Is Norway a socialist state?

[AViking]

America FUCK YEA!

• Most innovative countries: US 3rd (Sweden 2nd), Bloomberg
• OECD PISA scores 2012: 26th in math, 21st in science and 17th in reading
• Literacy Rate: 65%-85% Depending on if we are happy with people only being able to read a bottle of medicine at the 7th grade level. 21%-23% of Americans are functionally illiterate and cannot locate information in text, NAAL 1992, 2003, 2006
• Percent who do not believe in evolution: 33%, Gallup
• Corruption Index 2013: Ranked 19/177, Transparency International
• Life Expectancy: 35th , WHO 2013
• Infant Mortality: 34th , UN 2013
• Best Country to start a business: 14th, Forbes 2013
• Happiness Index: 11th , 24th in economy sub-index, Prosperity.com
• Incarceration rate: 1st
• Number of guns per capita: 1st
• Research and Development spending: 1st, 6th as percent GDP PPP
• Death Penalty: Only first world nation (small exception when Japan hanged 2 people)
• Healthcare ranking: 37th, WHO 2013
• Healthcare Expenditures: 1st, 17.7% of GDP
• Military Expenditures: 1st, $682 billion, 4.4% GDP
• Mandated paid Vacation: 0 days
• Mandated sick pay: 0 days
• Mandated paid maternity leave: 0 days
• Mandated paternity leave: 0 days
• Percent of paid vacation Americans take: 51%, Marketwatch 2014
• Percent of Americans who work while on vacation: 61%, Marketwatch 2014
• Average Time off Americans receive: 10 days and 6 federal holidays. Ranked last in developed countries. Center for Economic and Policy Research
• Median household/per capita income: 6th, Sweden 2nd, Gallup 2013
• Percent of Americans living in poverty: 16%+ including 20% of children, US Census 2012
• Income Inequality: 1st in developed countries, ranked 100/140 countries
• From 1992 to 2007 the top 400 earners in the U.S. saw their income increase 392% and their average tax rate reduced by 37%.
• If you take away the top 1% of earners and look at average wage growth the USA is doing terrible.
• The top 1% of Americans are capturing 95% of income gains during this recovery. Incomes have grown by 0.4%, Berkley 2013
• Human Development Index: 3rd
• Inequality-adjusted HDI: 16th
• WJP Rule of Law Index: US 19th, World Justice Project 2014
• Human Rights Risk Atlas: US "medium" risk of human rights offenses, ranked 139th among the 197 countries, Maplecroft 2014
• BRIBE PAYERS INDEX REPORT: US 10th out of 28 countries, Transparency International 2011
• Index of Economic Freedom: US 12th , Heritage Foundation 2014
• World Press Freedom Index: US 46th, Reporters without borders 2014

 

[StinkyPinky]

Why is it you haven't moved to one of these utopia's ???

Because I want to improve the country. I'm not one to leave when something needs fixing.

 

[Matt1970]

In Sweden we pay 25% sales tax on goods. They aren't as materialistic though.

On food our sales tax is 12% though and for books, newspapers, exercise it's 6%

If you are constantly looking at this topic as how much money you have then you're missing the WHOLE point. The question you should be asking is what would lead to a better life. Does more money give you a better life or do tax benefits give you a better life? 90% or more of the population will get a better life from more tax benefits. The other 10% can probably buy whatever they want so to them the money is better in their pocket. The question is then if that 10% is willing to give up some of their money in order to live in a much more healthy and happy society.

I hope that one day America will get it. Before it becomes a 3rd world nation with any luck.

Here in the US we pay around 8% for goods and most food items are not taxed and people bitch about that being too high. Then we turn around and vote out of office anyone who actually tries to raise taxes.

 

[Matt1970]

That's not what he said. He pointed out that Americans and Canadians pay about the same in taxes, but Canadians actually get something for what they pay while Americans really don't.
Fern already addressed why this is. Because American government is corrupt and wasteful. I agree and would like to add that another reason is because many Americans have been mislead into believing that they shouldn't expect anything from their government, or that to do so is somehow socialist.

Well Fern is wrong about Canada, they pay more in taxes than we do. He is right about the wasteful government, but every time anyone tries to cut anything, the other side goes on a tirade showing commercials of grandmothers going off cliffs.

 

[Thebobo]

• Most innovative countries: US 3rd (Sweden 2nd), Bloomberg
• .................

Yea I was bing sarcastic, never seen the movie?

 

[AViking]

I know I know. It just seemed an appropriate post to quote. I spent an hour yesterday googling and added a few more this morning for this thread. Was interesting to say the least.

 

[Incorruptible]

It's like insurance. It would be available to you if you needed it. Although many free market morons believe that their lives and careers are invincible, they really aren't.

The only moron is you for attacking the free market. The US wasn't built on socialism you pathetic excuse for a human being. It was built on Capitalism.

