Fareed Zakaria explains... "Bernie Sanders’ Scandinavian fantasy" [fareedzakaria.com]
- Bernie says Billionaires should not exist....
But Sweden and Norway both have more billionaires per capita than the United States - Bernie wants to tax the rich....
But Inheritance taxes in Sweden and Norway are zero. In the U.S. it is 40%, 4th highest in the world - Bernie wants democratic socialism...
But this experiment in Sanders-style democratic socialism tanked the Swedish economy. Between 1970 and 1995, Sweden did not create a single net new job in the private sector." - Bernie wants a big government to socialize all....
In 1991, a free-market prime minister, Carl Bildt, initiated a series of reforms to kick-start the economy. By the mid-2000s, Sweden had cut the size of its government by a third and emerged from its long economic slump." - Bernie wants to increase taxes on higher incomes...
But this would mean that any income above $65,000 in the U.S. would be taxed at the rate of 55.9 percent" - Bernie wants to slash taxes for poor and middle class...
But the poor and middle class in all Northern Europe pay a national sales tax (value-added tax) of about 25% - Bernie wants free college, nation health care.....
But in Denmark, Sweden the generous set of social benefits are paid for by taxes on the middle class and poor.
If Sanders embraced all that, it would be radical indeed. American people do not want anything radical, nor do they want a revolution.
Punishing the rich for our miseries is an old game. It will not work in a prosperous country where the economy is booming. It is also a big shame that Bernie is trying to capitalize on people's frustrations to run for office.
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Feel free to reply to any comment by clicking the "Reply" button.Maybe you should go to YouTube & see what Bernie has Actually been saying for over 30 years? Instead of regurgitating BS you got from Faux!
AnneWimsey
Level 9
Mar 2, 2020
3
I don't give a fuck what Bernie wants
I don't give a fuck what Biden wants
I don't give a fuck whom the Dems pick
As an indie
As a vet
As a citizen
the only thing I care about this cycle is
#NotTrump
Davesnothere
Level 7
Mar 2, 2020
4
That is a very fair and convincing statement.
Yeah but your choices are most likely going to come downt to Bernie or Biden.
@Sgt_Spanky AND they will get my vote sarge. Regaurdless.
WHY my fellow humans thought a silver spoon draft dodging narcisscist realestate agent would make a viable POTUS is quite beyond me.
AND its not just Trump. My vote record is purple, based on character and preformance. The things the GOP has done or allowed has shown they are no longer the party of Lincoln, but oligarchic authoritarians intent on keeping power, to hell with the effects on our nation or society.
I do not even NEED to think about the vote anymore, I am forced by ethics to vote blue, down ticket, for the rest of my life
UNLESS the GOP reverses itself and cleans house.
Do you see any hope of that?
The old GOP died with John McCain, a hero, a POW whom their choice both mocks and derides to this day, even in his grave.
THAT is how I see the GOP, laughing at a Vet's noble sacrifice and demanding more do the same and claiming the Troops support them.
Undoubtedly some do. We All do not.
@Davesnothere All of your points are valid. The R party is a disgrace. The Ds, as always, are a confused mess but the election is going to happen so unless Bloomberg starts to surge our D choices are looking like it's gonna be B&B. They may not do it for you but you'll have to pick one. Protest votes or write-ins can feel empowering but they're a wasted vote so that's not an option.
All that matters is getting rid of the marmalade monkey no matter what.
@Sgt_Spanky it does not matter to me which one, I will vote blue, down ticket, forever.
That is not "a free vote"
I'm boxed as a ethical human.
Interesting, it seems that you make this kinds of posts frequently, I’d not noticed.
- Many Countries use excuses not to tax the rich as they are scared that they will leave the Country, your first point shows that this is false, or they would all be in America.
- When governments talk about taxing the rich it is usually the income tax that is the main conversation. Once in a lifetime tax, although important to some, is not generally considered the main point of play.
- Talking about one Country’s economic development can not be demonstrative of higher taxes, (than the US’s) and there is generally more than one variable causing a lack of job creation. Sounds like the issue has been rather simplified.
- To make this work you would have to quantify the point. It would be likely that the US’s government would need to grow, at least initially, due to the acquisitions in Social Services such as hospitals and possibly prisons and other services that are generally not profit making concerns. But I don’t know what dead wood your government has, or indeed Sweden’s had.
Public Servants per population? Or per government department/ office? - I don’t know what your cost of living is like, but here many people pay 40 or 50% in tax. But this is not strictly accurate; as everyone gets a tax free income allowance, which is just under the minimum wage. But on the plus side we get free medical care and it goes towards other infrastructure, you’re never going to agree with everything that the government does with your money, but mainly it’s things everyone can appreciate.
- Sales tax, well this tallies in with 2. But goods require infrastructure to travel, here the government does a job ensuring that goods are safe and for for use and protects consumers with relevant legislation and a legal system for this to be actioned if required. Some Countries have made essential items, milk, bread etc. as tax free and only have tax on, non essential or ‘luxury’ items. Mainly taxes are absorbed into the price and you make choices as usual.
- Everyone pays tax, as you said, via sales tax etc, and everyone gets something out of it. Even in the US I believe, people pay a little, to pay for your president’s upkeep, golf, hotels
etc.
I generally appreciate your input and am not advocating for Bernie, but I do think that your points are a bit...random, don’t join up properly, don’t consider many working economies. E.g. when talking about Sweden’s economy slump, what was Norway’s doing, if you’re talking about Scandinavia, why is Finland not mentioned and so on
Have a good election, here’s hoping people vote.
girlwithsmiles
Level 8
Mar 2, 2020
2
A good discussion is welcome. Thank you.
