Sweden invades the USA…

[Philthy_Phil]

I would defend my country against invaders, yes. It doesn't matter what country it is.

You could bore them to death.

 

[Philthy_Phil]

The Swedes are democratic obviously. I figured that was implicit.

But if they weren't, you'd still hold on to America's dysfunctional democracy over greater freedom, wealth and opportunity, and not just for you but for everyone in America?

Forgive him, he's an idiot.

 

[GuiltyCowboy]

I prefer our Constitution

What don't you like about the Swedish constitution?

 

[ll74]

What don't you like about the Swedish constitution?

It's not about liking or disliking it. I am a US citizen and I support the US Constitution.

 

[GuiltyCowboy]

It's not about liking or disliking it. I am a US citizen and I support the US Constitution.

You specifically said you preferred the American one over the Swedish one.

Are you saying you like the American one simply because you yourself are from America? If you were from Sweden, hypothetically, would the Swedish one then become better than the American one?

 

[ll74]

You specifically said you preferred the American one over the Swedish one.

Because I'm an American and if I wanted to experience the Swedish one, I'd move to Sweden.

Are you saying you like the American one simply because you yourself are from America? If you were from Sweden, hypothetically, would the Swedish one then become better than the American one?

It might. I don't particularly find the American one lacking anything. There are mechanisms to change it if so

 

[GuiltyCowboy]

Forgive him, he's an idiot.

I'll be honest, I'm probably the idiot for asking him to explain himself.

 

[LoneMilf]

You wouldn't want the Swedish 'universal healthcare'. It comes at a hefty price tag in terms of taxes and is really not very good (insane waiting times, poor quality doctors, severe restrictions on medicine and treatments). I lived in Sweden for 15 years and had to use treatments abroad for most things instead of relying on that system.

 

[Chernosoth]

Sveden House was good eating when I was a kid. But in high school I heard a bit about poor sanitation from students who worked there.

 

[ll74]

If the question were - do you want universal healthcare? - my answer is yes. I believe everyone should have access to healthcare. I think businesses should not be the ones providing insurance.

But that wasn't your question.

Additionally, I'm not familiar with how this is implemented in Sweden and not sure I could 100% agree with theirs

 

[MajorRewrite]

You wouldn't want the Swedish 'universal healthcare'. It comes at a hefty price tag in terms of taxes and is really not very good (insane waiting times, poor quality doctors, severe restrictions on medicine and treatments). I lived in Sweden for 15 years and had to use treatments abroad for most things instead of relying on that system.

Yeah no. Healthcare spending per capita in the US is about double the spending in Sweden. Double.

 

[Philthy_Phil]

If the question were - do you want universal healthcare? - my answer is yes. I believe everyone should have access to healthcare. I think businesses should not be the ones providing insurance.

But that wasn't your question.

Additionally, I'm not familiar with how this is implemented in Sweden and not sure I could 100% agree with theirs

That's nice. Nobody cares.

 

[ll74]

That's nice. Nobody cares.

Neat.

 

[domroger]

I heartily support all of those changes except the licorice.

Old joke.My mother likes licorice,she says it gives you a run for your money.

 

[Rebel5soul]

Reality bites.

The Swedish Model.

 

[latecomer91364]

Who gives a fuck what Sweden does? Their leftist policies have been disastrous. If they're invading the US (which, of course, they're not) we've got some B-2s itching for something to do.

 

[MajorRewrite]

Reality bites.

The Swedish Model.

The link you provided just argues that Sweden isn’t a socialist country, which everyone knew already.

The link you provided doesn’t say anything bad about Sweden’s healthcare, economy, unions, free colleges or anything else really.

Did you even read the link before you posted it? Or is your reading comprehension truly awful?

 

[Rebel5soul]

The link you provided just argues that Sweden isn’t a socialist country, which everyone knew already.

The link you provided doesn’t say anything bad about Sweden’s healthcare, economy, unions, free colleges or anything else really.

Did you even read the link before you posted it? Or is your reading comprehension truly awful?

Did YOU read and understand? I didn't post it as an indictment of Sweden, Sweden is Sweden.

Sweden taxes the shit out of the individual, ALL individuals. Businesses and corporations enjoy very reduced tax rates. The philosophy being that you tax the people that use the services the nation provides.

 

[MajorRewrite]

Did YOU read and understand? I didn't post it as an indictment of Sweden, Sweden is Sweden.

You literally wrote: “Reality bites” about Sweden.

I should have realized that you didn’t actually have a coherent point to make. You never do.

Seriously, have you considered going back to writing bad free verse poetry instead of commenting here?

 

[LoneMilf]

Yeah no. Healthcare spending per capita in the US is about double the spending in Sweden. Double.

While that's true, you are kind of comparing apples and oranges. The problem in Sweden is that you pay for the universal healthcare through taxes, and then pay again for private care that actually works.

 

[Pavlovsdog6862]

Let’s just get the damn kangaroos

 

[MajorRewrite]

While that's true, you are kind of comparing apples and oranges. The problem in Sweden is that you pay for the universal healthcare through taxes, and then pay again for private care that actually works.

Nope. The study includes all spending for healthcare, public and private. Try again.

 

[GuiltyCowboy]

Did YOU read and understand? I didn't post it as an indictment of Sweden, Sweden is Sweden.

Sweden taxes the shit out of the individual, ALL individuals. Businesses and corporations enjoy very reduced tax rates. The philosophy being that you tax the people that use the services the nation provides.

The point is that every country is a blend of capitalism and socialism - of private enterprise and collective coordination.

In America, perhaps the most famous example is putting a man on the moon: government paid the cost, initiated and coordinated the mission, and harnessed competition in the private sector to make key innovations; it also educated most of those private sector experts through the university system.

Not only did this govt/private blend put a man on the moon, it also gave us Nike Air trainers, wireless headphones, baby formula, CAT scans, home insulation, LED lights, laptop computers and on and on. In short, a huge amount of knock-on wealth was created.

The most successful forms of capitalism always stand on the shoulders of socialism. And socialism always achieves its goals more when it allows capitalism to stand on its shoulders.

Which brings us to Sweden...up until 1911, Sweden was about the most unequal society in the west. Up until then, the more money an individual had, the more his vote counted: the richest man's vote was worth 54 of the least rich (the poor couldn't vote). But, get this, corporations could also vote and the worth of their vote was also based on how rich they were - their single vote was often worth more than everyone else's vote put together in their municipality. A bit like America today and the way corporations can pay politicians to ignore the will of the people who voted them into office (the top 10% in America currently owns 70% of total wealth and is allowed unlimited political donations).

In Sweden in 1911, the top 10% owned 88% of all wealth. The bottom 50% owned 1%. Sweden was a society of almost pure capitalism and it was one of the least advanced nations in Europe.

Then the social democrats came to power and more or less held power permanently from 1932 to 2006. The whole population was given the vote and free healthcare and education. Taxes became progressive. The top 10% saw their share of wealth drop to 23% by 1980 while the country also created more billionaires per capita than the USA.

I'll say it again: The most successful forms of capitalism always stand on the shoulders of socialism. And socialism always achieves its goals more when it allows capitalism to stand on its shoulders. You want that blend.

America used to have a good blend of socialism and capitalism. Now it's going back to where Sweden was in 1911...

...Tax cuts for the wealthy, tax and tariff increases for the poor, attacks on healthcare and universities, diluting the power of your vote.

Hence my question about being invaded by a horde of benign, blonde sex goddesses who give you more freedom and more wealth.