 

[Thebobo]

The only moron is you for attacking the free market. The US wasn't built on socialism you pathetic excuse for a human being. It was built on Capitalism.

lol anyone else thinks Incorruptible is someones alt and the persona is made up?

 

[fskimospy]

Well Fern is wrong about Canada, they pay more in taxes than we do. He is right about the wasteful government, but every time anyone tries to cut anything, the other side goes on a tirade showing commercials of grandmothers going off cliffs.

This is true: US government spending at all levels is about 6% of GDP lower than Canada. Translated into budget terms this would be close to $1 trillion in additional annual spending, split between federal, state, and local governments.

 

[Olikan]

The funny thing is that Norway could afford to lower their taxes significantly because of their oil, but instead they invest the money in a pension fund, currently worth $828.9 billion, which is pretty good for the 5.1 million citizens.

sometimes it's better just to give the surpluss of money to the population directly...
let's say 4k dollar to everyone... for the average citizen, it's almost the same thing than less taxes, benefits more the poor...
to the rich, it benefits indirectly by the higher economic power of the population... since 4k dollars is nothing to him

why just not lower the taxes?
is that companies won't be able grow over theyr competitors, creating a healthyer economy

 

[PingviN]

lol anyone else thinks Incorruptible is someones alt and the persona is made up?

No I really think he's just that stupid.

 

[Incorruptible]

No I really think he's just that stupid.

So I am stupid because I believe in Capitalism and I speak out against leeches like you?

 

[PingviN]

So I am stupid because I believe in Capitalism and I speak out against leeches like you?

No, you're stupid because you think capitalism is 1 and socialism is 0. Black and white.

For people who are not intellectually challenged, a market is mixed. Free market capitalism is needed in some areas, state control in other. You can have companies that compete with each other, but still have the market regulated. You can have taxes and still be left with enough to buy what you want. You'll never understand, because you are stupid.

 

[Incorruptible]

No, you're stupid because you think capitalism is 1 and socialism is 0. Black and white.

For people who are not intellectually challenged, a market is mixed. Free market capitalism is needed in some areas, state control in other. You can have companies that compete with each other, but still have the market regulated. You can have taxes and still be left with enough to buy what you want. You'll never understand, because you are stupid.

You're an idiot, See I can use insults as well.

 

[Veliko]

So I am stupid because I believe in Capitalism

Yes.

 

[Incorruptible]

Yes.

No.

 

[PingviN]

You're an idiot, See I can use insults as well.

Yeah, but you just say it because you're too stupid to present actual arguments. I say it because it's true.

 

[Incorruptible]

Yeah, but you just say it because you're too stupid to present actual arguments. I say it because it's true.

You say it because you know that Capitalism is superior. You just want to attack those who oppose your idiotic ideology because you're a leech.

 

[PingviN]

You say it because you know that Capitalism is superior. You just want to attack those who oppose your idiotic ideology because you're a leech.

See, this is not an argument. This is you being stupid.

 

[thraashman]

No, you're stupid because you think capitalism is 1 and socialism is 0. Black and white.

For people who are not intellectually challenged, a market is mixed. Free market capitalism is needed in some areas, state control in other. You can have companies that compete with each other, but still have the market regulated. You can have taxes and still be left with enough to buy what you want. You'll never understand, because you are stupid.

Well thought out and constructed point meant to spread a bit of knowledge.

You're an idiot, See I can use insults as well.

Standard response from Incorruptible.
This is why people attack you. Others make arguments, have discussions, sometimes show proof. And you do NONE of those things. You make one line statements and hurl insults. You aren't contributing and it's detrimental to this community.

 

[Sheik Yerbouti]

Well thought out and constructed point meant to spread a bit of knowledge.


Standard response from Incorruptible.
This is why people attack you. Others make arguments, have discussions, sometimes show proof. And you do NONE of those things. You make one line statements and hurl insults. You aren't contributing and it's detrimental to this community.

 

[TROLLERCAUST]

You're an idiot, See I can use insults as well.

You're a troll. You know what they say about trolls? They say they're narcissistic. You know what narcissistic people tend to suffer from? Depression. They suffer from depression because no-one loves them, no-one likes them. People despise them for what they are and what they do to other people. It hurts their delusions of grandeur about themselves and so they get depressed. You have a sad future ahead of you. You worthless sack of shit. :thumbsup:

 

[Victorian Gray]

Well Fern is wrong about Canada, they pay more in taxes than we do. He is right about the wasteful government, but every time anyone tries to cut anything, the other side goes on a tirade showing commercials of grandmothers going off cliffs.

Really?

http://slumbuddy.wordpress.com/2012/03/01/comparison-of-canadian-and-us-federal-tax-rates-for-2011/

 

[Victorian Gray]

The only moron is you for attacking the free market. The US wasn't built on socialism you pathetic excuse for a human being. It was built on Capitalism.

Actually, it was built on blood.

 

[Victorian Gray]

No.

maybe.