Excellent article! I agree with Michael Hudson. We need a series of articles, reports, teach-ins, and public debates to educate the American public about social democracy. Your analysis is exactly what we need to educate the vast majority of Americans who are so misinformed to the point that they are willing to support a system that works against their own self-interest.

The way forward is not going to be with the economic plans of Republicans and Democrats. The Scandinavian model is not perfect, but it is much better than what we have now. All we need is a social movement and a responsible/independent media to make it a reality.

In Peace,

Frank

Phillip Logan
Young Democratic Socialist of America – WSU Chapter Lead

http://www.ydsusa.org/node/189

For a long time, we have been taught that socialism is an enemy of capitalism. We are also taught that American Capitalism is the CORRECT way of how capitalism should work. But here comes the Scandinavian economic model that is a socialist program in nature but still preserves free market, private ownership, competition, and freedom of choice – basic characteristics of capitalism. Thus, we may ask: do capitalism and socialism really conflict with each other?

The co-existence of capitalism, a socialist type of economic development, and democracy in these Scandinavian countries should at least demand some thoughts of the American public. The sad thing that has been happening is: corporations in U.S. have successfully brainwashed the public to the extent that people vote against their self interest while gaining some strange satisfaction as if they have protected democracy or capitalism.

By lobbying under the name of “free choice” and “free market,” America has established an ideology to legitimize its income inequality. This reminded me of how the Church in Medieval time also provided legitimation for the sufferings of the “serfs” and kept feudalism going for 1000 years. Similar to how we today cannot understand why the “serfs” were happy enough not to overthrown the system that treated them very much as slaves, people in 3012 would likely not be able to understand why Americans stay the way it is while the Scandinavian countries have proved otherwise.

Just think what universal health care would do for this nation? It would unbind at least 10% of our GDP to be used for Schools and Childcare or other services for our citizens.

I feel the Medical Complex we have is as detrimental as the Military Complex in terms of dollars wasted with systems that are old and outdated and ineffective. It still surprises me how medical treatment ever became a profit making endeavor, pitting those who can afford it against those who cannot. You cannot even shop for your health care needs as no one can even tell you the expense of your surgery procedure or treatment until you get the bill.
wasteful!

Keep exploring the options Rana. We all need to rethink some of the “old ideas” as we move forward.

Stephanie A