But instead, we have a villainization of the messenger here. For example, if you don't agree with Bernie, you are a Trump troll.
Ok. If you say so, I’m not American and rarely had someone I vote for elected. So looks like you’re a happy man if you voted Trump, congratulations. I remember being happy an American president got in once, it was 2007.
@St-Sinner no, that would be you......
@St-Sinner I think it is in the manner that you present your ideas! It sure throws me off...because I like for each person to own his ideas and just give me the reasons behind his/her position! Then I have things to consider!
The economy is booming? Laughs in coronavirus
MrBeelzeebubbles
Level 7
Mar 2, 2020
1
True, the Coronavirus can destroy Trump's dreams but sans that a sitting president always wins with a good stock market and low employment.
My doctor told me that his sister-in-law was from Sweden and they pay a very high tax to get many benefits...and he ask her would she like it if taxes were lower and she told him, absolutely not! They do not want people living in the streets!
I intend to study Bernie even deeper than I have already as I have not heard or seen where he would take this Country out of its present governing process that has been in place since it’s inception...and create a ‘socialist country!’ Unless, trump has broken all the boundaries of the presidency...a president has never held that much power in this Country! So this is propaganda, pure!
Freedompath
Level 9
Mar 2, 2020
1
The rest is propaganda because you talked to two people from Sweden?
@St-Sinner I talk to lots of people...my doc is also exposed to lots of people. People’s opinions are like grains of sand...the sand becomes a desert and the desert lies there in peace! We can become a whole country living in harmony and still have all the different opinions...
@St-Sinner ummmm, could it be, having lived there, they know more about it than you?
Part of what you say I agree with, but I do not like the way that you are misrepresenting issues. . Part of it I see as a misrepresentation. Bernie is not a democratic socialist. He is an anti-capitalist. There is a huge difference. Democratic socialism is for a regulated form of free enterprise within a mixed economy.
Much of what Bernie wants can be accomplished by less drastic means. That is why I fully support Elizabeth Warren.
wordywalt
Level 9
Mar 2, 2020
1
I will support Elizabeth Warren wholeheartedly.
Fairness.
Closing the gap between very rich and very poor.
Spare me the obfuscation.
brentan
Level 8
Mar 2, 2020
3
Isn't this clear? Zakaria explains everything point by point.
My doctor told me that his sister-in-law was from Sweden and they pay a very high tax to get many benefits...and he ask her would she like it if taxes were lower and she told him, absolutely not! They do not want people living in the streets!
I intend to study Bernie even deeper than I have already as I have not heard or seen where he would take this Country out of its present governing process that has been in place since it’s inception...and create a ‘socialist country!’ Unless, trump has broken all the boundaries of the presidency...a president has never held that much power in this Country! So this is propaganda, pure!
@St-Sinner and why, exactly, does the Middle Class have misery? I'll wait for your ASSumptions......
@AnneWimsey
Own failures. We can't blame that guy behind the tree. We should own up own failures.
@St-Sinner wow,the entire middle class has just vanished because of their own fault? Not because Unions have been gutted, manufacturing went overseas, crushing medical bills put them into bankruptcy, wages haven't kept up with inflation since the 70's? Nope, they did something wrong & must be punished. Man it must Suck to be you!
@St-Sinner it is full of misrepresentation and outright LIES, probably why you find it so appealing
The GOP troll is at it again.
Sgt_Spanky
Level 8
Mar 2, 2020
2
You are assuming all Democrats are with Bernie? Lol
@St-Sinner Nope. A D wouldn't spend every minute of his day fighting obsessively against a D candidate while advocating for no other D cabdidate nor combatting the Trump threat.
@Sgt_Spanky
Bernie has damaged the Democrats cause and assured Trump's re-election. Why would another candidate have a chance and why Democrats need an enemy with a friend like Bernie?
@St-Sinner So your logic is all is lost. There's no point supporting any other candidate. Trump has already won. Bernie has doomed us all. Woe is me.
No wonder you can't find a date.
@Sgt_Spanky
How about dating a Trump supporter? Nobody is ugly after 2 am and a few beers.
@St-Sinner Find you some nookie however you can.
@St-Sinner ...so it is not a caring loving person you look for...you must be left out in the cold all the time?
@Freedompath
No, I want a very caring and loving person but not for long. Maybe every now and then. But you are right, I must be left alone otherwise.
@St-Sinner If it matters...we must become (loving and caring) what we are looking for...otherwise, how would we recognize it? It looks like you are more contemplative in the am?
@Freedompath
People generalize based on how I am on the outside but I am very loving and caring but I have a low tolerance for BS. e.g. pardon me... Bernie.
@St-Sinner But, I have no concept of what you are like on the outside...how could I, with this artificial forum? And, it has been my experience that what comes ‘forth’ out of a person...is part of his true nature! We can’t write our thoughts down without first thinking about what it is that we need to say! Sometimes, loving and caring puts up with a lot of BS! Ask a parent, what they put up with bringing up a child! The best thing we can ever do is...keep ourselves in ‘balance’ and not try and bring other people into ‘balance!’ Precious energy is wasted trying to ‘fix’ others! Which is impossible! 
@Freedompath
You have a point there. I am going to think about it and see how I must introspect. Maybe people telling me I am handsome has gone to my head.
@St-Sinner Handsome gets boring, without all the ‘raw’ material to give character!
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