After Living in Norway, America Feels Backward. Here’s Why.

a reply to: ElectricUniverse

You really should stop with the claims that Bernie, and socialism will resolve all the problems you claim will resolve, because these same claims were made by other "social democrats" and "socialists" in the past and it "never" solved any problems... Instead the problems got worse in those same countries...

And, you really should stop exaggerating and deliberately refusing to separate your hysterical "COMMIE!" reaction from what Bernie IS SAYING.

Just....stop.

GODDAMIT I never said he isn't a SOCIALIST. He "is" a democratic socialist. YOU are the one who continues to try to malign and impugn him - he is saying what he stands for. I agree with it. He could call himself a Hobbit or a Pleiadean or a Woman AND I WOULD STILL AGREE WITH HIS POLICIES!!!!

Jesus holy mother of derp.....
STOP.


What the eff is wrong with you? You don't know what you're talking about, you're trying to "scare" people, and it is as though you want to argue about whether his hair is grey or white.

Who cares if he's a Jew or a Gentile? A summer or an autumn? A Leo or a Scorpio? Teeth or Dentures? 5'8" or 6'4"? Briefs or boxers?
Belt or suspenders? Aftershave or cologne?

Good gawd. It's such a bigoted, ignorant, thing to do - to say "Lalalalala" while he is explaining himself....and continue to spew garbage based on the definition of ONE WORD THAT IS A FLUID WORD ANYWAY. Hell, democrat and republicans aren't "set in stone" definitions either!

a reply to: Teikiatsu

We tried that, the federal government collapsed in less than a decade and several states ended up on the verge of war with each other.

originally posted by: Aazadan
a reply to: Teikiatsu

We tried that, the federal government collapsed in less than a decade and several states ended up on the verge of war with each other.

Please elaborate. I assume you are referring to a situation other than the Articles of Confederation?

originally posted by: Teikiatsu

originally posted by: Aazadan
a reply to: Teikiatsu

We tried that, the federal government collapsed in less than a decade and several states ended up on the verge of war with each other.

Please elaborate. I assume you are referring to a situation other than the Articles of Confederation?

No, that is precisely what I am referring to. Once the Revolutionary War was over things degraded quickly as there was no longer an immediate threat to unite them. States were ignoring congress, each conducting their own foreign policy, and trade disputes got worse by the day. All of the colonies would have been at war with each other (even if relations weren't outright hostile at the time) before long had the Constitution not come about.

a reply to: BuzzyWigs

I totally agree.

Other countries have dealt with poverty much better than the US.

Even just giving money to the poor works
www.washingtonpost.com...

The US because of some ignorant conservative preconceived notions is way behind.

The Scandinavian countries have shown the way but Americans are too arrogant and brainwashed in American superiority to listen.

a reply to: Willtell

It's not that; it's just the system is too strong. You cannot fight it.

A major shift will need to occur for American people to finally wake up and start changing their country. I'm amazed how much stuff you guys can put up with.

As for the topic, i mean the democratic socialism is the best thing there is really. It's not just Norway, it's all Scandinavian countries.

a reply to: BuzzyWigs

Well that wild tirade helps the Sanders Campaign for sure.

originally posted by: Nikola014
a reply to: Willtell


As for the topic, i mean the democratic socialism is the best thing there is really. It's not just Norway, it's all Scandinavian countries.

I agree. Of the three, social democracy has overall, been the most successful and beneficial of the socio/political economic systems in the great experiment that lays behind the carve up of Germany and Eastern Europe in the post WW2 settlement.

Germany also has a system that works because they make sure they take care of the workers unlike the US who only cater to the business owners.

I tell you the right wingers in America have among the worst philosophy in the world.

For years they have kept America away from universal health care, the ONLY civilized country that does.

It proves they aren’t civilized

Their ignorant philosophy keeps people poor and the society filled with holes

Unlike Germany that demands unions be on the boards of corporations

Germany lets you keep unemployment insurance until you get a job.

I think I heard that is the case regarding the UE.

America because of right-wing doctrine is way behind the rest of the civilized world.

a reply to: Willtell
Every time I have seen co-determination offered in Canada, it has been the union that has rejected it, not the corporation.

A seat at the table comes with something the current unions seem to loathe....legal and fiscal responsibility.

Co-determination in Germany works because most seem to understand that a well operated company is good for everybody. Here, it is just me, me, me (both sides of the table). Everybody wants the increased benefits, nobody wants the increased responsibilities.

originally posted by: onequestion

I work over 60 hours a week and I want the American workforce to experience better conditions.

Population of Norway 5 million, population of the US 330 million...Things are not linear and become much more difficult to achieve as population numbers go up.

a reply to: Xtrozero

What's that mean exactly?

Does that mean working conditions can't and shouldn't improve? Or cost of living improve?

originally posted by: onequestion
What's that mean exactly?

It means that any idea can be dismissed immediately without any actual thought put into it.
2nd.

originally posted by: peck420
a reply to: Willtell

Co-determination in Germany works because most seem to understand that a well operated company is good for everybody.

