Krugman: Socialist Hellhole Blogging

[pampango]

http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/19/socialist-hellhole-blogging/



Every time I read someone talking about the “collapsing welfare states of Europe”, I have this urge to take that person on a forced walking tour of Stockholm. If you believed what the right says, a country with Sweden’s level of both taxes and social benefits should be a wasteland. Strange to say, that’s not what it looks like, to say the least.

Also, really good herring.

[eridani]

1. Those states are still caught in a destructive worldwide financial system

Their safety nets will delay the inevitable for much longer, but they are still headed in the same direction as we are.

[n2doc]

2. Unless they follow iceland's lead. n/t

[eridani]

3. Iceland can live off of geothermal energy

The rest of the world isn't so lucky.

[n2doc]

4. Iceland is recovering nicely

Telling the banksters to fuck off is a winning strategy. Too bad other nations don't follow their example.

[jwirr]

8. Telling them to back off is the only solution for disaster capitalism. nt

[eridani]

9. That's a start. However, it is a huge success factor that they can be

--energy independent also. Not only are they not being jacked around by the IMP, but they are immune from the oil speculators as well. That last fact is just as important, IMO.

[Selatius]

13. Using that line of thinking, France could conceivably do the same.

It generates about 80% of its power through nuclear reactors. It generates so much power that it sells excess power to neighbors like Spain and Germany.

[Odin2005]

5. The Right has been predicting the immanent collapse of the European Welfare state for 30 years.

The facts don't matter, they just "know" it's going to happen.

[RainDog]

6. it's on the cover of Time magazine this week, too

there are problems - the euro doesn't have safeguards to keep borrowing from various nations at reasonable levels.

but, since they fared far better than the U.S. during this recession - the reality seems to be that America's shitty economic policies are hurting the entire world.

the unwillingness to tax the wealthy in this nation is hurting the entire world.

[On the Road]

10. That's What Kills Me

This year's permabears seem to forget about all the generations of previous permabears. Personal predictions are presented as evidence. And it is always greeted as some insightful new analysis rather than the same old thing.

[nadinbrzezinski]

11. Read the second comment... it is oh so much

RW talking points heaven...

And it is comedy gold.

[LLStarks]

7. Reminds me of Cartman's use of "socialist dunghole" nt

[pampango]

12. Krugman: Swede Talk, Swede Talk

http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/20/swede-talk-swede-talk/

1. Stockholm isn’t perfect. Even in August, it can rain cats and dogs — which is why I’m still sitting in the lounge blogging over my coffee and herring.

2. More seriously, I wouldn’t want to live here — because I’m not Swedish! Culturally I’m very much an American, Northeast Corridor edition, and even the Swedes tell me that their society can feel a bit claustrophobic. Fundamentally, my home is in the real real America — the multicultural, multiracial, freewheeling society that is built around the American idea. Of course, the “patriots” of the right hate that America.

3. Of course the point is not that Sweden is perfect, it’s the fact that it works and thrives despite high taxes and a strong welfare state — which isn’t supposed to be possible according to conservative dogma.

An anecdote here: Robin and I were talking yesterday with an eminent American financial economist, and said something about tax levels here. He said, “Well, that’s why all the young people are leaving.” Except, you know, they aren’t. But never mind — that’s what’s supposed to be happening, and it must be happening.

The anecdote at the end is a classic example of FOX/teabagger economic thinking - damn the facts, full speed ahead with the constant repetition of what "must be happening" to be consistent with the "party line".

[xchrom]

14. Recommend

[War Horse]

15. "Best Country to Start a Business? Denmark"

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703859204575525883366862428.html

That's from the WSJ in 2010...

In fact, all the Nordics consistently score high in all of those "Ease of Doing Business" and "Entrepeneurship" Rankings. So does the U.S., of course, but that's not the point:

According to Krugman's critics these "Socialist overtaxed Hell holes" ought to be basket cases in terms of entrepeneurship and small businesses. Might come as a shock to some that there are other factors besides "tax cuts"...

[bvar22]

16. But what about the "Job Creators",

and HOW are The RICH" making ends meet without HUGE Tax Cuts?

There is something Rotten in Denmark.
Don't they know about the "Uniquely American Solution"?




Who will STAND and FIGHT for THIS American Majority?

You will know them by their WORKS,
not by their excuses.

Solidarity!
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