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In reply to nitro

Typical American rubbish...selective nonsense, focussing on Venezuela and not the "democratic socialist" success stories of Sweden, Norway, Finland and Denmark.

"An elaborate social safety net in addition to public services such as free education and universal healthcare."

"High percentage of workers belonging to a labour union. In 2010, labour union density was 69.9% in Finland, 68.3% in Sweden, and 54.8% in Norway. In comparison, labour union density was 12.9% in Mexico and 11.3% in the United States."

"Sweden at 56.6% of GDP, Denmark at 51.7%, and Finland at 48.6% reflect very high public spending. One key reason for public spending is the large number of public employees. These employees work in various fields including education, healthcare, and for the government itself. They often have lifelong job security and make up around a third of the workforce (more than 38% in Denmark). Public spending in social transfers such as unemployment benefits and early-retirement programmes is high. In 2001, the wage-based unemployment benefits were around 90% of wage in Denmark and 80% in Sweden, compared to 75% in the Netherlands and 60% in Germany. The unemployed were also able to receive benefits several years before reductions, compared to quick benefit reduction in other countries."

"Public expenditure for health and education is significantly higher in Denmark, Sweden, and Norway in comparison to the OECD average."

"Overall tax burdens (as a percentage of GDP) are among the world's highest; Sweden (51.1%), Denmark (46% in 2011), and Finland (43.3%)."

"The United Nations World Happiness Report 2013 shows that the happiest nations are concentrated in Northern Europe. The Nordics ranked highest on the metrics of real GDP per capita, healthy life expectancy, having someone to count on, perceived freedom to make life choices, generosity and freedom from corruption."

"The Nordic countries received the highest ranking for protecting workers rights on the International Trade Union Confederation's 2014 Global Rights Index, with Denmark being the only nation to receive a perfect score."

This is the democratic socialism being espoused by Bernie Sanders and Jeremy Corbyn

No surprise that the biased American and British media ignore the Nordic model....

Finland is ranked as the world's most literate nation

In reply to mikesiva

Americans have been brainwashed for decades.


Socialism is something you dont even utter.

In reply to mikesiva

Good going Mike ... Hope "nitro" learned a thing or three.

American oligarchs are the largest beneficiaries of socialism in the U.S through corporate welfare, they just don't want the poor to benefit from it too. All transfers of wealth must only be upwards.

In reply to mikesiva

Cut Nitro some Slack , You did not have to hit him so hard . Quoting the New
York Post , is sheer Lunacy .

The New York Post was a very good Newspaper until it was bought by Rupert Murdoch . It has become a Filthy Rag
under the ownership of Murdoch .

In reply to POINT

In reply to birdseye

Two of the Writers that I used to read
was the MuckRaker , JACK ANDERSON . I
also used to read PETE HAMILL .

There was a law in NYC , that stipulated that the Owner of a Newspaper , could not own a TV Station
simultaneously .

Ronald Region , allowed Murdoch to buy both the New York Post & also Faux Noise , which in NYC is Channel 5 .

In reply to mikesiva

Bernie's plans will significantly increase prices for the poor. Food prices will be up to 3 times what they are now.

In those countries you speak of health care is rationed. Generic and very expensive treatments are unlikely to be approved. Waiting lists are long, 2-3 years in some cases, with some annual checks not approved until age 50. Choice of treatments is severely limited even for simple pain killers and antibiotics.

The Nordic model works in relatively low populated, cold climate countries. This model will not work in countries that require large spending on security such as a large army, intelligence and police force.

In reply to mikesiva

With all of it's problems, with illegal, illiterate immigrants the USA is ranked 7th. America will be great again without socialism but with the model that made it the greatest nation for the last 200 years.

In reply to mikesiva

The perceived happier state in those countries could also be due to the lower population, less ethnic diversity so less friction between citizens.

In reply to nitro

Have you ever heard the praise self praise is no praise. The US needs to learn it.

In reply to Jabari18

Can you elaborate.

In reply to nitro

In reply to Jabari18

The immigrants flooding it's shores, some of whom are on this message board.

In reply to nitro

How many other nations have they visited/lived in to determine that this particular nation is the greatest?

