The professor called the Nordic model broken

I had a little chat with a professor, he believed socialism in the Nordic model worked once, mostly due to the same cultural belief system. When he looked at it now, he saw a broken system being used by a few and systematically being used.. He saw a system made of genuine good will with a belief system based on the good will of humans.. But to his horror he saw the declining moral aspects of society when those who uses the system can show a thing called success by using hard working people, killing them of slowly by working themselves to death.

I believe in our system, problem with this system those who play on the wrong side gets away, cause we have to much hope in human and their choices.

Norway is the light of the world and is the best of the best we have so far.

Minus the whaling.

I have modified my beliefs over the years to the point that I don't believe socialism encourages or rewards talented, hardworking people. Do any of you have any points that would support the contrary?

originally posted by: zosimov
I have modified my beliefs over the years to the point that I don't believe socialism encourages or rewards talented, hardworking people.

Ah, the word socialism. It has different connotations depending on where you live.

If you are American - Socialism is communism and scrounging and all that's bad in the world.
If you are European - A generalisation, but socialism means things like free decent global welfare, education and healthcare. The UK is not a socialist state but has free healthcare - albeit paid by general taxation.

Norway has benefitted by squadzillions of barrels of oil, so can afford to have gold plated toilet seats for the needy. It may be a paradise for some, but the taxes and the price of beer are surely not.

a reply to: paraphi

No, I understand exactly what socialism means. I used your argument as well (people assuming socialism--communism etc) before when I supported the idea of socialism. Now I'm not so supportive of the concept. Our socialized education and healthcare in the US are in fairly deplorable shape. I am indeed glad that the poorest of our nation have access to free education but said education is so much worse than it is in the wealthy neighborhoods that it almost serves no purpose at all. Here's a quick fact sheet regarding the poor and eduction in the US:

www.dosomething.org...

I've been to Norway.. beautiful country! Also a very small population per capita, if I am correct, and it sounds as if there is plenty of wealth to spread around (and that a few, greedy elites haven't kept it to themselves, great!) But that is not the case here where I think the competitive drive of capitalism is most likely a better way to go and encourages innovation and hard work, and rewards talented and skillful individuals.

Is it perfect? NOPE. Our whole system could use a revamping- the greedy are accumulating all the wealth, workers are not nearly as skilled as they used to be, wellfare as we have it really does keep people from bettering themselves (I know- I received "free" healthcare through this new Obama thing.. problem was, that if I went one dollar over the income limit, I'd lose it all and be forced to pay up to a thousand extra a month to cover my family-- or to lose coverage altogether and pay extra later in taxes--what a nightmare!).

I'm not sure what the answer is.. but am looking for a reason to go back to my previous belief that socialism is the most humane system and benefits society in general. Got one?

ket da skees da sowna and da vodka and don't stwess it