Sweden: A Supermodel for America?
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To the American mind there may be nothing more quintessentially Swedish than the leggy, blond supermodel. But there's another Swedish model that inspires almost as much admiration—the Swedish economic model. With a generous welfare state and high living standards, Sweden seems to prove that socialism works. Much of the hope that swept Barack Obama into the White House rests on the belief that America could reach new heights under a regime of enlightened progressivism, that we could be more like the Swedes. Not so fast, warns Stockholm University sociologist Charlotta Stern: "If an American told me that the US should be more like Sweden I would say I don't think it's possible." The United States can centralize its health care system and pass other laws that mimic Sweden's welfare state polices, says Stern, but it's impossible to replicate a culture that allows those policies to operate about as smoothly as possible. Swedish bureaucracies inspire trust, but their American counterparts (DMV, TSA, IRS) inspire punch lines, if not outrage. But America could emulate some of the Swedish policies that don't require extensive bureaucracies. Take school vouchers. Teachers unions in America regard the idea as free-market radicalism, but families in Sweden enjoy universal school choice. Sweden adopted its famously progressive policies during the 1970s, but after years of sluggish economic growth the land of ABBA altered its course in the 1990s, adopting a host of free-market reforms, from deregulation to tax cuts. Although much of the disco-era welfare state remains, economist Andreas Bergh credits the free market reforms with reviving his nation's economy. "Sweden is moving in the market economic direction," says Bergh, "but that does not mean America should be moving in the socialist direction." What if the two nations continue on in different directions? Maybe some day when America is looking for a way to rejuvenate its economy, pundits will point to a different kind of Swedish model. One that increases individual choice and competition. "Sweden—A Supermodel for America?" is produced by Daniel B. Klein, and written and produced by Ted Balaker, who also hosts. Shot by Jonathan Liberman and Henrik Devell, with additional production support by Zach Weissmueller and Sam Corcos and post production by Hawk Jensen and Austin Bragg. Special thanks to Niclas Berggren, Martin Borgs, Nils Karlson, and the Ratio Institute. Approximately 6.00 long. Go to http://reason.tv for downloadable iPod, HD, and audio versions of this and all our videos, and subscribe to Reason.tv's YouTube channel to receive automatic notification when new material goes live.
Comments
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My goal is to leave to US for GOOD and live among peaceful kind Swedish people--all I need is to hit 5 numbers.
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I think all of you got it wrong. The main difference between Sweden and the US is not the taxes or the labor unions, it's HOW they spend their money. The US focuses on military and PAUSING the poor while Sweden focuses on education, health, security and MOVING the poor.
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that is 2010 but what now
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For the first time (@3:40), I hear someone telling the truth about Swedish success: 19th century capitalism is the reason. DESPITE the 30s socialism we still have some Money. The Money we have is from large pile made from investments in innovations and entrepreneurship in the 19th Century. A declining part of true innovation from our industry since the 19th centure is a fact. in the 30s, Sweden still had less income tax than the US. We had less regulations and hence more freedom. we were successful because we were united, homogenous. We didn't need regulation to be kept in check. The socialists started enforcing laws that was never needed in the first place. Some simple examples of unneeded repression: we didn't have traffic lights until the 1950s, neither speed limits, nor yearly inspection of vehicles. The lowered speed limits of today are laugable with better cars and in some respects better drivers. The traffic lights are since long surpassed in quality with other intersection solutions. The yearly inspection is even more ridiculous now. It doesn't mean you have a safe car, it means you have been a good submissive subject. Same as paying car tax, property tax and other ridiculous reasons to steal from citizens when they don't dare to turn the income tax fosset another turn.
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It's not anymore.
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America? Oh you mean The United States right? or is it about the entire American CONTINENT? Title not very clear.
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QUESTION : How do the Swedes allow their government to ruin the country with foolish immigration policies ?
In a nation of 12 million+, why would you allow immigrants who are so ethnically, religiously, and culturally diverse from your own native population ? Moreover, why allow "welfare immigrants" to enter, when they only seek to live off government benefits ?
TO THE CASUAL OBSERVER, it seems that Sweden (like Europe in general), is determined to commit "national suicide" ! -
lol. It's now the rape capital of the world, so I guess even free market can't save a nation from social progressivism.
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1:47 that woman on the left has some amazing titties XD
Now Sweden is more or less fucked, why? Because the lefties are running the show now. -
Dobro za Svajcarsku treba se ugledati na ovakvu zemlju, ali opet suvise dobro da bi bilo istinito...Kina je imala zakon jednog deteta i ona je opstala, Balkanci ako citate ne zajebavajte se sa svojim zivotima i sa zivotima ne rodjene dece nemoze drzava da vas finansira, ako nemate da izdrzavate decu nemoj te da ih pravite.
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That was in 2010, but 2016 is a different story for Sweden.
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I think of weak pathetic idiots who welcome an invasion and allow their wives, sisters, mothers and daughters to be raped in the name of tolerance. You are a shame to your ancestors. Good bye Sweden.
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Sweden is just a sick country when it comes to feminism. They go way !! too far, even most women agree (in other Western countries) They want e.g. gender neutral names !! for boys and girls (no more Tom, John, Sara or Claire etc.), and boys and girls must play with the same toys, colours like blue and pink are pretty much forbidden, men should be forced by law to pee sitting down etc, etc.
Everything is based on the assumption that boys and girls / men and women are exactly the same (or should be forced by law to behave and act the same)
Which is nonsense of course, thousands of university papers nowadays disagree on this notion, and point out men and women / boys and girls differ in many ways.
Anyway its a small country, with no more than (almost) 10 million people,
but feminists just love !! to pinpoint to this (small) country,
forgetting / ignoring the 99.6% that are all other countries in the world. -
In Sweden like 90% are ateists we see religion as a dumb thing that kills more people than it saves
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I moved to Sweden from the US 16 years ago. Sweden is not a good place to live unless you like cold weather, extremely high taxes, and very short summers. As for social freedom, it is not free here.
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Sweden is fucked now
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A supermodel country is the one who submits the most under Allah. The one who is closest to holy redemption is the one who sets an example!
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Sweden WAS homogenous once, but not anymore. It seems like the opposite happened, and Sweden made America it's supermodel and thought that mass immigration was a good idea, and now the country is radiply turning into a "multicultural" (Islamic) hellhole.
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It's the deregulation has ruined alot of Sweden.
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Oh come on, what do you mean Sweden grew rich by capitalist institutions. Without high tax, salary distribution and business regulations Sweden would look just like the US. Common people getting completely fucked by the rich.
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