Sponsored by Sweden - Yes it's true, we have been living well for decades simply to hoodwink you stupid Americans into paying more taxes!
Good Morning! Rise and Shine! Get that Cup O' Joe...
break out the O.J....hang out with the pooch...time to check out the Funnies!
Stockholm Syndrome - Socialists!
Stockholm Syndrome - Socialists! Part II
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Colbert's Economic Plan for Misdirected Rage
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Earlier this week commongood posted Breaking! U.S. Treasury Recalls All Currency. Check it out!
Comments
classic stuff, RO.
Thanks for the posts! I hope you're having a good weekend, my good man!
I just review 'em, I don't do 'em
But yeah, I gotta really laugh when the talking heads prattle on about socialism as if it is this evil thing like the totalitarianism of the USSR or say the cultural revolution of China.
I always thought everyone in Sweden
was rich and now thanks to The Daily Show I know know it is true.
Ah but there are always the prognosticators of doom and gloom. I am sure those well clothed Urbanites will beg to differ with this http://www.brusselsjournal.com/node/510.
Interesting pros and cons are in the follow-up readers posts.
I found this post to bring a smile. "There is a huge amout of money in Ireland at the moment. However wealth is much less equally spread in Ireland. If you are able to work then you will do well. But if you are old, sick, retired or lazy :) then Belgium is a better place to live."
Maybe there should be a country for the old, sick and lazy?
http://www.brusselsjournal.com/node/510
However, despite Bruegel, distorted academic studies and the European media’s praise, the efficiency of the major Scandinavian economies is a myth. The Swedish and Finnish welfare states have been going through a long period of decline. In the early 1990s they were virtually bankrupt. Between 1990 and 1995 unemployment increased five-fold. The Scandinavian countries have not been able to recover.
In 1970, Sweden’s level of prosperity was one quarter above Belgium’s. By 2003 Sweden had fallen to 14th place from 5th in the prosperity index, two places behind Belgium. According to OECD figures, Denmark was the 3rd most prosperous economy in the world in 1970, immediately behind Switzerland and the United States. In 2003, Denmark was 7th. Finland did badly as well. From 1989 to 2003, while Ireland rose from 21st to 4th place, Finland fell from 9th to 15th place.
While a poorly performing economy such as Belgium’s was able to create 8% new jobs between 1981 and 2003, Sweden and Finland were unable to create any jobs at all in over two decades. Denmark did a little better because it “activated” its labour market by making it more “flexible.”
Why are the Scandinavian countries doing such a bad job, despite their Protestant work ethic and devotion to duty? The main cause is the essence of the nanny state: its very high tax level. Between 1990 and 2005 the average overall tax burden was 55% in Finland, 58% in Denmark and 61% in Sweden. This is almost one and a half times the OECD average.
there is no "philosophy" which covers it all
in my view and it seems you are pulling up statistics as well. Finland, for example, is offshore outsourcing. They also have only a population of 3 million people, which of course does also affect jobs. A huge example is this nightmare "abuse" JV (joint venture) between Seimens and Nokia. They have fired, well, I don't know the totals but it has to be over 50k, sought the cheapest labor, thrashed their workforce, on and on.
So, while you may be attributing some result due to "socialism", I'd claim you really have to look deep into the numbers, statistics, especially in today's great global cheap labor market on what's happening.
They do have unbelievable taxes, but if you add up all of the taxes in the U.S., the hidden taxes, it's really pretty high here too. Finland especially has surreal taxes on things like cars, certain goods and a progressive tax that is beyond steep to the point you can say "comrade".
But that said, you cannot ignore the quality of life in Europe in comparison to the United States for the citizenry. It's frankly so much better with health care, social safety nets, free or almost free university level education, child care, 6 weeks of vacation time and so on...
I mean you seriously need to plain live there to realize the difference and then contemplate these tax rates.
I also think you're incorrect on the recovery from the 1990 major recession. It might be noted the 1990's recession was caused by a massive housing bubble. ;)
Do you get what you pay for?
That is what is missing when we look at "comparative" taxes. You are so right Robert, the hidden taxes and fees in this country are much more transparent in Scandanavia, and other parts of Europe as well. These countries are focused on maintaining a high standard of living and economic sustainability, rather than aggressive growth. Additionally, a lot of their taxes for cars and other "luxury" items are imposed as a mechanism for protecting their foreign exchange positions. IMO, we don't get much for what we pay, unless you like wars, warriors and war machines. We have everyone beat in that category.
Hidden taxes like
property tax are egregious. I am self employed and in the 14% net tax rate. When I add on the property tax (paid with after tax funds) my State tax, my local tax, I am close to 49%.
I once had a business partner that as a kid and young guy lived thought out Europe. To him, Europe was a place for the (paraphrasing) weak and meek. Also he really hated the King thing. But with the way our elected officials act, we have Kings and Queens.
I say it is time we stop being the warrior for the world. It will probably end up as it always does when we back out but it is worth a chance. Before the little Pearl Harbor incident the USA was NOT going to get involved much in the European war.
I'm just not a big fan of government. Never have been and never will be. If we could (it is impossible I know) I would like to have hardly any government rule. To me so much of government is a kin to the war on drugs. A model that isn't working but they just keep doing the same thing over and over.
Europe can have all their government and spy cameras just keep them away from me!
big government, small government
I think the real answer to that debate is we cannot trust our government for real representation. Who wants more of a system one cannot trust?
I often wonder if the parliamentary systems of Europe simply have more balances of power and that's why they seemingly represent the interests of their people (it appears, I am not there) a little better.
I can say the same about the current financial industry
"I think the real answer to that debate is we cannot trust our government for real representation. Who wants more of a system one cannot trust?"
I can't trust our current banking industry for real representation, at least not at the power level they've grabbed for themselves without election.
In fact, I can't trust any business over 40 employees at this point- the boss men are too remote and protected beyond that.
Given that, can we trust a free and anonymous market at all?
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Executive compensation is inversely proportional to morality and ethics.
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Maximum jobs, not maximum profits.