In reply to nitro

"The Nordic model works in relatively low populated, cold climate countries. This model will not work in countries that require large spending on security such as a large army, intelligence and police force."

And therein lies the problem. Norway, Sweden, Finland and Denmark don't go around trying to bomb other parts of the world, unlike US, UK, France, etc. So, as a result, the Nordic countries don't waste their money on nonsense like Trident and atomic bombs. They spend their money on their people, not their businessmen and their vain-glorious projects.

By the way, I fail to see what the climate has to do with anything...sounds like another North Atlantic capitalist fiction.

I live in the UK, and I can tell you that the quality of life in the UK is much worse than it is in Scandinavia. If I was to leave the UK, it would be to live in somewhere like Norway, not the US. Let me remind you of this part:

"The United Nations World Happiness Report 2013 shows that the happiest nations are concentrated in Northern Europe. The Nordics ranked highest on the metrics of real GDP per capita, healthy life expectancy, having someone to count on, perceived freedom to make life choices, generosity and freedom from corruption."

"The Nordic countries received the highest ranking for protecting workers rights on the International Trade Union Confederation's 2014 Global Rights Index, with Denmark being the only nation to receive a perfect score."

If the Nordic model can only work in countries with population sizes of 5-10 million, than that's an argument for breaking up the UK into England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, etc, and to break up the United States, since this would mean, according to your argument, that the people will have a better quality of life in countries of smaller populations....

To me, and the Scandinavians, quality of life is more important than GDP growth.

In reply to mikesiva

Mike, you are a bright person. I am not but I am sure it is a lot more complicated than just deciding not to build a large army why the Nordic countries spend less on security.

How were they affected by the two world wars in comparison to the USA, UK, France, Germany, Russia etc?

In regard to climate, it is well documented that a lot more diseases are created in warmer climates versus the cold Scandinavian types. Therefore less strain on health sector in the colder countries.

Question, why do you choose to live and work in the UK instead of the much better Scandinavian countries?

In reply to nitro

Sorry, I don't buy that rubbish about colder climates have less strain on helath sectors that hotter ones. I get far more ill in Britain than I did in Jamaica! In Russia, where it's seriously cold, they have serious health problems.

Sweden had a serious alcohol abuse problem. My mum reminded me of the days when Brits used to joke about Swedes and their alcohol problems. Then, Sweden started to address it, by putting taxes on alcohol. Now, their alcohol consumption rate is lower than the UK. That's how they addressed their national health issues....

I'm only living and working in the UK because I have a British passport and speak only English. If I was young enough to learn another language, I would be living in Scandinavia. Alas, when I tire of the UK (which will be very soon, if Jeremy Corbyn's Labour doesn't win the next election!), I will be returning to Jamaica to live - if only because of the weather.

Sorry, I don't buy the constant Western argument that this massive build up of arms and nuclear weapons is "complicated". It's only complicated because the West like to invade and bomb other countries. So, the US and the UK have a poorer standard of living than Scandinavia out of choice.

Denmark, Finland and Norway all suffered much worse in the Second World War than the US and the UK. Germany conquered Denmark and Norway, while the USSR conquered Finland. At least the US and the UK were not invaded by the Germans. The Norwegians were particularly horribly treated, because of Hitler's obsession with Aryan blond(e)s. Norwegian women were used as breeding receptacles for Hitler's experiments, having children from hundreds of German soldiers. One of the Abba singers was a product of that experiment.

So, Scandinavia suffered from WWII...they just have a better vision of the future, maybe as a result of these harrowing experiences.

This might of interest to you:

Look who's happiest?

"Denmark is the world's happiest country while Burundi is the least happy, according to a new survey. The fourth World Happiness Report also found that countries where there was less inequality were happier overall. Switzerland, Iceland, Norway and Finland, which like Denmark have strong social security systems, made up the rest of the top five. The US was the world's 13th happiest country, the UK was 23rd, China was 83rd and India was 118th."

The illimitable blokes who have stepped onto these shores with little or nothing in their pockets, but who worked hard, saved their earnings, enjoyed the freedom of corrupt free cops, traffic cops n civil servants to finally ascend to be millionaires! Gee, which country is that??? N where else do these wonderful success stories happens? But u know what? Keep on pontificating....