LostAggie66 wrote:
I am a progressive socialist. Who thinks the gov't should help all it's citizens with health care,(Including mental health and family planning) child care (parental leave) and post secondary education. Like many Scandanavian Countries such as Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland and Others in Europe The Netherlands,(All Constitutional Monarchies)with Germany, Czech Republic and many others. These countries with socialist policies are no where near becoming Communist then we are.
https://fee.org/articles/is-sweden-socialist-no-but/The Swedish Economy
The glory days for Sweden economically took place prior to the 1960s, when they had a free economy, low regulation and lots of wealth. Between 1870 and 1950, Sweden had the highest per capita income growth in the world and became one of the richest countries, behind only Switzerland, the U.S., and Denmark.
In the 1960s, Sweden started to redistribute wealth, which brought wealth creation to a halt. By the mid-1990s, the country had growing economic problems because it continued to redistribute wealth it wasn’t creating. It was at this juncture that many of the wealthy (ABBA band members included) and entrepreneurs were leaving Sweden. In 1994, Sweden began implementing the following measures designed to reverse this trend:
Reduce Regulation
Reduce Government Spending
Reform their Welfare Programs
Shrink their Government
Sweden has continued on this path for the last 24 years, which has brought them a modest rate of growth, but not nearly as robust as pre-60s levels due to government taxation remaining high.
Many view Sweden as socialist. However, the country is, in fact, very pro-capitalism, but does it with redistribution through taxes. Personal income is taxed at a rate of 61.85 percent, plus a 7 percent social security tax rate for employees. On top of these taxes, Sweden also has a 25 percent consumption tax. For these sacrifices of financial freedom, this is what Sweden offers their citizens in benefits:
Pension
Health care
Unemployment Insurance
Education through Ph.D. Level
Child Day Care
Very generous leaves of absence from work with benefits including: education up to 6 months, starting your own company up to 6 months off, parental leave up to 16 months with 80 percent of your pay during time off
16 public holidays (10 of these holidays are Christian-based, even though just five percent of the population are regular church attendees).
Health Care in the Kingdom of Sweden
Naturally, nearly everyone takes full advantage of these benefits. Johan Norberg, an author and historian, states that while Sweden is one of the healthiest countries, it also has one of the highest rates of sick leave in Europe, no doubt in large part because Swedes receive 80 percent of their salary while they stay home.
Long waiting lines are the norm.
Where do the health care technologies and medicines come from? Nearly all of it is invented and implemented in America in a competitive health care market.
Norberg offers caution, however, to those who would implement a “free” health care system similar to Sweden’s single-payer program.
In Sweden, the government tries to price healthcare at near zero, so demand is unlimited. However, resources are limited, resulting in rationed healthcare. Long waiting lines are the norm. Stories abound of people with an illness such as brain cancer being told they will need to wait for treatment until they have equipment and doctors ready for them.
Like Canadians, many will go to other countries to get timely treatment. Economist Andreas Bergh explains that Swedes are healthy not because of the health care system but because they eat healthy foods and are physically active.
Taxes and Immigration
One aspect of taxes in Sweden that is not well known is that while taxes are high on labor, they are relatively low for corporations (22 percent) and capital. Keeping taxes low keeps corporations and capital from going to other countries. The 1994 changes in government deregulated everything from taxis, air service, railroads, electricity, telecom, and school choice.
While taxes are high on labor, they are relatively low for corporations.
The open-competition school choice model in Sweden would trigger U.S. teacher unions into a froth. Parents and pupils decide what school they want to attend, and they are all paid for by taxes. Corporations, towns, charities, religions, most anyone and anything can start a school, but it’s up to parents and pupils if they want to attend. The more people who choose a particular school determines if that school will get more government funding.
Bernie Sanders is wrong on democratic socialism in Sweden, and everywhere else
Scandinavia's success story wasn't achieved thanks to a welfare model funded by high taxes, but in spite of it.
https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/bernie-sanders-wrong-democratic-socialism-sweden-everywhere-else-ncna1158636https://scandinaviafacts.com/is-sweden-socialist/