Posted on 12/24/2019 9:17:56 AM PST by SeekAndFind
If you believe that a large man in a red suit can fly around the world on a sleigh guided by reindeer and deliver presents to billions of homes on Christmas Eve, then you should also believe in Scandinavian socialism. In other words, the Nordic countries' proclivity for socialism is about as real as Santa Claus living at the North Pole with his army of toy-making elves.
Even though prominent politicians such as Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) would like you to believe that the Scandinavian countries are socialist utopias, the exact opposite is actually true.
In "Debunking the Scandinavian Socialism Myth: An Evaluation of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden," a new Policy Brief from The Heartland Institute, the case could not be clearer that these three nations are not socialistic. In fact, in several ways, these three countries are more free-market than the United States. For example, the United States ranks lower than Denmark, Norway, and Sweden in terms of business freedom, according to The Heritage Foundation's 2019 Index of Economic Freedom. This is not the only area in which the Nordic nations outscored the United States.
In Denmark, there is no national minimum wage, federal jobs guarantee, or universal income. In recent years, the Danes have also cut government regulations and instituted ample private property protections.
Big budget deficits and abundant government spending tend to go hand in hand with socialistic governments; however, Denmark's budget deficits are minimal, and its outstanding government debt is a pittance compared to the United States'. Once again, Denmark is not socialist.
Like Denmark, Norway ranks higher than the United States in business freedom, private property rights, and government integrity — along with several more significant indicators. Norway also outpaced the United States in "ease of doing business,"
(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...
One should also be well aware that Norway’s economy is dependent on massive fossil fuel exports, something Bernie and his merry band of socialists vehemently oppose.
In fact, Norway has a whopping $1 trillion in a sovereign wealth fund (the largest in the world) from its expansive oil exports. Norway’s extensive oil exports also pay for the nation’s social safety net.
Unlike the United States, Norway (and its Nordic neighbors) has government budget surpluses — yet another element antithetical to socialism, courtesy of the free market–loving Norwegians.
ease of doing business
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ease_of_doing_business_index
On 12 January 2018, Paul Romer, the World Bank’s chief economist, announced that past releases of the index would be corrected and recalculated going back at least four years. Romer apologised to Chile, saying that the former director of the group responsible for the index had repeatedly manipulated its methodology, unfairly penalising the country’s rankings during the administration of left-wing President Michelle Bachelet. In response, Bachelet announced that Chile would formally request a complete investigation by the World Bank.[12][13]
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Regarding the topics of Paying Taxes and Employing Workers, it noted that “The latter has already been excluded from the report’s rankings. While there is a persuasive case for paying attention to these aspects of doing business, the Bank will need to carefully consider the correct way to assess the regulation and legal environment of these areas if these indicators are to be retained.”[22]
I’m confused. Is the article actually saying that Norway is not a socialist country?
My understanding is:
They tax the hell out of their citizenry to pay for common social programs (yeah, their tax system may be more fair).
They nationalized their oil industry, which means the country, itself, owns the profits from their oil export.
Good article. Points to a good argument when socialist Scandinavia comes up. Everyone pays high taxes! No exceptions!
“I’m confused. Is the article actually saying that Norway is not a socialist country?”
That is exactly correct. It is a very capitalist country with a lot of welfare. The fact that they have high taxes a lots of welfare does not make the socialist.
The fundamental hidden premiss of socialism is the destruction of the middle class. Though they have adopted some of the attributes, they didn’t go full socialist.
This article makes the case that in a sense Norway could be considered "socialistic." Apart from the high taxes, the government is a major investor in the top corporations. He also says that individual initiative and aspiration are discouraged.
So, yes, the welfare state isn't in itself socialist and Norway isn't Venezuela. If you tax or have the government control one major resource like oil to pay for the government that doesn't in itself make the country socialist either, but the article does provide food for thought.
“Sweden, in accord with Denmark and Norway, has minimal regulations, strongly protects private property rights, has a thriving school choice program, and is an incubator for entrepreneurship.”
Also very low corporate taxes. They’ve learned that killing the goose that lays the golden eggs is not a smart idea.
True, however do they pay us for protection? Check their income taxes...
Better to pay the tax upfront, than simply run up massive debt.
But you can’t say the same about Kalifornia.
How long will that last when the world is awash with oil? Now that the US is a major producer, some of these oil-producing nations are going to feel the pinch. They won’t be able to give away so much “free” stuff to their citizens.
There is going to be increasing social dissatisfaction in these countries about the individual tax burden. It’s one thing for people to fund a generous welfare state when it is clear that everyone is contributing equally. That’s how it’s always been in Scandinavia but that is no longer the case. They have now imported a huge group of people who are receiving monthly benefits without contributing anything in exchange. The tax payers aren’t going to tolerate that indefinitely.
True, but the fact that their government nationalized their primary industry kinda does.
I've read several articles now (thanks to this one) that try to make the case that Norway, and some other Scandinavian countries aren't Socialist.
That's not to say I'm a fan of Socialism; I'm not. I just prefer not to hide behind that idea that just because it appears to be working means it can't be Socialism.
All I know is: Norway checks off just about every textbook indicator of Socialism... other than the one where Socialism doesn't work. If it walks like a duck, and talks like a duck, it's generally a duck.
The fact that they have high taxes a lots of welfare does not make the socialist.
“True, but the fact that their government nationalized their primary industry kinda does.
I’ve read several articles now (thanks to this one) that try to make the case that Norway, and some other Scandinavian countries aren’t Socialist.
That’s not to say I’m a fan of Socialism; I’m not. I just prefer not to hide behind that idea that just because it appears to be working means it can’t be Socialism.
All I know is: Norway checks off just about every textbook indicator of Socialism... other than the one where Socialism doesn’t work. If it walks like a duck, and talks like a duck, it’s generally a duck.”
Well I’ve lived there and worked there and visited there and they aren’t Socialist by the classic definition or attitude. If you’ve got your own definition that’s on you. Calling a duck a chicken doesn’t make it one.
“There is going to be increasing social dissatisfaction in these countries about the individual tax burden. It’s one thing for people to fund a generous welfare state when it is clear that everyone is contributing equally. That’s how it’s always been in Scandinavia but that is no longer the case. They have now imported a huge group of people who are receiving monthly benefits without contributing anything in exchange. The tax payers aren’t going to tolerate that indefinitely.”
I was there when the invasion started and the Politicians were being very self-congratulatory about how open minded they were and all the time I was thinking in a few years you are SO going to regret this.
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