EPISODE 550: Social democracies are not what they appear to be!!!

I have been talking about the Nordic model this week on the show. Our favorite democratic socialist uncle Bernie keeps referring to the Nordic model as something to emulate. My favorite socialist on Facebook also like the Nordic model, and never stops talking about it.

I have been doing some reading and research this week, and surprise surprise, the Nordic model is not all it’s cracked up to be! Forced child care by the state, because of the high tax rates, mothers can’t afford to stay home and take care of their children. They can’t even leave them with a relative, without government approval of the relative. There is a large underground cash economy to avoid taxes. And speaking of taxes, banks and corporations are relentlessly persuaded for tax evasion. Wait times for medical care are terrible, sometimes up to 24 weeks for the whole process of diagnosis to treatment.

Just a note about the happiness index. The two major factors in the happiness index are 1 trust in people, and 2 freedom of choice. I live in rural America and I get the trust factor. The one I don’t understand is the freedom to choose in the Nordic model. Because all the reading and research I have done on this leads me to conclude that the Nordic peoples choices are limited and defined by the government that they empowered to take care of them. They may be free to choose in their own minds, but do they? Do they choose to pay a 180% incise tax for a car? Do they get to choose their doctor? Can they opt out of the Nordic model if they want? Do they even know what true freedom and liberty are?

DAILY BIBLE READING: Rom 14:1-9 Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things. 2 For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. 3 Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him. 4 Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand. 5 One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks. 7 For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. 8 For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. 9 For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living.