tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14840451.post113083312659957526..comments2023-11-30T10:30:28.098+01:00Comments on Social Democracy / Socialdemokrati: The most successful society the world has ever knownPeter Gustavssonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02816652700198998124noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14840451.post-62484360004491710422008-05-28T11:52:00.000+02:002008-05-28T11:52:00.000+02:00Thanks! I am convinced that all countries can move...Thanks! <BR/><BR/>I am convinced that all countries can move towards a welfare state - including both Colombia and the USA. It's a matter of organising, popular education and a lot of patience. <BR/><BR/>Good luck!Peter Gustavssonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02816652700198998124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14840451.post-25770954680635088752008-05-24T09:32:00.000+02:002008-05-24T09:32:00.000+02:00Wonderful Blog. I personally congratulate Mr Gusta...Wonderful Blog. I personally congratulate Mr Gustavsson for this great blog. too bad I don't speak Swedish (for now) to understand the other entries. But this one is marvelous. Thank you for the deep analysis you made about the guardian's article. You Scandinavians are an example for the rest of Humanity Long Live Scandinavia !!!<BR/><BR/>"When I get depressed, as I often do, I like to read about the Nordic countries and the inspiring story of how, on Europe's northern periphery, a relatively small number of people got it basically right"<BR/><BR/>The same happens to me. I live in Colombia, the "53rd star in the US flag" and things could not be worse here because it is impossible. We definitively should look deeper into the Scandinavian model and learn their legacy!!<BR/><BR/>Thank you and a very big hug from Colombia :)DadalusReloadedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02364075266336485567noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14840451.post-1137155525842855962006-01-13T13:32:00.000+01:002006-01-13T13:32:00.000+01:00There was a time when communities would seek couns...There was a time when communities would seek counsel from the elders. More experience usually translated into lessons learned. Having picked up a pearl of wisdom here and there over the years, I am now able to share a thought or two. The main lesson is to never stop learning. Seeking other points of view and new ideas like visiting your blog are steps in the right direction. Finding what is ultimately important leads one to appreciate actuality, efficiency and mindfulness. Helping others to see some of the forest through the trees is its own reward. <A HREF="http://www.HappyThoughtLifestyles.com" REL="nofollow">Happy Thoughts</A>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14840451.post-1131174961562343772005-11-05T08:16:00.000+01:002005-11-05T08:16:00.000+01:00Britain was only 'working' because of a credit-car...Britain was only 'working' because of a credit-card based economic boom whose time is fast running out.<BR/><BR/>Social Democracy Now<BR/>http://www.blogigo.co.uk/socialdemocracynowAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14840451.post-1131174713975083222005-11-05T08:11:00.000+01:002005-11-05T08:11:00.000+01:00Excellent column. Like Toynbee, I am a great admir...Excellent column. Like Toynbee, I am a great admirer of Swedish social democracy - indeed, only six months ago I told a fellow teacher at my school in no uncertain terms that Sweden was the most successful country the world has ever known, so when I saw Toynbee's headline I thought she had somehow stolen it from me - but, like Toynbee, I am very worried that Swedes are inclined to depreciate their own achievements. <BR/><BR/>The reason Swedes often concede so much to their critics is because their country has been the target of so much unfair and often ignorant criticism. Why's this? Because Sweden represents an alternative socio-economic model to the U.S. and the powers that be would like us to think that no alternative model to so-called 'golden straitjacket' neoliberalism could be viable. <BR/><BR/>However, Sweden, as well as the other Nordic countries, is ample proof that there are types of capitalism that work better than the U.S. model. It may not be the last word in social organization - and probably no form of capitalism ever could be - but all the rest of the world can do realistically is seek to emulate the best available model. <BR/><BR/>Please spare a thought for those of us forced to live in the money-grubby, corporate-controlled English-speaking countries, where little has changed since the Dickens novels. I find myself marooned in Australia, where we have some of the lowest minimum wages in the OECD, one of the stingiest welfare states and consequently one of the highest poverty rates. If I lost my job, I would probably have to commit suicide, because I strongly doubt that I could ever find another and our welfare system pays rates that are well below poverty. (You can basically pay your rent and not much more.) I refuse to ever go down that road again.