[WesternCulture]

I'm not sure that in 30 years or so we'll talk of small goverment-Scandinavia and big-government, Socialist USA, but while the Nordic countries (Finland, Sweden, Iceland, Norway and Denmark), the world's 9th largest economy if viewed as one, today is moving towards Capitalism and Conservatism, USA is embracing the very ideas that the Nordic countries abandoned 20 years ago.

Something I view as a good measurement of the level of political sanity and awareness among people here in my Sweden is the attitude towards the connection between the economic development and government policies.

All of the Nordic countries (Scandinavia + Finland) are extremely open economies and a major slowdown in global economic growth is bound to affect the economy of Scandinavia. The economy of Norway is more dependent on crude oil prices though, for obvious reasons, even if much of the powerful Norwegian economy has little to do with oil.

Anyhow, the last time Sweden had a government dominated by the Conservatives (Moderaterna), there were hordes of ignorant Swedes who blamed the government for the national recession at that time. Today, most Swedes seem very aware that Sweden is extremely vulnerable because it is so dependent on exports.

The only way Sweden can survive in today's world is by providing a healthy business climate for Capitalist success stories like IKEA, Ericsson, Volvo, Electrolux, SAAB etc.

The Conservatives hold the keys to such a future, the Social Democrats don't.

[screaminsunshine]

What will happen here is the socialist parasites will drain the cash of the Capitalists so low they won’t be able to fund their stupid programs. We Capitalists are becoming too anemic to supply the socialists with unlimited tax money. They have killed the Golden Goose. A liberal with no money is pathetic, but dangerous.

[Woebama]

I’d move to a free and conservative Sweden this week if it existed.

[GOPGuide]

But aren’t the Swedish conservative government flooding Sweeden with as many third world immigrants as they can import?

[Navy Patriot]

Sweden has my best wishes. It's time for you guys to knock some heads, so to speak.

Let me know when you've done it, 'till then, I'll listen to ABBA and polish my Swedish Mauser.

[Little Ray]

Yeah, but the Scandanavians had the sort of people who could make socialism sort-of work. The USA lacks that - we have lots more wannbe freeloaders.

[Little Ray]

Well that would just be lovely - I have nothing but good wishes for the Scandinavians. I just hope we recover from our coming lesson from The Gods of the Copybook Headings in as good shape as Scandinavia is.

[tvdog12345]

Today, most Swedes seem very aware that Sweden is extremely vulnerable because it is so dependent on exports.

Fortunately, the U.S. doesn't have this problem, since America's economy is based, not on exports, but on hot air and promises.