I go straight to the horses mouth, the Swedish government and look at their fiscal budgets with comments.
This is from their 2005 budget proposal.
General government consolidated gross debt (this is government debt only, not private debt) has fallen sharply since its peak in 1994 when the burden of debt exceeded 75 per cent of GDP. This year the debt is down to 52 per cent of GDP and it is expected to continue to decline next year 2005.
In comparison: America’s debt to GDP ratio is currently at 37% and will peak at 40% in 2005 but should be back down to 30% by 2013, far below the levels of many other rich countries.
6,000 more staff in the pre-school sector in 2005-2007. (This to help indoctrinate children as soon as they can in the governments socialist views.) 6,000 more staff in further education/training for local government employees in 2004 and 2005. (Notice this further education is for more LOCAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES.) The regular education for Swedes is through the 9th grade.
To generate more jobs, both in the short and in the long term, small and medium-sized enterprises need to develop well. The Government is taking a number of measures to improve conditions for SMEs:
Inheritance and gift tax will be abolished, partly to facilitate the transition from one generation to the next in family businesses. (AMERICA COULD LEARN FROM THIS PROPOSAL.)
Sweden is trying to bring the population into the information technology age by buying and putting personal computers into the homes and now have 52% of the homes with computers, however, on 13% of these home computers have Internet access that only costs $2.95 U.S. per month.
The Government proposes a number of tax cuts that will make work more worthwhile, increase the purchasing power of low and middle income earners and help create more jobs. This will include further compensation for the personal contributions to the pension system that were introduced in connection with the restructuring of the budget.
In 2000, the government realized that it could no longer meet the obligations of the generous pension program. They cut pension payments and cut the amount of taxes per person to allow for each person to invest in their own private pension program. The pension investment industry is now the fastest growing industry in Sweden.
(Here they have beat America’s politicians as our corrupt politicians know that the social security system has been broke SENSE it was created but refuse to allow the only thing that will fix it and that is partial or complete privatization with government over site to see that the investors make sound decisions. Every state in the union have private plans for there state employee’s and they retire with much more pension dollars than those in the SS system. I have a friend who worked for the state for 30 years, retired at 55 years old and collects $2,800. per month retirement and get state medical benefits. What’s the maximum for SS, $1,500. per month or close to that?)
In 2005, Sweden will be lowering income taxes by between SEK 900 and SEK 2,100 (Swedish Krona) per person per year to compensate for the personal contributions to private pension plans.
The regular Swedish employment rate of 77.6 per cent in 2003 to 77.0 per cent in 2004 and hold at this level in 2005. The government’s target of an 80 per cent regular employment rate will be achieved in 2007. This means the unemployment rate of Sweden is over 20%. Over 66% of all Swedish people work or live on benefits from the Swedish government, not private industry
(Well, they have seen the future of socialism and that it cannot be self sustaining without people wanting to work to earn their own way. This means working for private enterprises and not government, unless it is a communist or totalitarian government. Sweden professes to be a socialist government only and private industry is needed, however, Sweden’s socialist government and labor unions are not conductive to making private businesses very lucrative as the government puts strict limits on how much profit a business can earn, and even tax the interest on funds business set aside to pay their government taxes which are very high. Sweden, like all socialists, do not want the people creating their own personal wealth as that creates a disparity between the people and they will not feel that they are all the same (equals in every way) which people are not. Income must be kept on a equatable basis to keep the people from becoming envious of another persons wealth. This takes away form the entrepreneur the main reason for creating enterprises, making a lot of money to get wealthy. Remember, it is not out of benevolence that a farmer, baker, butcher, manufacturer provides items for the consumer, it is the motive of making money to improve their standard of living, and if there are to many restrictions placed on them they will cease to produce as it does not benefit them to do so. This is why over 66% of all Swedish people work or live on benefits from the Swedish government, not private industry.)
Some interesting information, thanks for posting it. But, that 66% number working/supported by govt, is not accurate, no way.
Sweden does have some pretty interesting things, we do not have, that we should. A huge benefit to their economy, of all strange things, is the mandatory 6 weeks vacation. That is so much time off, it warrants travel, or second home/summer villa ownership. That creates the need for more economy. Everyone in sweden has two, of everything that way! And since so many people are NOT working, that gives school kids jobs during the summer to make money, and learn a trade. I worked in Sweden for a year, and they have reasonable labor laws, with overtime paid progressively. I loved OT, cuz I made quite a bit of money.
I concur with all that. We have things to fix here, sure thing. There is no doubt. But like you say, we have to be willing to work for it. I think we are.
And you know what? I hear this talk about being jealous of those who have. Well, I was raised a poor white child. And my parents told me that I should be happy that there are people out there who have made it big. I should be proud that I live in a land that gives me the opportunity. They told me that if I wanted what others had, I had to work for it. Well, I have been trying to make a buck ever since. And for a small town kid, I am happy with the things that I have done in my life. I never dreamed I would have accomplished some of the endeavors I pursued. And to me, that is what Capitalism has given me; and I have given to her too. I may not be a millionaire, but I am almost happy to be where I am. What is great about Capitalism is that, if I am happy with where I am, I can enjoy it. If I am not, I can work harder and smarter to get where I want to go. And I have seen and been around poor people. And some of them poor people are probably having more fun then I am having right now. And if that makes them happy, then God Bless them. I hope they have fun, but not on my dime. I got work to do, so I can get where I want to go. If people would just get out there and give it their best, they would be surprised where they might end up in life.