop capital flight.

Note that the circle jerk of the first three posters has completely ignored this. Either they weren't aware or "owning the libs" was more important than facts.

Finland's government owns their largest oil company (Neste), their largest railway company (VR Group), their largest airline (Finnair), and several other companies.

Sweden's government owns a couple dozen companies including their main pharmaceutical retailer (Apoteket), much of their railway business (SJ AB, Green Cargo, Jernhusen, Infranord), their largest iron ore miner (IKAB), the primary gambling/casinos business (Svenska Spel), the primary liquor retailer (Systembolaget), the primary broadcast transmission service (Teracom) and the biggest power company (Vattenfall).

Denmark's government owns about half-a-dozen companies including their primary railway, energy, and television broadcast corporations. Interestingly, the Swedish and Danish governments collaborate to co-own several vital services too, like mail and airlines.

 

[LV Koopa]

I see this all the time, on the internet and real life. People constantly bring up Sweden as an example of socialism working.

But even the DSA, who I guess would be considered softcore socialists, believe that nobody should be a billionaire (while there are many in Scandinavia)

Their corporate tax rates are also not much higher than ours (while socialists seem to advocate for very high tax rates, and nationalization of industries).

In terms of policy, are they really that much different from the rest of Europe?

For true socialism, I think you'd have to look at Cuba (but even they are slowly drifting away from that).

1.) People are dumb
2.) People don't really know what Socialism or Capitalism actually are.
3.) Many don't know the difference between Social Programs and Socialism
4.) People are dumb

 

[Cynic]

I agree with the first part, but I was mostly talking about Norway here. Clearly illegal aliens are a new form of slavery for American society. It is my understanding that a lot of refugees do get the benefits of social services in Norway. In my honest opinion the far left loses a lot of points on their immigration theory here in the United States. And I say this as a very progressive social democrat.

Slavery never went away ( 13th amendment anyone )
Norway isn't some free for all breh. They are pretty harsh on economic refugees and quick to deport
but on a lighter note take a look at this.

83% of the refugees who completed the introductory program in Andøya last year went straight into work or education compared to 53% of norwegians.

83 prosent av flyktningene i Andøy fikk jobb eller utdanning

Well with falling birth rates and an aging population - who is going to fund the pension obligations and social security
if gen Z and millennials aren't getting married due to high living costs/feminism/lack of organized religion ?

The left loses the propaganda battle because it can't appeal to american entitlement and selfishness.

 

[Dorian Breh]

European countries aren't even to the left of America necessarily, on issues other than healthcare/welfare

Other than welfare what is it that were talking about?