<BR/><BR/>When I get depressed, as I often do, I like to read about the Nordic countries and the inspiring story of how, on Europe's northern periphery, a relatively small number of people got it basically right (which, of course, is not to imply that I think Sweden's a utopia or anything). I often think the only thing worth living for is the prospect that a powerful shift against neoliberalism will come soon and we in the English-speaking countries like Australia will be looking to Swedish social democracy rather than American 'free market' capitalism for our models. <BR/><BR/>I can't tell you how much I am looking forward to my next visit to Sweden this summer - although I will actually be spending more time in Finland, a country I have never been to before. Until then, I have to endure the demoralizing life of a part-time worker in a low-welfare state. So Swedes who read this, remember to count yourself lucky; whatever faults your country possesses, they are few compared to those of Australia and I tell you the sunshine really doesn't make up for them.<BR/><BR/>Until I see Sweden again, all power to Swedes who are struggling to keep the flames of social democracy alive there.<BR/><BR/>Social Democracy Now<BR/>http://www.blogigo.co.uk/socialdemocracynowAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14840451.post-1130874673578428872005-11-01T20:51:00.000+01:002005-11-01T20:51:00.000+01:00Länken till källan för citatet blev fel ovan, den ...Länken till källan för citatet blev fel ovan, den skall vara:<BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://sydsvenskan.se/opinion/pertohlssonkronika/article124147.ece" REL="nofollow">Allians i gyngning</A>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14840451.post-1130874527035082432005-11-01T20:48:00.000+01:002005-11-01T20:48:00.000+01:00Hur ser du på (S)veriges demokrati?FN:s konvention...Hur ser du på (S)veriges demokrati?<BR/><BR/><I>FN:s konvention mot korruption, godkänd den 15 september, ålägger i artikel sju de undertecknande staterna att rekrytera höga tjänstemän i enlighet med principerna om ”transparens och objektiva kriterier”. Så fungerar det inte i Sverige. När en ledamot av riksdagens konstitutionsutskott, KU, bad Göran Persson redogöra för skälen bakom regeringens utnämningar av generaldirektörer blev svaret: ”Det har jag ingen som helst anledning att göra.”</I><BR/><BR/>Källa: <A HREF="http://sydsvenskan.se/opinion/pertohlssonkronika/article122468.ece" REL="nofollow"></A><BR/><BR/>Är det demokrati att 6 av 10 ledamöter i våra universitets- och högskolestyrelser är socialdemokrater?<BR/><BR/>Vore det inte rimligt med lite "transparens och objektivitet" vid tillsättandet av generaldirektörer efter alla skandaler om korruption inom socialdemokratin?<BR/><BR/>Eller är strategin att fortsätta fylla så många maktpositioner i samhället som möjligt med partilojala socialdemokrater?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14840451.post-1130839487702586362005-11-01T11:04:00.000+01:002005-11-01T11:04:00.000+01:00You are totally right about the German situation P...You are totally right about the German situation Peter. Munterfering has complained that the party is not backing his stand by electing one of the Left’s leaders to be General Secretary, but he, and Schroeder and the others on the right are the ones who have made the mistake. Imagine if Tony Blair decided to form a grand coalition with John Major in 1997, or Persson decides to serve as deputy to Reinfeldt – its crazy. I have no idea why the SPD’s leaders thought they could ever get away with it.<BR/><BR/>I think you are also right about the attitudes to the right in Sweden. Labour ran a very successful campaign in 2001 and 2005 based all around the idea of “Britain is working, don’t let the Tories wreck it”. People have to be confronted with the choice they make at the ballot box – they are deciding between something that is working and something that didn’t work last time. If you have the confidence to believe it yourselves then you can make the people think on it too.<BR/><BR/>Here is a question though – what do people actually think about the Moderates? Do they actually think they are “new” or do they think that under the gloss they are still the same? How well is the Moderate’s PR machine working?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com