German unions do seem more closely related to guilds, with the emphasis on the craftsmanship and skill of the worker being the main component of a well operated company.

originally posted by: Xtrozero

originally posted by: onequestion

I work over 60 hours a week and I want the American workforce to experience better conditions.

Population of Norway 5 million, population of the US 330 million...Things are not linear and become much more difficult to achieve as population numbers go up.

So should we just give up? I don't think so. We have forgotten our history. In the past people fought hard to improve the working conditions of workers and end child labor, and eventually things improved. Then after decades of economic stability, we got fat and happy and slid back into where we are now. That can change. It doesn't matter how many people you have in a country if that country decides to change the way it does things. The problem is, the people have to be empowered to do so, and since our govt is bought paid for and owned by the 1 percent, that's currently not happening for us.

America probably has more wealth than Norway per capita but America is filled with so many greedy billionaires and millionaires who want all the money that the money gets bottlenecked in the hands of a few.

That happens because these rich people extort the politicians in the West.

The Scandinavians understand all of this and wisely adjust their system to this so all the people are looked after not just a few billionaires and millionaires who really don’t need any help in the first place.

62 People Own Most of World's Wealth
learningenglish.voanews.com...

Most of these 62 are American

originally posted by: openminded2011
It doesn't matter how many people you have in a country if that country decides to change the way it does things. The problem is, the people have to be empowered to do so, and since our govt is bought paid for and owned by the 1 percent, that's currently not happening for us.

Well it is all about the people. We are seeing in Europe countries that flourished under a socialist Government starting to fail and it comes back down to the people. For socialism you need a healthy private work force that pays for it all. If that work force decides they would rather just let the Government take care of them in some poor existence, or the Government bloats Government jobs then the jobs that pay for everything dwindle. An extreme example is Greece, but many countries are feeling the pain now that have this model.

I do not think the vast majority of Americans really care at this point to change anything. About 60% of voters actually vote in a President race, that leaves 40% that could pick anyone they want if they voted, but they don't. The House and Senate is much worst with some below 5% of actual voters. Americans really do not care...

The other is a healthy work force. People at some point need to be responsible for their own actions and we have too many in America that do not want to do a thing to improve their lives. As you said. "decides to change the way it does things" well Americans are a long way away from that.

originally posted by: WonOunce
People are pretty idiotic to compare a country like Norway to a country like the United States - Norway has very little cultural differences as most people there are white Anglo Saxon's. In a state like New Jersey or in New York on a single block we can have people from 100 different countries with different views and opinions. In New Jersey alone we have 1.5 x the population as the entire country of Norway. How can we be expected to appease all of these different points of view?

Im not saying Norway isnt a wonderfully progressive country and a beautiful place to live, but to compare it to living in the United States of America is well pretty idiotic.

That is so wrong. We have people from a lot of countries living here. To name a few: Polish, German, Romanian, almost all African countries, Iranians, Iraqi, Afghani and even more countries (won't bother listing them all).

originally posted by: onequestion

What's that mean exactly?

Does that mean working conditions can't and shouldn't improve? Or cost of living improve?

It means the Government has a lot less people to worry about and take care of. Norway GNP is about $68,000 per person, the US is about $51,000 per person, but the US also has a hell of a lot more infrastructure, military, health care etc than what Norway has to deal with.

Also when you look at non-workers even if both are 20% Norway would be 1 million and the US would be 60 million a hell of a lot more cost once again.

All this means is that there is a point when socialism is not sustainable unless the population is willing to do what it needs to do to make it work. It is much easier to educate and mentor 5 million than 330 million, and so America is a long away off from anything like Norway mainly because the population is unwilling to make it happen. This has little to do with the 1%ers.

originally posted by: Aazadan

originally posted by: pompel9
It all depends what retail we are talking about. Food retail is usually open for 10-15 hours a day. While specialized retails such as hardware and electric is open for about 7-10 hours a day.
The retails that have long opening hours has two shifts.

Hope that helps answer you questions. Please feel free to ask if you are wondering about more.

I don't think that sounds too bad, I live in an area of the US where everything shuts down by 9 or 10, by those standards even that is late. One thing you have to keep in mind is that the US is a 24 hour culture. People like being able to order a pizza at 1 am, or run to the pharmacy for cold medication at 3 in the morning, or if they have an early day know they can still hit up a coffee shop at 5:30. We also like to go places in the evening (bars, restaurants, shopping, etc) as a way to unwind.

While I think the reduced work week could definitely work in the US there's no way the store hours would, we just have a very different culture in that regard.

In the big cities here (small according to your standards) you can get food on gas stations or 7/11 that is open 24 hours a day.
You can not buy alcohol in shops after 20.00 (08.00 PM I think, never get the PM/AM thing right) on weekdays and after 18.00 (06.00) Saturday. You can not buy alcohol in shops on Sunday. And only beer is sold in shops. For stronger stuff you have to go to something that is called vinmonopolet that is run by the state.

Bars is usually open until 03.00 on the night on weekends and usually open to 24.00 (12.00) on weekdays. Not much unwinding, more like lots of drunk people. We do not have a drinking culture. We usually drink to we are wasted. Not me though, I have stopped drinking (got tired of it).