Posted on Jan 20, 2018
The Staggering Irony of Donald Trump's Fascination with Norway
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This article is not an indictment on President Trump or his policies. This is also not an opportunity to bash social democracy but a chance for people to really think about what we are doing in the U.S. and is it really working.
If you look at the Northern European nations, they have higher life expectancies, lower crime rates, better living conditions, better (free) education, better health care, better welfare programs, better living condition, less homeless people, and a whole host of other things that are better than the U.S. all because they pay more taxes and support social welfare programs.
Do they have less freedom? no actually they have more freedom because they have all the same freedoms we have and the ability to do more in their lives with better pay and more time off from work.
Maybe it is time we as a country stopped being so stubbornly attached to our supposed American Exceptionalism and notice that many countries have surpassed us in many ways.
Just a chance to think about what we are doing.
If you look at the Northern European nations, they have higher life expectancies, lower crime rates, better living conditions, better (free) education, better health care, better welfare programs, better living condition, less homeless people, and a whole host of other things that are better than the U.S. all because they pay more taxes and support social welfare programs.
Do they have less freedom? no actually they have more freedom because they have all the same freedoms we have and the ability to do more in their lives with better pay and more time off from work.
Maybe it is time we as a country stopped being so stubbornly attached to our supposed American Exceptionalism and notice that many countries have surpassed us in many ways.
Just a chance to think about what we are doing.
The Staggering Irony of Donald Trump's Fascination with Norway
Posted from alternet.org
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Posted 7 y ago
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The European economy has been ascending and the American descending for the same reason. We defend them as well as ourselves. We defended them through two World Wars and the Cold War and continue to defend them to this day. We rebuilt them from heaps of rubble. President Trump's demands that they contribute to that cost are the first honest effort to right that inequity. Oh, and their economies are now collapsing because even with our help, their ill-conceived social systems are not sustainable.
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CPT Jack Durish
CPT Nick D - Because people who are cared for forget how to care for themselves. BTW, I love how you grasp at straws see contradictions where there are none. Did you have a problem as a child with monsters under your bed?
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CDR (Join to see)
It looks like Norway’s economic growth is on par with the U.S.’s at around 2% growth.
This conversation also brings up the point that we do spend a lot on defense the protects other nations. Should they pay their fair share. Yes. But do we really need to spend as much as we do on national defense? Should we keep bases and personnel all around the world or should be pull back a bit especially in locations that can support themselves. Such as Europe and Asia and maybe get out of the Middle East as well. If we did that would we truly affect our own national security or would we just put more pressure on other nations that might worsen global security? Or would the opposite happen. Those National would realize they can’t hid by the U.S. ensuring peace and stability and actually have to tackle these issues on their own and put in place real lasting stragies the ensure global security.
This conversation also brings up the point that we do spend a lot on defense the protects other nations. Should they pay their fair share. Yes. But do we really need to spend as much as we do on national defense? Should we keep bases and personnel all around the world or should be pull back a bit especially in locations that can support themselves. Such as Europe and Asia and maybe get out of the Middle East as well. If we did that would we truly affect our own national security or would we just put more pressure on other nations that might worsen global security? Or would the opposite happen. Those National would realize they can’t hid by the U.S. ensuring peace and stability and actually have to tackle these issues on their own and put in place real lasting stragies the ensure global security.
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SPC Erich Guenther
CDR (Join to see) - 2% was Obama's preferred growth rate it was not a normal GDP rate for the United States and was well below par. A point about to be proven in the next few years.
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Norwiegians spend more on Health Care than we do, have a higher suicide rate and use 93% more electricity than we do in the United States on a per capita basis. Additionally, what is not often mentioned in comparisons between Social Democracies and the United States is. In the United States you can choose to persue whatever occupation you desire. Let me know how that turns out in a country like Norway where that freedom is restricted.
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1SG Dennis Hicks
Norway and the other Scandinavian countries are starting to and will begin to see big issues with their ability to keep their standard of living up soon. Norway is living off its oil production revenues and that will deflate in the coming months and years. They are also taking on many refugees that are not contributing to society but leaching off their social medicine and welfare. While America has its issues I have yet to hear about rape gangs and having to teach new refugees "NOT TO RAPE Norwegian woman" in classes. My In laws are Norwegian as well as my wife and I am hearing that the folks out in the burbs are not being told about the problems in the cities. As for prices everything is more expensive there that's why many came to the US.
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CDR (Join to see)
Interesting perspective. Do you think the Scandinavian countries have looked at divesting from the oil that does boost their economies? It makes sense cost is higher there since they have a higher GDP. The immigrant/refugee issue is a major problem. Perhaps they will solve the host of issues associated with it if their economy does start to suffer.
I wonder if you relatives would really want to move to the U.S. with all the problems we have? I’d be interested to hear their opinion.
I wonder if you relatives would really want to move to the U.S. with all the problems we have? I’d be interested to hear their opinion.
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Most Scandinavians would agree with you, which is why they aren’t flooding our shores to emigrate to our free yet turbulent shores.
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